NEWS RELEASE – MakeWay’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that today Alex Sardar has joined the organization as its new President and CEO.
Alex brings more than 20 years of experience as a trusted partner to communities advancing transformative change. His work has helped catalyze social movements and strengthened democracy, human rights, and social justice.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alex on board to lead MakeWay into its next chapter. At a moment when the organization’s clarity of purpose is at its strongest, Alex brings the experience and care necessary to guide us as we walk alongside our community partners and deepen our work together,” says Aerin Jacob, Chair of MakeWay’s Board of Directors.
Before joining MakeWay, Alex was Managing Director of the Powered by the People (PxP) initiative at PartnersGlobal, providing resources, capacity strengthening, grantmaking reform, and advocacy support to grassroots changemakers around the world.
Prior to PxP, he served as Executive Director of The SEEP Network, Chief Innovation Officer at CIVICUS, and VP of Programs at Counterpart International. Alex has advised many nonprofit organizations, focusing on building resilient support systems with communities in countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Brazil, Yemen, and the United States.
Born in Iran, Alex became a refugee at a young age and spent formative years in Europe. His lived experience of displacement, family legacy of survival of the Armenian Genocide, and community action deeply inform and ground his work. He holds a doctorate degree in education, organizational leadership, and learning.
“Any meaningful response to the global challenges we face must centre community leadership and support social justice and ecological wellbeing. This is the starting point for all that happens at MakeWay. I’m fortunate and deeply appreciative for this opportunity to join the stellar team and community at MakeWay, where I look forward to contributing to our work.”
This change in leadership comes after Joanna Kerr stepped down as President and CEO in 2025. MakeWay is profoundly grateful for Joanna’s leadership and extraordinary contributions to the organization over her tenure and is thrilled to begin the next chapter together with Alex as the new President and CEO.
About MakeWay
MakeWay is a national charity and public foundation dedicated to enabling nature and communities to thrive together through partnerships, solutions, grants, and services for the charitable sector across the country.
Media Contact
Monica Allaby, Senior Communications Specialist
506-501-3924
monica.allaby@makeway.org
