Denise Patricia O'Reilly is the Operations Director for the Global Restoration Initiative (GRI) at the World Resources Institute (WRI). In this role, she oversees operational strategy and delivery across WRI’s global forest restoration programs, strengthening the quality, efficiency, and impact of grantmaking, partnerships, and internal systems. Denise leads a wonderful team responsible for grant management and resources across Restoration. She supports the Restoration team with operational compliance across multiple geographies and is deeply committed to building strong, inclusive, and high-performing teams that enable WRI and its partners to drive meaningful environmental change.

Before joining WRI, Denise served as a Senior Operations Officer at Kantar Public in Washington, DC, where she managed international teams of development researchers, data analysts, and monitoring and evaluation experts. Her work spanned offices in the UK, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa, coordinating with global departments in research, finance, HR, and IT, and engaging regularly with clients, partners, and donors. Her background equips her with a global perspective and a deep appreciation for cross-cultural collaboration in complex operational environments.

Originally from Ireland, Denise holds a BA in Marketing, an Advanced Diploma in Marketing, Management, International Law, Trade and Distribution, and multiple professional certificates in Marketing and Management. She moved to the United States in 2005 through the U.S. Diversity Visa Program and became a U.S. citizen in 2010.

Denise lives in Washington, DC. She is an avid e-biker and enjoys exploring cities and countryside alike across the U.S., EU and Ireland. A passionate fan of Korean dramas, she is currently learning Korean in her spare time and recently had the fun of visiting South Korea.