Tara Winter is an expert in international human rights and environmental justice. For more than three decades, she has worked to confront labor and environmental abuses by uniting business, governments, civil society, and humanitarian organizations to achieve lasting change.
Tara spent roughly 15 years as a senior leader at the ILO/IFC Better Work program, where she led teams working with businesses, governments, and workers to improve labor and environmental standards in global supply chains, helping lift millions of people and their families out of poverty. Her work has spanned the globe, with extensive focus in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Haiti, Indonesia, Jordan, Lesotho, Nicaragua, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
Prior to her time at Better Work, Tara was a director at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), where she worked for over a decade helping multinational companies build and implement their human rights and environmental policies and practices. While at BSR, she launched many first-of-their-kind collaborations between companies and civil society to establish global benchmarks and operating models for responsible corporate behavior.
Most recently, as Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee in Northern California, Tara oversaw a team of roughly 400 staff to support more than 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers annually, helping them access housing, employment, education, and mental health services. She also built long-term partnerships with governments, businesses, and community organizations to support newcomers in building safe, sustainable lives.
Tara is passionate about building strong, diverse organizations. She has led teams across multiple countries, fostering shared purpose, professional growth, and a culture of openness and accountability.
A trained investigative journalist, Tara has reported in both English and Spanish across the United States, Latin America, and Africa. She holds a master’s degree in international economic and political development from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.