Derek Brine

Derek Brine is a partner in Bridgespan’s Boston office. As a former engineer, Derek leads Bridgespan’s efforts to apply data, technology, and AI in service of nonprofit and philanthropic strategy. He has also led Bridgespan’s strategy and operations work with organizations that support civil rights, civil liberties, and democracy, including Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and Lever for Change. Additionally, Derek has spent extensive time helping to develop and implement Bridgespan’s Leading for Impact^® program, coaching more than 15 nonprofit leadership teams in Atlanta and Boston.

Prior to Bridgespan, Derek founded and ran a USAID-funded research program at MIT that tests products designed for low-income consumers around the world. He has conducted water and sanitation research and testing in northern Ghana, started an agricultural processing firm in Kenya, and worked in several other countries around the world. He began his career designing water and wastewater treatment facilities as a civil and environmental engineer.

Derek holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree from McGill University and Master’s Degrees in Environmental Engineering and City Planning from MIT.