Who We Are

The Women's Justice Initiative is a Guatemala-based organization dedicated to combating gender inequality and ending violence against indigenous girls and women in rural communities.

Our Mission

The Women’s Justice Initiative improves the lives of indigenous Guatemalan women and girls through education, access to legal services and gender-based violence prevention.

Our Vision

Our Approach

Meet the Team

Kate Flatley
Executive Director

As the Women's Justice Initiative's Executive Director and Founder, Kate Flatley oversees all programs, fundraising, and strategic planning for the organization.
Gabriela Palacios
Administrative and Human Resources Director

Gabriela Palacios has a degree in Industrial Psychology with a Master’s in Management and Strategic Development of Human Talent, both from the Rafael Landívar University. She has more than 10 years of experience working in non-profit organizations. She is the Administrative and Human Resources Director for WJI. Her...
Viviana Patal
Legal Director

Viviana Patal joined WJI in 2013. As WJI’s Legal Director, she is responsible for designing and implementing the Legal Services Program and oversees the organization’s team of lawyers and paralegals.
Elvia Raquec
Programs Director

As the Programs Director for WJI, Elvia Raquec oversees the implementation of the Women’s Rights Education Program, the Adolescent Girls Program, and the Community Advocates Program in partner communities to push for social change in Guatemala.
Lidia Ajbal
Facilitator

Lidia joined WJI in March of 2019 as a Facilitator in the Women’s Rights Education Program, working primarily in WJI's partner communities in Tecpán. She is responsible for implementing workshops with the participants to help them understand their rights.
Manfredo Aju
Driver and Concierge

Wingler Manfredo Ajú  is a resident of Patzún, Chimaltenango. He joined WJI in February 2022. As a concierge pilot, he is in charge of driving the staff members to the various communities in which WJI works. Manfredo says that he feels fortunate to be part of this team...
Eric Knight

Eric Knight is a Senior Trader at Jane Street Capital, a quantitative trading firm headquartered in New York City. Having been with the company for more than 20 years, he has experienced trading a wide range of assets, including ETFs, ADRs, options, and cryptocurrencies. Having a mother who...
Clara Ferraro
Partner and Head of Investor Relations - Tiger Global Management

Clara is the Co-Head of Investor Relations and Analyst Recruiting at Tiger Global Management, LLC, an investment firm based in New York City. Tiger Global deploys capital globally through its public equity funds and private investment partnerships.
Thea Handelman
Tax - Zillow Group

As Tax Counsel at Amazon, Thea Handelman develops tax structures and advises on federal tax aspects of domestic and international mergers and acquisitions.
Katie Newman
Partner and Senior Tax Counsel - Apollo Global Management

Katie Newman is Senior Tax Counsel at Apollo Global Management in New York, specializing in tax matters with respect to Apollo’s private equity funds, their investors and their investments worldwide.
Ingrid Camacho
Senior Franchise Manager - PepsiCo

As Senior Franchise Manager of PepsiCo in Guatemala, Ingrid is in charge of the markets in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Ingrid develops and leads the strategy of the beverage business, establishing long-term plans, investment plans, and innovations for the company. Additionally, she leads the relationship with CBC, the...
Brian T. Regan
General Partner, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe

Mr. Regan is a General Partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (“WCAS”), where he focuses on healthcare investments and is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee.
Gabriela Roca
Founding Partner - QIL+4 Abogados

Gabriela Roca is a founding partner at QIL+4 Abogados, a law firm in Guatemala, where she leads the Energy and Infrastructure practice. She advises associations representing the private sector which in turn provide guidance to investors in matters of Business and Human Rights to standardize the ethical behavior within their organizations and with local stakeholders and communities.
Abigail Ford Winkel
Vice Chair for Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine

Abigail Ford Winkel (Abby) is an obstetrician-gynecologist in New York City. She is Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Education and Residency Director in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University School of Medicine and an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital which is the oldest public hospital in the country and the flagship of New York City Health + Hospitals.
Tess Hellgren
Deputy Legal Director at Innovation Law Lab

Tess Hellgren is an attorney and Deputy Legal Director at Innovation Law Lab, where she litigates cases that defend the right to asylum, fight systemic injustice in the immigration courts, and seek to uphold the rights of visa applicants and their families. She also creates legal resources to...
María Isabel Mayorga
Executive Director of Fundación Gedeon

For more than 15 years, María Isabel has worked in the non-profit sector, leading organizations to their objectives for political, economic, and social development in Guatemala. She has also worked as an independent consultant at different organizations, helping them align Strategy and Business Processes. As Fundación Gedeón’s Executive...

WJI Partners

Our work would not be possible without the support of our invaluable partners.

Reports and Financials

Transparency is important to us. See the progress we’ve made over the years and the ways in which we’ve used your generous donations to help us achieve our mission.

Stay in touch with us!