Neilg̱áa Koogéi Taija Revels was appointed Executive Director in July 2024. She brings to GHF more than 20 years of professional experience working with tribal organizations. Preceding her appointment to GHF she worked at the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska as a Special Projects Manager to the Chief Operating Officer, where she was responsible for providing cross-departmental project management. Additionally, she has held positions with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

Neilg̱áa Koogéi has more than 10 years of experience serving on the boards of several organizations across Alaska and the United States, including on the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation’s board of directors. She has served on the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, Alaska Public Health Association, NMAC Youth Council, and currently serves on the boards for the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council and the Kiks.ádi Point House Revitalization.

Neilg̱áa Koogéi hold a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health as well as a Bachelor of Science in Women’s Studies from Portland State University. Currently, she is working towards the completion of a Certificate in Lingít language from the University of Alaska Southeast.