Louise Boothe Acharya
Summary
Strategic communications expert with deep experience advising local, national, and global organizations on outreach, engagement, advocacy, and public awareness. Proven ability to design and implement effective programs as well as communications strategies, manage complex projects, and achieve measurable results.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Press Officer and Strategic Communications
HHS ARPA-H agency
06.2024 - 10.2025
- Advised on and managed press relations and provided comprehensive communications support to the agency. (Reduction in workforce).
Strategic Communications and Media Trainer
U.S. State Dept./Albania Embassy
05.2024 - 05.2024
- Facilitated a comprehensive two-week training program for government officials and journalists in the investigative and security sectors.
Various Strategic Communications Roles (short, long term contracts)
USAID
08.2021 - 04.2024
- Served Global Engagement Team.
- Successfully coordinated involvement in the 2022 North American Regional Council/FAO meeting, including policy document coordination and facilitation of two side events on Nutrition and Food Loss & Waste.
- Managed strategic communications for the education sector, overseeing social media content and various communication deliverables.
- Led communications for partner calls and ensured accuracy and approval of Action Memos/Talking Points for staff and leadership.
- Provided technical guidance to Missions and other units in social behavior change communications, collaborative partnerships, inter-agency coordination, and design-thinking application to localization efforts.
- Delivered intermittent communications support via a PSC contract from 2015 to 2019 and completed a two-month assignment in the Haiti Mission before a permanent DOC was appointed.
Sr. Communications Strategist
Booz Allen Hamilton
05.2020 - 08.2021
- Engineered innovative strategies and employed digital analytics, utilizing a Sprint Problem-solving approach for consulting in strategic communications, outreach, and engagement, primarily for clients within the DHS/Homeland Security, US Navy (Behavior Change Campaign,) and National Institutes of Health Executive Secretariat.
Media Consulting and Journalist Trainer
IFES
10.2020 - 12.2020
- Executed journalist training for election reporting and strategies to mitigate disinformation. Also, provided advisory recommendations on public communications and awareness-raising.
Communications and Engagement Advisor
USAID Malawi Cookstove project
07.2020 - 09.2020
- Developed a strategic communications plan for a USAID-funded project in Malawi, emphasizing the health and environmental risks associated with forest woodfire cooking stoves. The objective was to promote the use of alternative energy sources, including electricity and LP gas.
Communications and Public Information Advisor
DAI-implemented Feed the Future Seed Trade project
08.2019 - 11.2019
- Contributed oversight and inputs for a high-level event in Lusaka, facilitating the historic first export of maize seeds to DRC under a new regional trade agreement within the SADC region.
- Supported the project in disseminating insights, knowledge, and outcomes about its operations in Zambia.
Strategic Communicators Adviser to Jakarta ASEAN Secretariat
Nathan Associates
06.2019 - 07.2019
- Collaborated with project communications specialists to review messaging, oversee social media, and engage in outreach and engagement activities, as well as scrutinizing the project's strategic communications plan on behalf of the ASEAN Secretariat.
Strategist, Balkan Disinformation/Misinformation Program
Albany Associates
01.2019 - 02.2019
- Evaluated regional media requirements for educational initiatives and training programs aimed at countering the increasing threat of disinformation and misinformation campaigns targeting the Balkan region.
Communications Advisor and Trainer
USAID Kosovo and Save the Children
12.2018 - 12.2018
- Conducted training sessions for a coalition of NGOs in Kosovo on Social Behavior Change Communications.
Communications Advisor
USAID-funded health-financing program
09.2017 - 09.2018
- Provided expert guidance on strategic communications, establishing the project's visual identity, and developing key messaging and web page design across various countries, including Uganda, Malawi, Botswana, and Namibia.
Communications and Public Engagement Advisor
IREX/Sri Lanka
08.2018 - 08.2018
- Designed and conducted a strategic communications and advocacy workshop for 20 CSO/NGO leaders and journalists in Sri Lanka.
Communications Advisor
Winrock International
08.2014 - 06.2015
- Delivered specialized consultancy for a climate change project in Vietnam, supporting strategic communications and public outreach. Facilitated engagement with the community and NGOs on climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives.
- Offered expert consulting services for a climate change project in Vietnam, enhancing strategic communications and public outreach. Fostered collaboration with the community and NGOs on initiatives focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Strategic Engagement/Communications Advisor
DfID-funded project in Liberia
10.2013 - 06.2014
- Drafted a strategic communications and public outreach plan for the FLEGT VPA support unit project office focused on raising awareness of Liberia's VPA agreement with the EU, encompassing community engagement on infrastructure development issues such as roads and utilities access.
Communications/Engagement Advisor
WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
11.2012 - 05.2013
- Advised on the 'Tigers Alive Initiative,' spanning 13 countries in Southeast Asia, China, and the Russian Federation.
- Authored the initiative's three-year strategic communications and outreach plan, cultivated leadership among the field team for implementation and monitoring, and facilitated public policy engagement to reduce tiger poaching with the aim of doubling the wild tiger population by 2022 across the designated countries.
- Oversaw a team of communicators across multiple countries while liaising with major donor offices in the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, and WWF-Gland, Switzerland.
Communications Advisor
Tetra Tech project in Liberia Property Rights & Diamond Development
05.2011 - 08.2011
- Executed an in-country assessment of communication plans and materials, including field visits to mining sites covered by the project and conducting various meetings with government officials, CSO/NGO leaders, and media representatives.
Strategic communications, outreach and engagement
The European Union
05.2010 - 04.2011
- Oversaw all communications and community engagement efforts to raise awareness about the importance of the 2011 Kosovo Census.
- Spearheaded communications and community outreach programs to emphasize the importance of the 2011 Kosovo Census.
- Managed comprehensive communication and community engagement strategies to highlight the significance of the 2011 Kosovo Census.
Communications and Policy Advocacy STTA Trainer
AHAIC conference
02.2010 - 02.2010
- Conducted a workshop on civic engagement and public awareness campaigns aimed at inspiring youth mobilization across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Communications Advisory Roles
Various
01.2000 - 02.2010
- Served in Strategy and Communications roles for various organizations and agencies across 28 countries. (USAID, World Bank, Millennium Challenge Corp., EU/EC, and UKAID formerly DfID).
MPR (PRI-PRX) Journalist
MPR/PRX/PRI
01.1993 - 12.1999
- Served as a government reporter, Capitol Bureau Chief, newscast anchor, program host, and co-founding producer of 'Worldview,' which later inspired the launch of 'The World' program by PRI/PRX. Reported on the aftermath of the NATO intervention during the Kosovo crisis in 1999.
Education
Policy Studies Fellow -
U of MN Humphrey Institute
Minneapolis, MNM.A - International Liberal Studies
Hamline University
St. Paul, MNSkills
- Journalism
- Strategic Communications
- Engagement
- Media Relations
- SBC
- Political Economy Analysis
- Co-Creation
- Design Thinking
- Design Sprints
- Advising on Crisis Communications
- Community dialogue
- Deliberative decision making models of communications and dialogue
Certification
- Political Economy Analysis
- USAID Governance
- Co-Creation for Program Design
- Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design (HCD)
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Design Sprints
- Becoming a Trusted Advisor
- Learning Tree
- Social Behavior Change Communications
- Collaborative Learning and Adaptive Processes
Hobbies and Interests
Yoga. Certified Instructor, Travel! Have traveled to more than 60 countries, Dog Mom. Two adorable 4-legged dogs, Any Activity in the Outdoors
Timeline
Press Officer and Strategic Communications
HHS ARPA-H agency
06.2024 - 10.2025
Strategic Communications and Media Trainer
U.S. State Dept./Albania Embassy
05.2024 - 05.2024
Various Strategic Communications Roles (short, long term contracts)
USAID
08.2021 - 04.2024
Media Consulting and Journalist Trainer
IFES
10.2020 - 12.2020
Communications and Engagement Advisor
USAID Malawi Cookstove project
07.2020 - 09.2020
Sr. Communications Strategist
Booz Allen Hamilton
05.2020 - 08.2021
Communications and Public Information Advisor
DAI-implemented Feed the Future Seed Trade project
08.2019 - 11.2019
Strategic Communicators Adviser to Jakarta ASEAN Secretariat
Nathan Associates
06.2019 - 07.2019
Strategist, Balkan Disinformation/Misinformation Program
Albany Associates
01.2019 - 02.2019
Communications Advisor and Trainer
USAID Kosovo and Save the Children
12.2018 - 12.2018
Communications and Public Engagement Advisor
IREX/Sri Lanka
08.2018 - 08.2018
Communications Advisor
USAID-funded health-financing program
09.2017 - 09.2018
Communications Advisor
Winrock International
08.2014 - 06.2015
Strategic Engagement/Communications Advisor
DfID-funded project in Liberia
10.2013 - 06.2014
Communications/Engagement Advisor
WWF (World Wildlife Fund)
11.2012 - 05.2013
Communications Advisor
Tetra Tech project in Liberia Property Rights & Diamond Development
05.2011 - 08.2011
Strategic communications, outreach and engagement
The European Union
05.2010 - 04.2011
Communications and Policy Advocacy STTA Trainer
AHAIC conference
02.2010 - 02.2010
Communications Advisory Roles
Various
01.2000 - 02.2010
MPR (PRI-PRX) Journalist
MPR/PRX/PRI
01.1993 - 12.1999
Policy Studies Fellow -
U of MN Humphrey Institute
M.A - International Liberal Studies
Hamline University