Magdalena Fulton serves as the director of Youth Development, where she leads IREX’s strategy and learning agenda for expanding positive youth development globally. She works across the organization to drive deep impact and results for and with young people in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia, and Central America. She also represents IREX as a member of the Alliance for International Youth Development, Youth Systems Collaborative, and InterAction’s Children and Youth Working Group.

Magdalena is a passionate, positive youth development and economic opportunities expert and brings 20 years of youth development and management experience focusing on Central America, Africa, and Asia. She is committed to systems level work, policy, advocacy, and action that create inclusive opportunities for all young people.

Prior to joining IREX, she led inclusive youth development at Save the Children US where she was the Managing Director for Youth Integrated Economic Opportunities. There, she led the 40 + country, inter-agency, global movement technical working group on adolescent and youth development ensuring access to quality technical expertise, thought leadership and business development growth.  She has also worked at Creative Associates International where she led the development of youth strategy and theory of change, and has designed and implemented a curriculum for at-risk, marginalized youth focusing on personal competencies, conflict resolution, and workforce readiness. In addition to her work at Save the Children and Creative Associates International, she worked for and with young people at the International Youth Foundation and Peace Corps.

She has notable experience in youth systems, inclusive economic opportunities, education and training, leadership development, and has demonstrated success working with excluded youth populations in crisis and conflict environments. Most notably, she led the $555 million USAID YouthPower project focusing on workforce development and livelihoods opportunities for youth globally.