The Population Council’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointments of Patricia C. Vaughan and James Sailer as Co-Presidents. Since April 2025, Vaughan and Sailer have served as Interim Co-Presidents, a role they also held from August 2023 through August 2024. They will now assume these roles on a permanent basis.
“Pat and Jim bring decades of service to the Council and have been instrumental in shaping its strategic direction and impact. Their longstanding leadership and deep commitment to the Council’s mission, staff, and populations we serve will guide the Council during the unprecedented challenges our sector faces,” said Nyovani Madise, Chair, Board of Trustees. “On behalf of the entire Board, I welcome Pat and Jim to their permanent positions. We are confident that, together, they will chart a strong course for the Council’s future, driven by rigorous research and evidence-based solutions for underserved populations around the world.”
Patricia C. Vaughan joined the Council in 1997 and has engaged in all aspects of the Council’s research and operations. As Vice President and General Counsel, she led the Council’s legal, regulatory affairs, and quality assurance work for more than 20 years, including the legal and regulatory aspects of pharmaceutical drug development and licensing. She was instrumental in establishing the Council’s subsidiary and affiliated organizations and oversees ethical research conduct through the Council’s Institutional Review Board.
James Sailer joined the Council in 2004 and has held both programmatic and operational leadership roles. For more than a decade, Sailer led the Council’s Corporate Affairs Division, including human resources, information technology, business development, and communications. Since 2016, he has been Executive Director of the Council’s Center for Biomedical Research—the leading innovator of high-quality, effective sexual and reproductive health products.
With their demonstrated experience in global health and development, Vaughan and Sailer will provide strong and steady leadership and vision for the Council during this pivotal time.
Read our press release here.