Elizabeth DeFreest
Private Sector Engagement Officer, USAID
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Elizabeth DeFreest is a Private Sector Engagement Officer in USAID's Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS), with over 10 years of experience in entrepreneurship, regenerative agriculture, supply chain management, partnership development, and marketing. She specializes in building public-private partnerships, aligning strategic goals, and driving sustainable development outcomes. Prior to USAID, Elizabeth served as an Entrepreneurship Officer and Special Assistant at the U.S. African Development Foundation, where she cultivated relationships with corporations, foundations, and government partners. She has also worked with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, completed a Princeton in Africa Fellowship in Kenya, and supported sustainable tourism policy at Solimar International. Elizabeth’s career also includes roles with Global Giving and Ashoka, empowering entrepreneurs around the world. Having lived and worked in countries including Mexico, Rwanda, Italy, Cuba, India, Kenya, and Tanzania, Elizabeth’s deep-rooted passion for sustainable agriculture stems from her upbringing on a fourth-generation dairy farm in Vermont.
