Who we are

We’re a network of researchers, implementers, builders, and funders working together to end lead poisoning.

Our team

Jessica Harrison Fullerton

Jess leads the team and strategy for Pb Action. Building on over 15 years of experience as both a strategy consultant and an in-house operations lead, she brings a natural tenacity to solve big problems, build effective teams, and get things done. Passionate about early childhood development and building high-impact organizations, Jess is building a portfolio of start-ups focused on addressing the biggest challenges and opportunities to support children in low-resource settings globally. 

Executive Director

Ben brings the instincts of an entrepreneur and the toolkit of an engineer to the problem of unsafe battery recycling. As a Director for Pb Action, he leads industry engagement, supports on research, and coordinates expert stakeholders. Ben has consulted on difficult manufacturing and supply chain questions for the World Bank, UNDP, and MSF. He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering and an MS in environmental engineering.

Supply Chain, Research, & Design Director

Ben Savonen

Hirushan Thayalan

Hiru manages the strategy behind the Pb Action Battery Index, thinking about how to scale the assessment effort globally and ensure data collection leads to intervention. He also supports the development of other early stage initiatives at GDI. Prior to his time at GDI, Hiru was a management consultant focused on impact measurement for community initiatives.

Battery Index & Scale Strategy Lead

Lauren Monahan

Lauren manages project implementation and drives the rollout of the Battery Index across the initiative's priority countries. She works closely with local and international partners to implement the Battery Index assessment of ULAB recycling facilities. She also supports operations and strategy for other ventures at the GDI, helping early-stage social impact initiatives move from design into implementation.

Partnerships, Finance, & Operations Lead

Páll Kvaran

Páll pairs hands-on supply chain and operations experience with a decade of data-driven research across emerging economies. He has designed and managed complex research and digital finance projects for partners including the World Bank, UNCDF, and Labor Mobility Partnerships. He also helps build new ventures at GDI, turning field research into practical solutions.

Supply Chain & Data Manager

Mikey thinks about the most important and urgent unknowns standing in the way of reducing lead poisoning from battery recycling, and allocates resources to try to solve them. When he's not measuring the lead content of bags of dirt, he can be found at UC San Diego finishing his PhD in Economics. He also has a master's from MIT and a bachelor's from Bowdoin College.

Applied Research Lead

Mikey Jarrell

Partners

Funders