Board of Directors

Jim Niquette, Founder / Board Chair

Jim Niquette worked for the Carter Center from 2002 to Sept. 2011 as a consultant with the Guinea Worm Eradication Program and then as Country Director for Ghana from 2006 until 2011. Ghana was the first Country in Sub Saharan Africa to bring Trachoma below levels recommended by the WHO for antibiotic distribution.  It also eradicated guinea worm during his period as Country Director, reducing cases from 4,282 in 2006 to 0 in 2011.  The last case was reported in May, 2010.  Guinea Worm and Trachoma were the only health projects the Carter Center had, so in October, 2011 he began a full time effort with WATER.  Prior to the Carter Center, he was a private business person working for a variety of technology companies, including his own in the United States and Australia for a 15 year period. During his time in technology, he was a sought after international speaker, having authored a book on converting minicomputers to Unix and LAN technology. He was also a consultant to organizations such as the New York Transit Authority, Hewlett Packard and the US State Department. His original African experience came as a result of being a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, Africa. He is the founder of W.A.T.E.R. and a graduate of Notre Dame University with a degree in Business Finance. He resides in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana.

Jan Kline,  Board Member

Bob Maher, Board Member

Bob Maher lives in Kirkland, WA with his wife, Amy, and two children. Bob has managed various sales and marketing functions at Microsoft since joining the company in 1997. He is currently Director of Marketing in the division that works with Microsoft’s largest business partners in the software industry. He has also run marketing teams in the Unified Communications, Education, and Windows Mobile divisions of the company. Prior to joining Microsoft, Bob was a health care public policy analyst for Abt Associates, a research and consulting firm based in Cambridge, Mass. Bob hold a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cornell and an MBA from Yale. In addition to his work with W.A.T.E.R., he and his wife are also involved in fundraising and planning for a local domestic violence agency.

Lamisi Mbillah, Board Member

Lamisi Mbillah was Miss Ghana in 2005 and became the first African woman to ever be awarded the Miss World Beauty With a Purpose title at the 2006 Miss World pageant in Poland. She won the award and was named a semifinalist in the pageant as a result of her work with the Ghana Health Service, Carter Center and UNICEF in the eradication of guinea worm and promotion of the distribution of iodized salt during her reign as Miss Ghana. The award is given to the contestant who contributes the most to humanity and society during her reign. Following this she has continued to give her time to humanitarian work and in 2008 Rotary International awarded her the highest honour in the organisation as a Paul Harris fellow.

Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor, Board Member

Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor, a medical doctor, is the National Program Manager for Guinea Worm eradication in Ghana and has been working with WATER in Ghana for the past several years. He brings his considerable skillset with eradication and control of neglected tropical diseases to the WATER board. Ghana announced the break in transmission of guinea worm in July, 2011, a feat accomplished under the leadership of Dr. Korkor as Program Manager. His addition is consistent with WATER's desire to couple the provision of water and sanitation with disease control.