Ryan Ubuntu Olson is a Technical Advisor under the USAID-funded Health Policy projects at Palladium. He has over a decade and a half of policy advocacy, stigma and discrimination, human rights, and global health-related experience around sexual reproductive health & rights, gender and sexual diversity, diversity and inclusion, HIV and key populations. He's focused on these issues at the global, regional, national, and sub-national levels in coordination with numerous US agencies and has worked in multiple country contexts. Olson's notable work includes designing a global Gender and Sexual Diversity training delivered to 5,000+ PEPFAR staff in 40 countries and adapted to five country contexts and an online course. He worked alongside advocates in Sub-Saharan Africa to develop a regional policy advocacy guide for those seeking policy change around the health of men who have sex with men throughout the continent. Olson also supported the development and rollout of a stigma and discrimination reporting system for key and vulnerable populations throughout Ghana. At Palladium, Olson has also worked to spearhead many of its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, including developing a diversity, equity, and inclusion required course for all staff in addition to leading the company's efforts in the Americas region.
Olson was recognized in 2017 by the Clinton Foundation for his outstanding commitment to advancing global LGBTI human rights. In May of 2018, he joined a US Congressional Delegation to Cuba as a gender and sexual diversity expert for an LGBTI themed trip. In 2020, Olson joined the Global Fund's Technical Review Panel, which offers guidance to the Global Fund Secretariate. He has served for the past nine years as a Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) Commitments Mentor, supporting over 100 students with commitments to make the world a better place. He has spoken to numerous audiences about inclusive development best practices surrounding gender, human rights, and equality. Olson holds a master's degree in Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service and a bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University. Olson's motto in life is "What you do in life, echoes in eternity."