I have spent decades learning how systems might work better through bigger thinking and better collaboration.

About Greg Smiley, Principal:

Perspective informed by listening and learning over three career phases:

I. Public Policy & Health Advocacy

Most notably first at the Clinton White House, specifically the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. There I learned about public health systems, strategy, and advocacy. After I led the Council through transition to the Bush Administration, I founded public policy programs for two national health nonprofits based in Washington, DC.

II. Global Health & UN Leadership and the Power of Collaboration

Nine years with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, shaping global health policy, strategy, and communications from duty stations in Johannesburg, Geneva, and Washington, DC. At UNAIDS, I was able to convene, to listen to all points of view, and to build cross-sector partnerships that drive impact.

III. Executive Leadership & Nonprofit Innovation

In recent years, I founded and led the Adira Foundation, a U.S. national nonprofit addressing service gaps across neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, MS, and Parkinson’s. Inspired by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, & Malaria, I developed a novel, patient-centered grant making model.

Great idea, poor timing.

We debuted publicly in spring 2020, just as the COVID pandemic shut the world down. We had planned a splashy launch around our First Round of grants. Instead, we quickly turned that round into Emergency Fast-Track COVID Grants, to get money out the door and help people right away. Sadly Adira Foundation was another casualty of the COVID years and closed in late 2022.

In the end, we secured $6 million in funding and awarded 25 grants, serving about 50,000 people directly; our grantees reported having a reach of half a million.