On behalf of the Ipas Board of Directors, it is with a mix of admiration, appreciation and sadness, that I share the news that Ipas President and CEO, Anu Kumar, has announced that she will leave Ipas in June 2027.
In her 24 years of leadership at Ipas, and now, in her ninth year as Ipas’s president and CEO, Anu’s experience and contributions to the organization, the sector—and to the global push for gender equality—warrant recognition. She pioneered the field of abortion stigma, co-authoring a groundbreaking article that launched a robust body of research and activism. She has worked with colleagues to create the integrated, multisectoral sustainable abortion ecosystem model, which is rooted in human rights and recognizes the factors that impact a person’s ability to access abortion. And her work in driving visibility and resources to Ipas’s country and regional programs around the world has meant millions of people from Ethiopia to Mexico to Nepal are able to access safe abortion care.
Anu firmly believes that everyone must have power. She has reckoned with her own power, and the harsh reality of racism, colonialism, and oppression in our world. She has written about the sexism and subtle bias she has experienced as a “respected leader and brown woman CEO.” And this has fueled her fight for justice and systemic change. She has boldly changed Ipas’s operating model, shaping a post-colonial network that practices shared leadership, fosters ownership and autonomy, and redistributes resources toward those closest to the organization’s work.
She cares deeply about her colleagues, her community, and the people Ipas and the sector aim to serve. We celebrate her sense of justice, her compassion, and her energy for a better world. As Anu says, “Women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are about power. But around the world, and especially in the global majority, we continue to see that women and girls lack this power, and there are severe consequences.” Ipas’s vision, that everyone should be able to determine their own future, is critical.
The Ipas Board of Directors has begun the search for Ipas’s next president and CEO immediately. Ipas is in an excellent position for this transition, thanks to Anu’s leadership and the deep commitment felt by Ipas staff to Ipas’s mission. We are grateful that she has agreed to remain at Ipas for a short time to support the new leader as they take on the CEO role.
A note from Anu Kumar: Leaving on a high note
It has been my honor and privilege to serve this organization for 24 years. I am so proud of all that Ipas has accomplished and firmly believe that it is in a strong and stable position, executing its mission with focus and impact. I can’t possibly list all that makes me proud to be a part of Ipas, but what comes to mind:
- Ipas received significant support from donors to The Audacious Project, which will accelerate our work and transform millions of lives. We’re the first organization that works on abortion to be selected; and I think that’s a big deal for Ipas, and for the sector.
- The organization is really shifting power, with intention and a learning mindset, through our network model and our commitment to shared leadership.
- Ipas’s intersectional work on climate, in humanitarian settings, and the way Ipas teams are always thinking about removing barriers for women and girls.
- The work to define, identify and mitigate abortion stigma, a concept Ipas introduced to the world.
- Ipas’s impact in so many countries around the world. Through collective efforts, the network is driving durable change and making a difference for millions of people.
This is my dream job. It’s not easy to leave. And yet to usher in fresh perspectives, I need to make room so new leadership can emerge and Ipas continues to flourish. I have always been passionate about our mission, and I always will be. To be able to work on this mission with such fine, intelligent and equally committed Ipas coworkers and partners has been an absolute joy. Thank you for this privilege.
