I speak about lead poisoning, philanthropy, and what it actually takes to solve big problems.
I speak about lead poisoning, philanthropy, and what it actually takes to solve big problems.
I speak about lead poisoning, philanthropy, and what it actually takes to solve big problems.
I speak about lead poisoning, philanthropy, and what it actually takes to solve big problems.
Speaking topics
The invisible global health crisis
The invisible global health crisis
Lead poisoning harms one billion children worldwide and costs the global economy more than $6 trillion every year, yet receives a fraction of the attention given to other health crises of similar scale. This talk, adapted from Drew's TED 2026 mainstage presentation, makes the case for why lead poisoning deserves to be treated as a top-tier global health priority and what it will take to end it. For: general audiences, philanthropic conferences, public health forums.
Lead poisoning harms one billion children worldwide and costs the global economy more than $6 trillion every year, yet receives a fraction of the attention given to other health crises of similar scale. This talk, adapted from Drew's TED 2026 mainstage presentation, makes the case for why lead poisoning deserves to be treated as a top-tier global health priority and what it will take to end it. For: general audiences, philanthropic conferences, public health forums.
Philanthropy and the problems governments can't see
Philanthropy and the problems governments can't see
How catalytic philanthropy can solve problems that traditional development funding overlooks. Lead poisoning is a case study in how a small group of focused funders, working with operationally credible NGOs, can move governments to act on issues that don't yet have political constituencies. For: philanthropic conferences, family office gatherings, donor convenings.
How catalytic philanthropy can solve problems that traditional development funding overlooks. Lead poisoning is a case study in how a small group of focused funders, working with operationally credible NGOs, can move governments to act on issues that don't yet have political constituencies. For: philanthropic conferences, family office gatherings, donor convenings.
Building a global organization for impact
Building a global organization for impact
Lessons from tripling Pure Earth's annual budget and expanding to 17 geographies in five years. Drew discusses the strategic shift that focused Pure Earth on lead and mercury, the operational decisions that enabled scale, and the partnerships with funders, governments, and academic institutions that made the growth durable. For: nonprofit leadership audiences, fellowship programs, social impact MBA settings.
Lessons from tripling Pure Earth's annual budget and expanding to 17 geographies in five years. Drew discusses the strategic shift that focused Pure Earth on lead and mercury, the operational decisions that enabled scale, and the partnerships with funders, governments, and academic institutions that made the growth durable. For: nonprofit leadership audiences, fellowship programs, social impact MBA settings.
The economics of toxic pollution
The economics of toxic pollution
Lead poisoning costs low- and middle-income countries the equivalent of around 10 percent of GDP every year through lost lifetime earnings and productivity. The talk lays out the economic case for investment in pollution prevention as a development finance priority, drawing on data from IHME, the World Bank, and Pure Earth's market screening research. For: development finance institutions, multilateral banks, economics-focused conferences.
Lead poisoning costs low- and middle-income countries the equivalent of around 10 percent of GDP every year through lost lifetime earnings and productivity. The talk lays out the economic case for investment in pollution prevention as a development finance priority, drawing on data from IHME, the World Bank, and Pure Earth's market screening research. For: development finance institutions, multilateral banks, economics-focused conferences.
Twenty years working on impact
Twenty years working on impact
Reflections on a two-decade career in humanitarian and environmental work. What changes, what doesn't, and what Drew has learned about how complex global problems get solved (and how they don't). For: corporate executive audiences, university audiences, leadership development programs.
Reflections on a two-decade career in humanitarian and environmental work. What changes, what doesn't, and what Drew has learned about how complex global problems get solved (and how they don't). For: corporate executive audiences, university audiences, leadership development programs.
