Mashal Husain promoted to Senior Vice President of The World Food Foundation
15 August 2022, US: The World Food Prize Foundation announced with great pleasure the promotion of Mashal Husain to Senior Vice President, Development, Finance and Operations. She has worked devotedly for the organization for 14 years.
“The World Food Prize Foundation has grown significantly in recent years, thanks in large part to Mashal’s diligence and hard work,” Foundation President Barbara Stinson said. “She is a tremendous asset to our organization, providing strategic vision and a commitment to our mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.”
Mashal joined the World Food Prize Foundation in September 2008 as the Director of Development and Finance. In 2014, she was named Vice President of the Foundation. In her time with the organization, Mashal managed the $30 million restoration of the historic Des Moines Public Library and its transformation into the global headquarters of the World Food Prize Foundation. She leads planning efforts that draw thousands of stakeholders from around the globe annually to Des Moines. Mashal works tirelessly to maintain strategic partnerships and funding for the Foundation. In her new role, she will continue to provide strategic growth opportunities through fundraising, partner engagement, and oversight of all financial and operational activities.
“I have found no greater passion than dedicating my professional career to addressing global food security issues while elevating the successes of those around the world,” Husain said. “I look forward to continuing my work in preserving and elevating the legacies of Dr. Norman Borlaug and John Ruan III.”
Raised in Pakistan, Tanzania, Thailand and the Philippines, Mashal brings an international background and perspective to her role at the World Food Prize Foundation.
Mashal earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and her Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Cornell University where she earned the Sloan Faculty Award for outstanding achievement. Following her Master’s, in 1996, she completed a post-graduate fellowship in hospital administration at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Upon moving to Des Moines in 1999, Ms. Husain worked for Principal Financial Group and Blank Children’s Hospital before joining the World Food Prize Foundation.
Alongside her career, Mashal has been committed to the local Des Moines community and has served on the Board of Directors for United Way of Central Iowa and Habitat for Humanity. In 2015, she was named a “Woman of Influence” by the Des Moines Business Record.
