Lifebox names Natalie Meyers as global CEO

Lifebox has appointed Natalie Meyers, MPH, as its new global chief executive officer, effective Nov. 16, 2026, as the nonprofit pushes to scale safer surgery and anesthesia programs worldwide. The move comes as Lifebox advances its 2025-2030 strategy and marks a leadership change after 15 years of work in 116 countries.

Why it matters: - Lifebox is entering a new phase of growth as it works to strengthen surgical systems and expand patient-safety programs worldwide. - The organization says the leadership change will support its 2025-2030 strategy and help close gaps that still limit access to safe surgery and anesthesia for millions of patients.

What happened: - Lifebox announced Natalie Meyers, MPH, as its new global chief executive officer on Nov. 12, 2026. - Meyers will take over on Nov. 16, 2026. - Meyers succeeds Kris Torgeson as global CEO. - During the transition, Judy Ngugi, Lifebox chief finance and administration officer, served as interim CEO.

The details: - Meyers brings nearly two decades of experience across global surgery, public health, international development, government, philanthropy and social impact innovation. - Before Lifebox, Meyers was executive vice president of programs and partnerships at ReSurge International. - At ReSurge International, Meyers led teams across 17 countries. - Meyers built ReSurge’s eight-country Africa portfolio with local leaders and institutions. - Meyers helped secure resources to expand the organization’s programs and impact. - Meyers also led women’s leadership initiatives in surgery, including the Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery program. - Meyers founded and co-chaired ReSurge’s AI and Innovation Task Force. - Meyers’ work has contributed to global health projects in more than 40 countries. - As a Presidential Management Fellow at USAID, Meyers managed more than US$55 million in Ebola preparedness funding across nine African countries. - Meyers helped set up USAID’s Ebola Task Force during the 2014 West Africa outbreak. - Meyers also worked on PEPFAR at the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania. - Earlier, Meyers worked with the Gates Foundation and Global Impact Advisors on a project that expanded contraceptive access for more than 40 million women over six years. - Meyers later worked with Spring Impact in London to help organizations scale social impact. - Meyers then became an innovation strategist in the San Francisco Mayor’s Office and managed Civic Bridge, a program that connects private-sector experts with government teams. - Meyers has published commentary in Stanford Social Innovation Review, Devex, The Hill and Think Global Health. - Lifebox says Meyers will help the organization expand partnerships and reach more people as it enters its third decade of work. - Professor Thomas Weiser, chair of the Lifebox Global Governance Council and a Stanford University surgery professor, said the board wanted a leader who could build on Lifebox’s foundation and expand its impact. - Weiser said Meyers understands locally led surgical systems and has a record of bringing partners and resources together for lasting impact. - Meyers said safe surgery is often treated as an afterthought in global health, but it is central to strong health systems. - Meyers said her career has focused on building and scaling what works. - Meyers said she looks forward to working with Lifebox partners and staff to build on the organization’s impact. - Meyers said Lifebox has helped make surgery safer for more than 248 million patients worldwide. - Lifebox says it has worked in 116 countries since 2011 and trained more than 14,400 healthcare workers. - Lifebox says its core focus areas are anesthesia safety, surgical teamwork and reducing surgical infection. - Lifebox was co-founded in 2011 by Dr. Atul Gawande, who helped develop the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals a bet on a leader with both field experience and partnerships expertise, which fits Lifebox’s emphasis on locally led systems. - The organization is pairing leadership transition with a broader push to scale proven tools rather than launching a new strategy from scratch.

What's next: - Meyers is expected to focus on scaling Lifebox programs, strengthening surgical systems and expanding the organization’s reach. - Lifebox will continue working to reduce the gaps that prevent patients from accessing safe surgery and anesthesia. - The organization’s next phase will unfold as it implements its 2025-2030 strategy and marks 15 years of work.