Jina Krause-Vilmar

Jina Krause-Vilmar is an expert on refugee and immigrant economic inclusion with more than 15 years of experience in the private and not-for-profit sectors. She currently serves as President and CEO of Upwardly Global, overseeing the organization’s workforce operations in the United States and Poland.

Prior to Upwardly Global, Jina spearheaded efforts at two major international and humanitarian organizations to craft and implement solutions to enable women refugees to safely access economic opportunity in partnership with governments, the United Nations, and corporations. Previously, she worked for the International Rescue Committee, Chemonics, and Women for Women International. Jina is an awardee of 2024 Worthy 100 and Voice of New Era of Leaders.

Jina was born and raised in Texas. Coming from an immigrant family, she was raised by her mother, where Jina learned that circumstance, color, and gender do not define someone’s worth or potential. Later, Jina earned a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin, earned her Master of Science in comparative politics at the London School of Economics, and a certificate in political studies from University of Aix-Marseille.