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Mr Thomas Richard Getman
Thomas Getman is World Vision's executive director
for international relations. In this role, he manages World Vision's
liaison office with the UN and the World Council of Churches and is
responsible for diplomatic relations with UN government member missions in
Geneva and with governments on sensitive negotiations.
He also serves on the board of the UN Deputy
Secretary General for Emergency Relief as chair of the NGO consortium
International Council of Voluntary Agencies.
From 1997 to 2001, Getman served as director of
World Vision's programs in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.
Previously, Getman served for 12 years as director
of government relations and special assistant to the president of World
Vision United States. Getman interpreted U.S. government policy, pressed
for needed foreign assistance, and advanced human rights, relief and
development concerns.
From 1977 to 1985, as a Congressional staff member,
Getman helped negotiate protocols with the presidents of Uganda and Zambia
and encouraged warring factions to move forward with peace negotiations.
In the mid-1980s, Getman played a central role to persuade the South
African Foreign Ministry to cease support for the Mozambican rebel group
Resistencia National Mocambicana (Renamo).
Before joining World Vision, Getman served as
legislative director to U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield. In the Senate, his
primary assignments were African foreign policy and social justice, human
rights and welfare issues. Getman also served as a regional director for
Young Life.
Getman holds a bachelor's degree from Wheaton
College and a master's in theology (equivalency certificate) from Fuller
Theological Seminary. He is based in Geneva, Switzerland with his wife
Karen. They have three grown children, Andrew, Eliza and Tim, and three
grandsons.
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