Maryruth Belsey Priebe

Maryruth Belsey Priebe is the Co-Founder and COO of aXXelerate, where she co-leads a team implementing Women, Peace & Security (WPS) initiatives for the US Department of Defense and the Canadian Armed Forces throughout the Indo-Pacific. 

Working as a hands-on security specialist, she connects gender-responsive policy with practical implementation across multiple security domains. Through her work, she collaborates with defense agencies, international governance bodies, and community-based organizations to develop security solutions with gender perspectives at their core. 

In her previous role as Director for WPS Programs and Senior Fellow at Pacific Forum International, she co-orchestrated seven major WPS engagements covering climate security, cybersecurity, maritime security, human trafficking, violent extremism, maritime environmental crimes, and human health in disasters. 

Her research focuses on developing solutions to the profound and uniquely gendered security threats faced by communities grappling with climate change impacts. Her approach centers on connecting local women experts with policymakers to ensure contextually relevant and impactful solutions. 

Ms. Belsey Priebe holds an M.A. in International Relations from Harvard University and serves as Co-Chair of the Gender Interest Group of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association.

Members of the Project CASA Expert Group may serve in their individual capacity and not necessarily as representatives of their organisations.