Lindsey Ruffolo

Regional Director of External Engagement, East Asia

Lindsey Ruffolo serves as Director of External Engagement for World Vision East Asia, based in Bangkok. She provides strategic leadership across advocacy, child participation, strategic partnerships, communications, grants acquisition, and local marketing and fundraising. In this role, she leads the region’s external engagement strategy, strengthening partnerships with governments, development partners, and key stakeholders to advance policy influence, resource mobilization, and program impact across East Asia. Lindsey works closely with National Directors and regional leadership to strengthen external positioning, deepen engagement with governments and development partners, and align partnerships and funding strategies with national priorities in complex operating environments.

With 18 years of experience with World Vision in the Asia-Pacific region, Lindsey has held senior regional and country leadership roles, including Regional Director for Grants Acquisition and Management in Asia Pacific, as well as leadership positions in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Her work has focused on strengthening funding diversification, institutional partnerships, compliance systems, and organizational change to support resilient national operations. She currently oversees World Vision East Asia’s engagement with regional and international partners, including multilateral institutions, UN agencies, and regional policy platforms, supporting collaboration on child protection, development policy, and humanitarian priorities across the region.

Lindsey holds a Master of International Relations and Human Rights from the University of Auckland and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French from California Lutheran University. She is particularly committed to advancing meaningful child participation and amplifying the voices of children and young people in development and policy processes.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Strategic Partnerships & External Engagement
Advocacy, Policy Dialogue & Regional Collaboration
Resource Mobilisation & Institutional Partnerships
Child Participation & Youth Voice