Vanessa Garcia Appointed as Chief Financial Officer of The Global FoodBanking Network

The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) has officially announced Vanessa Garcia as its new Chief Financial Officer. Garcia steps into this role with a profound personal connection to GFN’s mission, aiming to utilize her vast experience and technological insights to strengthen the organization’s financial strategies and broaden its impact on global hunger and food insecurity.

Vanessa Garcia brings over a decade of comprehensive experience in financial management within the non-profit sector. Before her appointment at GFN, she was pivotal in shaping the financial trajectory of First Children’s Finance as its Chief Financial Officer since October 2022. There, she was responsible for leading financial planning, managing a $30M operational budget, and overseeing a portfolio of grants and contracts, among other achievements, which played a significant role in fostering the organization’s mission and promoting economic development.

Prior to her tenure at First Children’s Finance, Garcia served as the Finance Director at Amazon Conservation Association from January 2018 to October 2022. In this capacity, she managed the financial operations across offices in Peru, Bolivia, and the US, contributing significantly to the organization’s financial restructuring and stability. Her role encompassed a wide range of responsibilities from financial projections and audit processes to fund management and board reporting.

Garcia’s career also includes impactful work at Voto Latino, where, as VP of Finance & HR from May 2015 to January 2018, she led financial and HR operations, demonstrating her adeptness in fostering fiscal responsibility, promoting a positive workplace culture, and enhancing operational efficiency. Additionally, her experience as Finance and Administration Director at CITELUM, where she oversaw financial, HR, and administrative functions, further solidifies her expertise in managing complex financial systems and team leadership.

About The Global FoodBanking Network:

The Global FoodBanking Network champions community-led efforts to combat hunger in over 40 countries. With a commitment to zero hunger and building resilient food systems, GFN supports the establishment and growth of local food banks as a solution to food insecurity and waste. In 2022, GFN facilitated the connection of 32 million people to essential food resources through a network spanning over 51,000 social service and community organizations, amidst a backdrop where billions continue to struggle with food access. This network plays a crucial role in not only alleviating immediate hunger but also in addressing the systemic issues contributing to food insecurity globally.