BETHESDA, MD—Abt Associates welcomes Christopher Lovelace, a health governance and health systems strengthening expert, as a principal associate in the International Health Division. Lovelace has more than 35 years of experience in more than 40 countries.

 

“Chris brings proven technical leadership and the ability to work with political leaders around the world to design, implement, and evaluate health governance and financing reforms,” said Jay L. Knott, executive vice president for Global Business at Abt Associates. “We’re excited to have him join Abt and contribute to our mission of improving the health and well-being of people around the world.”

 

 “Chris has been a respected colleague at the World Bank with whom we have collaborated frequently in many countries to expand impact of our work on behalf of USAID,” said Catherine Connor, deputy director of the Abt-led Health Systems 20/20 project, USAID’s flagship health systems strengthening project. “We are thrilled to have him join Abt’s International Health division.”

 

Before joining Abt, Lovelace served 16 years in the World Bank’s Human Development Network as the director of Health, Nutrition and Population. In this role, he led health systems strengthening activities in sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on governance and accountability, health financing, and public policy. Previously at the World Bank, Lovelace led a health governance project in the Kyrgyz Republic to improve public finance management, civil service reforms, and open government.

 

Prior to the World Bank, Lovelace served in various senior positions at the Ministries of Health in Canada and New Zealand, where he led major reforms in the health sector that focused on accountability, transparency, separation of purchasing and provision of functions, and improved effectiveness of the health system. He has served as a board member for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations and the Stop TB Partnership and a member of the Working Group on Aid Effectiveness.

 

Lovelace received his M.P.A. from the University of Victoria in Canada and his B.A. in political science from Pacific University.

 

Abt Associates is a mission-driven, global leader in research and program implementation in the fields of health, social and environmental policy, and international development. Known for its rigorous approach to solving complex challenges, Abt Associates was ranked as one of the top 20 global research firms in 2011 and also named one of the top 40 international development innovators. The company has multiple offices in the U.S. and program offices in nearly 40 countries. www.abtassociates.com

 

Caroline Broder

301-347-5792

Caroline_broder@abtassoc.com