Appointment underscores GSF’s commitment to scaling cleft care access, advancing global best practices, and uniting partners worldwide.
Sept. 10, 2025
Global Smile Foundation (GSF) today announced Carrie Bach as its new Chief Development & Strategy Officer. Bach, a recognized leader in global health, philanthropy, and organizational transformation, will lead strategy, fundraising, marketing, and communications to drive growth, expand GSF’s global presence, and deepen its established role as the convener of the international cleft care community.
“Carrie’s leadership comes at a pivotal time,” said Dr. Usama Hamdan, Co-Founder and President of GSF. “Each year, more than 200,000 children are born with cleft conditions, most in low- and middle-income countries without access to safe, high-quality care. While dozens of NGOs operate in this space, efforts are too often fragmented. Our responsibility is to the children, and the best way to serve them is by uniting the cleft community around shared standards. Carrie’s ability to expand global presence, forge transformative partnerships, and help strengthen our role in the field will be instrumental as we scale our impact worldwide.”
Most recently, Bach served as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Operation Smile. She has lived and worked globally in senior NGO leadership roles and holds an Executive MBA from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, where she was elected Co-Class President.
“GSF has built an extraordinary legacy of clinical excellence, collaboration, and field-leading research,” said Bach. “What excites me most is its commitment to unite, not compete—working with NGOs and providers worldwide to raise standards of cleft care. Safety and quality for children must be paramount, and the only path to lasting impact is building sustainable local capacity so that every child can grow up with the care—and the smile—they deserve.”
Carrie Bach, Global Smile Foundation’s new Chief Development & Strategy Officer, joins the team to strengthen access to safe, high-quality cleft care for children worldwide.