Caroline Schmutte

Caroline Schmutte joined Wellcome in 2018 to lead Wellcome’s Germany Office - the organisation’s first international presence outside the United Kingdom. Since September 2021, the Germany Office’s remit has expanded to become Wellcome’s Europe Office, which Caroline heads up. In this role Caroline oversees Wellcome’s activities and relationships with governments and political stakeholders, science community, and other partners. From 2013 to 2018, Caroline led the Germany Office of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She built the foundation’s relationships, activities, and grant portfolio with the Government, international development organizations, NGOs, and other partners. She served as an advisor to Bill and Melinda Gates and as spokesperson for the foundation in Germany. Caroline previously worked as a Private Sector Development Specialist at World Bank Group and Engagement Manager at McKinsey. During this time, she led consulting engagements in a diverse range of sectors including healthcare provision and pharmaceutical innovation. Subsequently, she managed World Bank Group projects in the Latin America and Africa regions. Caroline holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and International Development from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.A. in Economics and Spanish from Dartmouth College. She is originally from Frankfurt, Germany, and has lived and worked across America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.