B. Keith Cole

About B. Keith Cole

Keith Cole is a seasoned international development and humanitarian assistance professional experienced in the global WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), agricultural development, food security, and education sectors. He currently is Leader – Humanitarian and Multilateral Business at SATO, part of LIXIL, an award-winning WASH-focused social business that has positively impacted the lives of more than 82 million people across 46 countries. He serves as SATO\'s representative to the UNICEF-led Global WASH Cluster (GWC) of the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC).Career-wise he has:• 23 years of increasingly complex responsibility in developing and supporting donor-funded international development and humanitarian assistance programs.• On-the-ground work experience in 20 developing countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe/Eurasia, Latin America/Caribbean, and the Middle East, including in conflict/post-conflict areas.About SATO. SATO is proud to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal SDG6:\"Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.\" Specifically designed for international humanitarian and development environments, our innovative award-winning WASH products have received:• Fast Company\'s Innovation Award for Social Good (2024) • Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards finalist (2021)• Named one of TIME Magazine\'s Best Inventions (2020)• Red Dot Design Award (2018)• Patent for Humanity Award from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2015)Before joining SATO, he spent more than two decades at Texas A&M University\'s Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development, rising to become a member of the senior leadership team. With his colleagues, he helped build one of the United States\' leading university-based international agricultural development and food security implementing organizations to further Dr. Norman Borlaug\'s (Nobel Peace Prize-winning scientist and \"Father of the Green Revolution\") legacy of using science-based solutions to address global hunger and poverty. While at the Borlaug Institute he successfully wrote or supervised cost proposals exceeding $85M in awards whether as the lead organization or as a subawardee that improved livelihoods in more than 50 countries. He also served as Texas A&M AgriLife’s Liaison to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN FAO).

Experience

1. Leader, Humanitarian and Multilateral Business

   LIXIL

   Oct 2024 — Present · Bryan, TX, US

   In this newly created position, I lead efforts to support international organizations in delivering sanitation and hygiene solutions to vulnerable populations. By collaborating with key stakeholders such as international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) agencies, I supply innovative, durable, and affordable solutions to refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, as well as to schools, medical facilities, and disaster response and other humanitarian settings.

Education

• University of Denver

  MA - International and Intercultural Communication, (International Development focus)

  1995 — 2001

• University of Denver

  MS – Management (a customized MBA), (International Management focus)

  1995 — 2001

• Texas A&M University

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), English Literature. Minors in both Marketing and Speech Communication

  1986 — 1991

• Texas A&M University

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, International Agricultural Development