Find us at the World Health Summit in Berlin, October 11–13. Attending? Get in touch →

About Avenir

Avenir grew out of a need we kept seeing across the public, philanthropic, and private sectors: promising work stalling at the handoffs, whether from science to business case, grant to investment, founder-led to board-directed, from handshake to signed agreement, and from agreement to follow-through. We built a firm for that.

Ambitious health goals and sound business don’t have to be at odds. We work with you to find the path where both come out ahead.

Ambitious health goals and sound business don’t have to be at odds. We work with you to find the path where both come out ahead.

CORE TEAM

Claire Wagner

Claire Wagner

Founder & CEO

Served on the Rwandan Minister of Health’s team, coordinated coalition behind the WHO’s expansion of essential cancer medicines, built the market access function at the Gates MRI. MD, MBA, Harvard.

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Claire Wagner

Claire Wagner

Founder & CEO

Served on the Rwandan Minister of Health’s team, coordinated the coalition behind the WHO’s expansion of essential cancer medicines, built the market access function at the Gates MRI. MD, MBA, Harvard.

LinkedIn

Michèle Palkovits

Michèle Palkovits

Director of Delivery

Led multi-party negotiations at the Public Health Agency of Canada, built alliances among Five Eyes health leaders, and advised Wellcome leadership on portfolio strategy. MGA, Univ. Toronto; MPP, Sciences Po.

LinkedIn

Barbara Foot

Barbara Foot

Director of Operations

Coordinated global TB research portfolio with partners in South Africa and Peru, managed operations for pharmacoepi division at Mass General Brigham, began her career at UNICEF. MS, Harvard School of Public Health.

LinkedIn

Leo Cadena

Leo Cadena

IT Systems Consultant

Former IT at Gates MRI, manages technology services for biotech companies, and guides Avenir’s digital systems, security, and IT compliance. Cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure expertise.

LinkedIn

Where we’re based

We work out of the Cambridge Innovation Center in Kendall Square, alongside the companies, labs, and investors that make Cambridge a center of life sciences.

Cambridge Innovation Center

Where we come from

Our team has worked inside the organizations our clients are trying to move: biopharma, global health funders, ministries of health, public health agencies, and research institutions. We bring commercial, financial, and negotiation discipline to work that is driven by mission.

Fellows

Our Fellows are graduate students and recent graduates who work on live client and internal projects alongside the team. They bring fresh thinking, sector experience, and real ownership.

Three Avenir Fellows smiling at a table in a bright conference room

Our Fellows at work with Michèle Palkovits, Director of Delivery, at the Cambridge Innovation Center.

Keemia Azvine

Global Health Strategy Fellow

Rachel Sulla

Global Health Strategy Fellow

Ricardo Heredia

Global Health Strategy Fellow

See the Fellows page

Work with us

Current openings

Check back for open roles, or send us a note and your CV and we will reach out if there is a fit.

Email careers

Current openings

Check back for open roles, or send us a note and your CV and we will reach out if there is a fit.

Email careers

Fellowships

Part-time fellowships for graduate students and recent graduates in the Boston area, 4⁠–⁠6 months.

Learn more

Fellowships

Part-time fellowships for graduate students and recent graduates in the Boston area, 4⁠–⁠6 months.

Learn more

Insights

Sign up for occasional notes on negotiation, access, and financing in global health.

Sign up

Insights

Sign up for occasional notes on negotiation, access, and financing in global health.

Sign up

In your corner.

Bring us your toughest →

In your corner.

Bring us your toughest →