GMF Names Paige Ennis as Chief of Strategic Engagement and Bailey Childers as Director of Government Relations

WASHINGTON—The German Marshall Fund of the United States announced today that Paige Ennis will join the organization as Chief of Strategic Engagement and Bailey Childers will join as Director of Government Relations. As the organization transforms its approach to engaging new audiences and expanding its transatlantic leadership networks, GMF is delighted to welcome two new leaders who have grown and innovated networks in their respective careers.

As GMF’s first Chief of Strategic Engagement, Paige Ennis will lead and shape GMF’s external activities and functions, grow GMF’s audience, and develop innovative approaches to GMF’s social media platforms as well as government and media relations, and global events. She will also increase public awareness and interest in GMF’s mission, from strengthening democratic activists and civil society organizations in Ukraine, Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans and combating disinformation and malign influence to injecting new transatlantic policy thinking in technology and innovation, climate mitigation, the Indo-Pacific region, and transatlantic security.

“Transformational moments require transformational leaders. Paige joins GMF at an critical and historic moment as she engages new audiences about the essential role of the transatlantic relationship to US national security and global interests,” said GMF President Heather A. Conley. “GMF’s mission and perspective have never been more vital, and Paige is the right leader to ensure our external activities are vibrant, visible, and impactful.”

Ennis joins GMF from the Atlantic Council where she served as a Strategic Advisor to the President and CEO and the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. From 2012–2017, she served as executive vice president of the Atlantic Council, where she managed all external relations activities including development, events, and communications. Ennis came to the Atlantic Council from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where she was senior director of alumni relations and the school’s annual fund and director of marketing for executive education.

As part of GMF’s audience expansion strategy at the federal, state, city, and local level, GMF is also delighted to welcome its new Director of Government Relations, Bailey Childers, who will strengthen GMF’s relationships with national associations, governors, mayors, and state legislators, as well as enhance GMF’s relationships with key Congressional and federal government stakeholders in support of a robust and enduring transatlantic relationship.

“The source of strength and power of the transatlantic community is the human connection. People-to-people contact is key, whether through parliamentarian exchanges, bipartisan Congressional visits, student exchange programs, dialogues, or study tours,” said GMF President Heather A. Conley. “Bailey’s rich experience working on a diverse set of issues at all levels of government will help us widen the human connection of policy and citizen leaders actively engaged in the transatlantic relationship.”

Childers joins GMF from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, where she served as Director of Federal Government Affairs. Childers has also served as the Director of Government Relations at H&R Block and the Executive Director of the National Public Pension Coalition and has extensive experience with bipartisan coalition building. Childers fills the vacancy left by Reta Jo Lewis, who was appointed by President Biden as President and Chair of the Export-Import Bank.

Childers first day as Director of Government Relations will be July 11. Ennis will begin her role as Chief of Strategic Engagement Office on July 18. Both will be based in GMF’s Washington, DC headquarters.