IRF Secretariat Team
Executive Team | Board of Directors | Advisors
Executive Team
Greg Mitchell
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Board Chairman
Greg Mitchell is a public affairs professional who has been working in or around governments since 1991, having cut his political teeth running successful congressional campaigns for Congressmen Carlos J. Moorhead and James E. Rogan in California, serving as Chief of Staff to Rogan in Washington, DC, and running the Internet Campaign for a statewide ballot initiative for school vouchers.
Matthew Hawkins
Executive Vice President
Matthew Hawkins brings 25 years of experience at the intersection of religion and public life. He served as policy director for the largest network of Protestant churches in North America, during which he co-chaired the congressional working group of the IRF Roundtable. He chairs the board of The One America Movement which equips faith leaders to reduce toxic polarization. Matt holds an M.A. in Ethics & Public Affairs from George Mason University, a B.B.A. from Belmont University, and studied theology & ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His writing appears in The Wall Street Journal, at Religious Freedom Institute, and in The Rhetoric of Religious Freedom in the United States.
Kaylee Fisher
Global Operations Director
Kaylee has robust experience working in the non-profit sector, advocating for orphans, persons with disabilities, refugees, immigrants, women, and religious groups. She currently directs the International Religious Freedom Roundtable as the Global Operations Director at IRF Secretariat. Kaylee recently concluded her four years at the Institute for Global Engagement’s Center for Women, Faith & Leadership, where she traveled to Uzbekistan, Jordan, Norway, and South Africa, providing peace-building and leadership development workshops for multi-faith women’s groups.
Board of Directors
Bishop Dr. Paul Murray
Vice Chair and Head of Regional Council, Secretary and Treasurer
Bishop Dr. Paul Murray is a founding board member of the IRF Secretariat and serves as their Vice Chairman and Treasurer. In addition, he is the chairman of the Regional Council. A passionate advocate for religious freedom and human rights, Murray is a regular presenter on international program panels and a conference speaker addressing religious freedom attacks, global challenges, and religious liberty violations domestically.
Simran Stuelpnagel
Vice Chair and Head of Corporate Council
Simran Stuelpnagel is a management consultant and corporate strategy executive. He was the SVP for Akal Security, a Sikh-owned firm, which became the largest employer of retired American police officers and largest PMC in the US — while members of many faiths could not serve in uniform with their religious articles intact. Akal protected U.S. government interests in more than 350 American cities and 120 countries, and in his final year, Simran won $220M in federal direct contracts. He initiated the effort that led to the DC Metropolitan Police to become the first major US police department to allow Sikhs, Jews, Rastafarians and others to serve in uniform without compromising their faith.
Advisors
Charmaine Hedding
Senior Advisor for Global Strategy & Development
Charmaine Hedding, Senior Advisor for Global Strategy & Development, brings over two decades of expertise in international development management. A relentless advocate for religious freedom, she is dedicated to protecting persecuted minorities and fostering understanding among diverse communities. With a background in the business sector, Charmaine emphasizes sustainable programming, including economic revitalization for survivors of genocide and trafficking.
Sharyn Runyon
Global Marketing and PR Advisor
Sharyn Runyon brings over three decades’ experience in administration and corporate and non-profit public relations. Her expertise encompasses various facets of PR work, including media handling, campaign strategies, crisis communications, and event planning. With her certification in diplomatic protocol, she brings a refined touch to her work, excelling in writing, video interviews, editing, and still photography.