Amaya Cristina Aboitiz-Fansler has been named new Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI). The appointment is concurrent to her existing position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation. The appointment became effective in early May of this year. 

Amaya, before becoming RAFI President and CEO, worked to oversee the foundation’s early childhood education initiatives and has also served on its Board of Trustees since 2013. 

“Under her guidance, our organization has embarked on a new strategy, and we are confident that her expanded leadership will bring even greater alignment between strategic oversight and operational execution,” attested Mikel A. Aboitiz, former Chair of the Board.

Mikel was Chair of the Board since 2018 after his brothers, Roberto and Jon Ramon, passed on in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Since then he has led the foundation through the challenges of the pandemic, the shift in the strategy towards more collaboration with local governments, and the change in leadership to the new generation of Aboitizes. 

His son, David Mikel Aboitiz, also joins the Board of Trustees as a member. David has been an active Program Champion for One to Tree, RAFI’s biodiversity program, and has served on the Board of RAFI Microfinance.  

“It has been a privilege to serve alongside such passionate and committed individuals. I leave this position with immense pride in what we’ve accomplished together and full confidence in the future of this organization under the next generation’s leadership,” Mikel said.