Tara Waters is a strategic partnerships executive with extensive experience building corporate partnerships in the social impact and humanitarian sectors. As Head of Global Corporate Partnerships at the International Rescue Committee, she leads a team which develops and manages multi-year partnerships that generate critical funding to advance humanitarian programs and strengthen the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Previously, Tara served as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at Americares, where she led cross-sector engagements with major global brands, integrating corporate funding, in-kind support, employee engagement, and cause marketing to deliver health and disaster relief programs worldwide. Earlier in her career, she held roles in corporate strategy, branding, and business development at WPP Group, Landor Associates, and Miramax Films, advising senior leaders on organizational strategy, growth, and positioning.

Tara brings to Surfrider a deep understanding of nonprofit governance, resource development, and strategic planning in challenging environments. Her connection to the ocean and coastal communities has been shaped by several years living in Hawaiʻi, summer days in coastal Maine, a homebase near the Connecticut coast, and a belief that ocean health is intrinsically tied to climate resilience, social equity, and community well-being.

Tara holds an MBA from INSEAD, a graduate certificate in Global Health from the University of Hawaiʻi, and a BA from Harvard University.