Chief Executive Officer

Jessica Claire Harmer

Jessica Harmer brings over 15 years of experience in global strategy and humanitarian leadership spanning the Americas, Asia and Europe. Before joining SOS Children’s Villages, she served at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as Senior Strategic Advisor, guiding implementations of global governance and operational alignment across headquarters, six regional bureaus and 80+ country offices.

A mission-driven leader, Jessica has deep expertise in strategic planning, organizational transformation, impact measurement and large-scale operational alignment. With dual Master’s degrees in International Relations and Business Administration, Jessica brings a rare blend of private-sector discipline, grounding her humanitarian leadership in both strategic and operational excellence.

Jessica is recognized for her ability to translate complexity into clarity, align diverse stakeholders and drive measurable results. With a global perspective and a strong commitment to humanitarian values, she combines analytical rigor with emotional intelligence to navigate organizational complexity and drive alignment.

“I am truly honored to join SOS Children’s Villages at this important moment and do so with deep purpose and determination. This moment is about anchoring the progress already made and providing steady and collaborative leadership so that we can focus on what matters most – supporting the children and young people we serve. Our role is to build on past lessons and prepare for the future with clarity, transparency and long-term sustainability.”

Governance