Dedicated to protecting human rights and democracy around the world
The Romulus T. Weatherman Foundation was named to honor Bess Weatherman’s father, a WWII veteran who was wounded while serving on a bomb squad in the Philippines. After an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he chose to pursue a career in journalism given his strong belief that freedom of the press is essential to democracy and justice. His deep empathy for others and his love of children drive the spirit of the team.
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Meet Our Founders
Andrew Duncan
Andrew Duncan is an ardent supporter of global democracy and human rights. He led the effort to secure the release of five women who were imprisoned for peacefully protesting sexual harassment on Beijing’s public transport system. He led a prolonged campaign that secured the release of U.S. businesswoman Sandy Phan-Gillis who had been imprisoned in China without charges for over two years. Andrew was also a supporter of the release of acclaimed Chinese dissident, Chen Guangcheng, and worked actively to acclimate him and his family to New York City upon their arrival. He produced Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower, a documentary about Joshua Wong who led the Hong Kong protests in 2014. The film received the Audience Award for Documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017. He is also an active supporter of the Lantos Foundation and the International Republican Institute (IRI), a pro-democracy think tank founded by the late Senator John McCain.
Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Weatherman
Bess Weatherman is a Special Limited Partner of Warburg Pincus LLC, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing, with $85 billion in assets under management and 250 active portfolio companies around the world. Ms. Weatherman joined Warburg Pincus in 1988, became a partner in 1996, and served as a member of the Executive Management Group from 2001 to 2016. She led the firm’s Healthcare Group from 2008 to 2015. Ms. Weatherman has twice been named to Forbes’ Midas List recognizing her as one of the 100 most highly-regarded dealmakers in the venture capital industry. She was a 2014 recipient of the Women of Power and Influence Award from the National Organization for Women.
During her 34 year career in healthcare, Ms. Weatherman has served on the boards of 15 public companies, more than 25 private companies at every stage of development, as well as the National Venture Capital Association. She currently serves on the boards of Insulet Corp. (NASDAQ: PODD), Nevro Corp. (NYSE: NVRO), Silk Road Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: SILK) and Vapotherm, Inc. (NYSE: VAPO).
Ms. Weatherman is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of Stanford University and as Chair of Stanford Women on Boards. She is also a Trustee of Mount Holyoke College, where she chairs the Investment Committee which oversees the college’s $1 billion endowment. She previously served on the Advisory Council of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and on the Board of Trustees of Saint Ann’s School in Brooklyn, NY.
Ms. Weatherman received a BA in English, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Mount Holyoke College in 1982. She earned her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1988.