Archives: Teams

Eimi Olson-Kikuchi

Development Manager

Eimi (she/her) joined the U.S. team in 2019 as Development Associate. In 2022, she became NYF’s Development Manager to support the organization’s growing fundraising efforts.

Eimi grew up in Japan and attended an international school, where she developed an appreciation for diversity in culture, race, and life experiences. She earned degrees in English Literature and Environmental Design & Urbanism in Developing Countries at the University of California, Berkeley, and soon after graduation, found NYF to be the perfect start to grow into a career working in the non-profit sector.

Eimi is particularly passionate about NYF’s partnerships with local communities in Nepal, and is excited to support programs that give agency to Nepali individuals. She strives to bring a decolonial approach to her communication and development strategies on the U.S. team.

Crystal Anderson

Director of Development

Crystal Anderson joined the NYF team as the Grants & Donor Communications Manager in November 2019. She became the Director of Development in the summer of 2022 and is the writer behind most of NYF’s long-form English language content. She’s honored to have been part of our “small but mighty” team during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crystal spent her childhood as an expat in Bangkok, Thailand, where she developed a passion for international aid. In high school, she volunteered at & led school-based fundraising efforts in support of a local babies’ home, contributed to relief efforts in Phuket following the Boxing Day Tsunami, and volunteered regularly for smaller projects, especially those supporting children.

She loves empowering children as they navigate the process of becoming their best selves. This is especially true for those who have survived and are recovering from trauma. Crystal believes passionately in the social benefits of diversity and is eager to magnify Nepali voices.

Crystal holds a BS in Human Development and an MFA in Creative Writing: Prose, both of which she uses to share information about NYF’s programs with as wide an array of English speakers as possible. She’s thrilled to be working with NYF to help Nepali children achieve their amazing potential.

Marcus Cotton

Advisory Board

Marcus Cotton grew up in a traditional, Buckinghamshire farming village in England. He began his career in insurance at Lloyds of London, but soon moved to Nepal to pursue his conservation interests. He was working to protect the environment in Nepal with sustainable community development at the same time our very own Olga Murray was establishing NYF. Marcus is now the owner of Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, a sustainable hotel in Nepal focused on lifting the community around it while offering guests a rich experience in the country’s trekking capital. His long history of working within the culture offers NYF a valuable trove of knowledge and connection. We’re honored to have him join us on the advisory board.

Haydi Sowerwine

Advisory Board

Haydi Sowerwine worked for IDEO in Palo Alto, a leading product design firm, while raising five children-a blended family-with her husband David. In 1991, Haydi & David moved to Nepal, where David worked with USAID. After the time with USAID they decided to stay in Nepal & came up with the idea for their future company, EcoSystems (www.ecosystemsnepal.com), which they formed in 1996. Their first product was an appropriate technology bridge for the rural areas of Nepal – 38 bridges were built. The Sowerwine’s innovative designs have won numerous awards, including the San Jose Tech Museum award in 2003 for their bridges, and a grant from the World Bank for a human powered generator and electricity distribution system.

Haydi was active in a number of organizations in Nepal which helped women and children. After moving back to their home in California in 2005, Haydi and David formed a non-profit called VillageTech Solution. The organization – which works mostly in Nepal – creates technology that betters lives in developing countries. Haydi has had a long relationship with NYF. Early in their stay in Nepal she heard about J House (now Olgapuri Children’s Village) from a friend, went for a visit, and from that day forward she and David have been enthusiastic supporters. They love to tell about the wonderful work NYF does. Haydi served on the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2018, and we are pleased to have her continued advice and counsel as a member of Advisory Board.

Elizabeth Share

Advisory Board

Elizabeth Share has been an active volunteer and donor to NYF and has provided wise counsel for more than a decade. She has been helping donors and nonprofits increase the impact of their work in communities worldwide for more than 25 years. Among those she has worked with are The Isabel Allende Foundation, The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, The Chez Panisse Foundation, Grace Family Foundation, and City Car Share. Prior to founding her own consulting practice, Elizabeth served for 10 years as the vice president of the Autodesk Foundation, a corporate foundation associated with Autodesk, Inc. From 1996 to 2002, Elizabeth served as a board member of CompassPoint, the premier technical assistance provider to San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley nonprofits. Elizabeth now divides her time between her consulting practice, Wise Giving, and The Center for Investigative Reporting, where she serves as the Senior Director of Foundation Relations.

Andrea McTamaney

Advisory Board

Andrea McTamaney Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Andrea has spent the past 24 years traveling the globe with her husband and three young children—having resided in Tokyo (4 times), London, Hong Kong, New York City, Colorado, and Hawaii. Now based in San Francisco, she is active in philanthropy, community connections and serves on boards and committees including Common Sense Media and the Joyful Heart Foundation. She met Olga in Nepal in 2007 and was committed to supporting NYF. She likes to run marathons (20 as of now) meditate, and help people find joy, deep meaning, and heart connections whilst trying to live an authentic life.

Stacy Chen

Advisory Board

Stacy Chen first traveled to Nepal in 2013 and promptly fell in love with the Himalayas and the warmth, resourcefulness, and generosity of the people she met in Nepal. She was excited to learn of NYF and the great impact of its work providing opportunities to those most in need in Nepal. Stacy has been a member of the Advisory Board since June 2017. She serves as Associate General Counsel for Intellectual Property litigation at Facebook, Inc., where she also serves on the Pro Bono Committee.

Eric Talbert

U.S. Executive Director

Eric Talbert comes to NYF’s Board of Directors with over 15 years of nonprofit communications and development experience, particularly in the areas of international aid, global health, and human rights. His efforts have raised millions through collaborative projects with partners and individual donors working to make the world a better place. Eric’s work has been highlighted by 60 Minutes, the NBC Nightly News, Forbes, TIME, The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and more. He is a proud board member of The Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability.

As NYF’s U.S. Executive Director, Eric leads U.S. fundraising and outreach efforts, creating and fostering impactful partnerships to support our valuable programming in Nepal. His thoughtful leadership and creative approaches to fundraising and communications are critical to our success.

David Browne

Director

David Browne has been interested in mountaineering and the Himalaya since he was a child.  He and his wife Caroline first visited Nepal in 1981 for a month-long trek to Everest Base Camp and were drawn to the culture and the people they met. They have returned many times to Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim and have enjoyed visiting and supporting NYF facilities in Nepal.

David is retired from a career in civil engineering, working in environmental studies and utility design.  He worked at the Environmental Protection Agency and a large national consulting firm.  He then started a small engineering consulting company and operated it for 30 years. 

He served for many years as a director and officer on several non-profit boards including a private middle school, an affordable housing organization, and continues as a director of a family charitable foundation.  He volunteered for numerous public service committees and efforts including design of a water system for an orphanage in the Himalaya region of northeast India.    

David and Caroline live on Bainbridge Island, Washington and have two daughters, both teachers, and two young granddaughters.