Patrick Quirk Named Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer for Save the Children

Patrick Quirk Named Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer for Save the Children

Policy and advocacy leader joins Save the Children to help drive policy solutions for children at a critical moment in the United States and around the world.

Media Contact: media@savechildren.org 

WASHINGTON (Oct. 5, 2026) — Save the Children, the leading nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children worldwide, today announced Patrick Quirk as its new Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer. In this role, Quirk will lead the organization’s efforts to shape public policy, mobilize stakeholders and strengthen Save the Children’s position as a voice for children. 

At a critical moment for children in the United States and around the world, Quirk will lead Save the Children’s efforts to mobilize political support for the policies and investments children need to survive, learn and be protected. Quirk will also oversee Save the Children Action Network (SCAN), the organization’s political advocacy arm, which mobilizes grassroots advocates to advance policy change for children at the federal and state levels. 

“The decisions policymakers make today will shape the future for millions of children,” said Janti Soeripto, President and CEO of Save the Children. “Patrick has spent his career bringing people together across the aisle to tackle complex challenges and drive meaningful change. At a time when children are facing growing threats from conflict, hunger and inequality, his leadership will help strengthen our ability to advocate for children and ensure their voices are heard where decisions are made. We’re very pleased to welcome him to Save the Children.” 

Quirk most recently served as Vice President for Global Policy and Public Affairs at UNICEF USA and previously held leadership positions at the International Republican Institute and the U.S. Department of State. Before joining government, he spent a decade designing and implementing foreign assistance programs in more than 30 countries. 

“Throughout my career, I have seen firsthand how policy decisions can profoundly shape children’s lives and futures,” Quirk said. “Save the Children has an extraordinary legacy of delivering results for children in some of the world’s most challenging circumstances while also championing the policies that help children survive, learn and thrive. I am honored to join this remarkable organization and look forward to working alongside colleagues, partners, policymakers and advocates to advance bold solutions that ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.” 

As Chief Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns Officer, Quirk will build on Save the Children’s policy and advocacy momentum, including bipartisan victories such as the passage of the SEED Act, support for policies that expand economic opportunity for children and families in rural areas, and efforts to protect critical investments in maternal and child health and other lifesaving programs. Looking ahead to the new Congress, he will lead federal government relations, global policy alignment and advocacy campaigns focused on Save the Children’s priorities, including early childhood education, food security and nutrition, and humanitarian assistance, and building relationships with new and returning policymakers. He will also provide strategic leadership for SCAN’s grassroots and political advocacy efforts, helping ensure children and families remain a priority among policymakers on both sides of the aisle. 

In addition to his professional leadership roles, Quirk is a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University. His analysis has appeared in numerous leading publications, including Foreign Policy, the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and NPR. He is also the author of Great Powers, Weak States, and Insurgency: Explaining Internal Threat Alliances. 

Quirk earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University. 

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About Save the Children 

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the U.S. and around the world, we do whatever it takes – every day and in times of crisis – so children can fulfill their rights to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. With over 100 years of expertise, we are the world’s first and leading independent children’s organization –transforming lives and the future we share.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn,  X and YouTube. 

About Save the Children Action Network (SCAN)

Save the Children Action Network was created in 2014 as the political advocacy arm of Save the Children, to be the political voice for kids. We are committed to ensuring every child has a strong start in life. SCAN mobilizes grassroots advocates, supports bipartisan leaders, and advances policies that expand access to early learning, preventing child hunger in the U.S and globally and protecting children around the world from harm in times of crisis. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. 

Learn more about SCAN at savethechildrenactionnetwork.org⁠.