Annette Hatcher Brito

Annette Hatcher Brito joined The Akari Foundation at its inception and has been a driving force behind its growth as an international leader in Spanish‑language rare disease education, patient navigation, and community empowerment. As the Chief of Advocacy & Patient Access, and a long‑standing board member, she brings more than 20 years of experience across multiple industries, including aerospace, U.S. defense, IT, biological engineering, forensic epidemiology and laboratory operations.

Her career spans high‑stakes environments where precision, safety, and disciplined execution are essential. Annette has led high‑performance team processes in both technical and mission‑critical sectors, and her communication and problem‑solving frameworks have been implemented and published across industries. Her "Listen–Understand–Address–Resolve" model has strengthened operational safety, cross‑functional alignment, and organizational resilience in civilian, scientific, and defense settings.

Annette is also an ultra‑rare disease mom and a rare disease patient herself. She navigates the healthcare system and Capitol Hill wearing many hats, advocating for herself, her family, her community, and the nation. Her lived experience fuels her commitment to ensuring that patient education, access, and safety are not privileges reserved for specific demographics or socioeconomic groups. Today, she applies aerospace‑grade rigor and mission‑driven leadership, advancing global programs that expand access, equity, and impact for rare‑disease communities while building systems where medically complex individuals receive equitable care, culturally competent information, and the support they need to survive and thrive.