Dr. Erin J McGuire
Founder & CEO
About Us
Innovation Begins at Inclusion
To meet the growing need for gender-responsive and equity-driven innovation, Responsible Innovations emerged as an independent, women-owned organization—committed to advancing social empowerment on a global scale.
Who We Are
Responsible Innovations was founded to bridge a crucial gap in the global innovation ecosystem: how to scale innovation responsibly, equitably, and effectively. We bring a structured, evidence-based approach to ensure that innovation doesn’t just advance technology, it advances people, especially those historically left behind.
Originally launched by a team of scientists at the University of California, Davis, our work grew through collaborations with CGIAR, Wageningen University, and research institutions across the globe.
Our Vision
A world where innovations uplift all communities—especially women and historically marginalized groups—and where social impact is central to every stage of innovation.
Our Values
01.
Locally Led
We prioritize local voices and leadership in decision-making.
02.
Do No Harm
We continuously assess risks and minimize unintended consequences.
03.
Assessing Tradeoffs
We acknowledge and manage the complex compromises inherent in innovation.
04.
Environmental Sustainability
We promote practices that protect and enhance natural resources.
05.
Understanding Diversity
We tailor approaches to the varied needs of different communities.
Why Work with Us?
Our team is known for its academic leadership and global expertise—but what truly sets us apart is our commitment to real-world impact. We bridge research and practice to deliver tangible, inclusive outcomes for communities and organizations worldwide.
With deep experience in research, project implementation & management, evaluation, capacity strengthening, and organizational management, our professionals bring a cross-sectoral approach to advancing innovation and equity on the ground.
We developed pioneering tools and methods—like our proprietary GenderUp assessment tool—to address the complex challenges of making innovation more inclusive, scalable, and socially responsive.
Our collaborative networks span across the globe with countless researchers and implementers from across sectors – ready to help you achieve your goals.
Katheryn Gregerson
GenderUp Program Manager
Kat Gregerson is an experienced international development professional with a specialization in gender-inclusive scaling, program development, and partnership engagement. With a strong background in managing multi-country projects and leading GenderUp facilitator trainings, she brings a rare combination of research, facilitation, and operational expertise.
Archie Jarman
Innovation and Program Lead
As Innovation Lead at Responsible Innovation, Archie Jarman brings over 10 years of experience in the international agriculture space. Associate Director for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture. Key liaison among stakeholders in international agricultural development. He collaborated closely with global partners to support and strengthen researchers dedicated to improving the lives of smallholder farmers through horticulture.
Our Team
Kristen Becker
Operations & New Business Manager
Kristen Becker is a skilled agricultural development practitioner with strong expertise in inclusive scaling, data analysis, and capacity strengthening. She has led international training sessions on the GenderUp tool and has directly contributed to its refinement and monitoring. Kristen combines technical knowledge in postharvest and value chain systems with a keen understanding of gender dynamics and participatory research methods.
Michel Kabirigi
Academic Portfolio Manager
Michel has over 15 years of mixed methods research and development experience. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Sciences from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) in Germany, where he focused on knowledge transmission within Agricultural Innovation Systems. His research focuses on agricultural innovation systems, sustainable land management, and knowledge exchange, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based, participatory approaches. Michel strongly believes in combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to address pressing challenges in agricultural development.
Dr. Erin McGuire
Erin McGuire is the CEO of Responsible Innovations. Prior Erin was the director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture. In this work, McGuire spearheaded global research and partnership initiatives aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and facilitating horticulture innovations with a keen focus on nutrition and healthy diets. McGuire leads the Global Horticulture Opportunities Study, a collaboration with WorldVeg and CGIAR spanning ten countries and involving hundreds of horticultural experts, to analyze R&D investments in fruits and vegetables and identify immediate research needs to advance the sector globally.
- Erin Contact: erin@responsibleinnovations.org
