Saara Romu builds global partnerships that leverage innovative models, technology and new approaches for impact on some of the greatest global challenges.

She has near a decade of experience at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where she worked across the entire organization on data, technology, health and development. There she has worked in every global division including: Global Health, Global Policy & Advocacy, Global Development and Global Growth & Opportunity. An advocate for global and regional linkages, Saara served as the relationship manager of the University of Washington for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation programs over 7 years. She has led a National Bioinformatics Program, was a Corporate Liaison in India with a large NGO consortium, and has worked in global investment banking. Her first life was devoted to scientific inquiry, doing molecular and computational biology research.

Saara holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Washington and an honors Bachelor of Science in Biology from Queen's University, Kingston Canada.