As Director of Partnerships, Patrik will lead the International Fund’s external collaboration and resource mobilization efforts, helping to strengthen and grow the broad coalition supporting the International Fund and collectively advocating for a sustainable future for public interest media around the world.

As Director of the What Works Unit, Maha will lead the International Fund’s research and learning agenda, collaborating closely with grantees and partners across the media and media development ecosystems to develop and share practice-oriented insights into how best to support and strengthen public interest media organizations.

Patrik and Maha bring deep experience and expertise in global development and media support to the International Fund; their full biographies are below.

Patrik Silborn

Director of Partnerships

Patrik Silborn has 20 years of experience in global health and development, leading partnerships, resource mobilization, and grants across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Patrik spent a decade working at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in varying roles. As a senior fund portfolio manager, he served multiple countries in Africa and Latin America; as head of private sector engagement, he led the organization’s global work with businesses and on innovative finance and played a key role in organizing the Global Fund’s replenishment.

Patrik also led external relations, resource mobilization, and partnerships at the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) — an alliance launched by heads of government to eliminate malaria in the region by 2030. At APLMA, he formed new partnerships with the Asian Development Bank, the Global Fund, and bilateral donors, and launched M2030 — a partnership that brought together the World Economic Forum and leading businesses in Asia to fight malaria.

Prior to joining the International Fund, Patrik was vice president of strategy and partnerships at Zenysis, a company dedicated to using data to improve global health and development programs. He also served as a senior advisor to the Pandemic Action Network and to international development funds and international organizations. Patrik is an active member of the World Economic Forum’s expert network.

Maha Taki 

Director of the What Works Unit

Maha Taki has 18 years of experience in media and media support where she brings a strong track record of leadership, facilitating learning and strategic approaches in media development, media viability, and media policy, with a focus on the Global South. She co-authored the Feasibility Study that led to the creation of the International Fund.   

Before joining the International Fund, Maha was Senior Advisor at BBC Media Action, leading the organization’s strategy and advancement in supporting healthier media ecosystems.  Prior to that, she designed and delivered a series of complex and innovative projects for BBC Media Action in Lebanon and Syria as project director. Maha is on the advisory board of the International Media Policy and Advisory Centre of the Global Forum for Media Development.

Maha has a Ph.D. in Media and Communication from the Communication and Media Research Institute at the University of Westminster, where she also worked as a researcher and visiting lecturer.  Maha has a passion for learning and communication across various fields and mediums, with a special focus on non-fiction formats. She was previously lead film and workshop programmer for Otherfield, a nonfiction film retreat dedicated to independent filmmakers. She now contributes to the organization by serving on their board of directors. She currently hosts the podcast Brave New Media, featuring the stories of journalists from around the world, and their challenges of operating in complex environments.