Cai Thomas (they/them) is a Senior Program Officer at IREX, managing a gender equity and youth development program, and is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at The Global Center, a NGO that envisions a world where LGBTI+ youth are free.They received an MA in Comparative & International Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. A question that guides Cai’s work is: “How do we create a truly just, equal, and inclusive culture for LGBTI+ youth globally?” They specialize in gender equity and social inclusion (GESI), youth empowerment & leadership, and sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). Cai served in the Peace Corps in Mongolia from 2011-2014 as an English Teacher and Community Development Volunteer. They love to travel, try new food, learn other languages, and spend time outdoors.