Natalie Gonnella-Platts has over 15 years of experience advancing research, policy, and programs in support of women and children worldwide.
Her current work includes a focus on the rights and well-being of women and children in Afghanistan; the intersection of economic development, migration, and gender-based violence in regions like Central America; the agency and advancement of young women and adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa; and the link between democratic backsliding, autocratic regimes, and gender inequity.
She is the host of the Bush Institute’s award nominated podcast, Ladies, First; the co-author of a first-of-its kind analysis on global first ladies, A Role Without a Rulebook; and served as a project lead on the development of the Bush Center’s 2018 and 2019 special exhibits. Her work has also been featured across a wide range of external outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Vanity Fair, The Dallas Morning News, Real Clear World, and Politico.
Gonnella-Platts studied Communications and International Studies (Peace and Conflict) at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia. She earned an MA in War, Violence and Security studies from the University of Sussex in Brighton, United Kingdom. Prior to her current role, she has held various positions in London and New York at organizations including BBC Worldwide, the Legatum Institute, and AIG, among others.
