silta noun, Finnish SIL-tah “bridge”

Silta Advisory

Governance and operations advisory services for INGOs and NGOs. Independent support for boards and executive teams, with a focus on partnerships between US and European institutions.

Services

Four areas of work for organisations in motion.

Leadership transition advisory

Support for boards and executive teams through a change of chief executive, a new mandate or a restructuring. I help clarify roles, set interim priorities and keep staff and partners informed while the organisation decides what comes next.

Transatlantic partnership strategy

Help for US and European institutions that want to work together well. That covers the relationship between an affiliate and its parent, shared governance, and how a partnership is run from week to week.

Multilateral and UN engagement

Preparation for organisations that want to take part in UN and multilateral processes, from advocacy moments such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Commission on the Status of Women to the internal coordination needed to follow through.

Governance and operations advisory

I help boards and executive teams strengthen governance, clarify decision-making, and build the planning and operating rhythms that keep an organisation running well, from small national affiliates to global networks.

Who it is for

Organisations that work across borders and answer to a board.

International and national NGOs, and their boards and chief executives
US and European affiliates, and the parent organisations they work with
Foundations and institutions that partner with them

About

Led by Matthew Costello.

I have spent more than twenty-five years in leadership and governance roles at international NGOs, a global health organisation and public policy institutions in Washington, DC. Silta Advisory is the independent practice I now run, working with organisations in the United States and Europe.

Full background on LinkedIn

Finn Church Aid AmericasManaging Director: Led the US affiliate of Finland’s largest international development and humanitarian organisation, working with the board and senior leadership in Helsinki. Worked with the organisation’s global partnership manager to advance its partnership agenda and strengthen transatlantic coordination across US and Helsinki-based teams. Led the effort to secure grant agent status for Finn Church Aid with the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). Member of the organisation’s global advocacy working group, advancing its priorities at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Liaised in New York on a sanctions exemption before the UN Security Council 1718 Committee, alongside colleagues in Helsinki.
Management Sciences for HealthDirector of Strategy and Operations: Directed strategy and operations for the Global Health Systems Innovation technical unit, advising the Chief Medical Officer and translating enterprise strategy into unit plans. Co-led a restructuring that affected more than sixty staff.
The Brookings InstitutionDirector of Operations: Second-in-command of a multi-department operations division at one of the world’s leading public policy institutions. Earlier directed governance operations for a Board of Trustees of more than fifty members.
Conservation InternationalOffice of the Chairman and CEO: Served in a chief-of-staff capacity to the Chairman and CEO during a period of rapid growth, supporting board engagement and cross-organisation initiatives.
OtherEducation and recent work: Supported planning and on-site event management for the June 2026 launch of the Muscat Action Plan at UN headquarters. BA in International Studies, Texas A&M University.

Contact

Start with a conversation.

Tell me a little about your organisation and what is changing. Enquiries are treated in confidence.

hello@siltaadvisory.com

Email is the best way to reach me.