Jennifer Welham
Senior Vice President of Health, People and Human Services, ICF
This year, Jennifer Welham’s team of over 2,700 health, people and human services professionals reached several incredible milestones. They focused on delivering the greatest impact on global well-being by solving their clients’ most difficult and complex challenges. The team achieves this by providing research, data modernization, training, technical assistance, people analytics, workforce services, and more to help federal agencies improve health, social programs, preparedness, and security.
One impactful project was the team’s contribution to developing EPA’s first nationwide drinking water criteria for PFAS, released in April. These synthetic chemicals, found in common products like pans, rain jackets, and food wrappers, don’t break down and accumulate in water, soil, plants, animals and our bodies.
Welham’s team partnered with EPA, using advanced data analysis and modeling to assess PFAS and estimate health improvements if these chemicals were reduced in public drinking water. This research supported EPA’s new regulation setting enforceable limits on PFAS, reducing exposure for about 100 million people.
“I’ve dedicated my career to helping clients make data-driven, informed decisions that improve people’s health and social well-being,” Welham said. “Now is such a pivotal time because we have the opportunity to harness data in new and exciting ways with AI and other advanced technology tools and the obligation to do so responsibly.”
Why Watch
We are living in a critical time, facing immense global challenges. These include chronic conditions and infectious diseases, the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable, and substance misuse and behavioral health issues affecting individuals, families and communities. Welham’s team addresses these challenges through partnership and innovation.
ICF believes in thinking differently and working collaboratively to find solutions faster and more effectively. The organization focuses on bringing together high-performing teams with strong leaders to tackle significant health and social challenges.
Critically, ICF pairs subject matter experts with cutting-edge technology and advanced analytics to add scale and efficiency to solutions and drive impact. This approach defines how ICF operates. It will continue to provide innovative solutions and insights on the critical impact of social determinants of health on individual and community well-being.
Fun fact: Welham is a huge baseball fan! She and her husband are on a quest to see the Washington Nationals play at every major league stadium.