The Stanford University Board of Trustees has elected two new trustees.

Alumni Jeffrey W. Bird, founder and managing director of Bluebird Ventures, and Claire Cormier Thielke, global head of product development for Prologis, will begin their five-year terms on April 1.

“It’s a great pleasure to welcome Claire and Jeff to the Board of Trustees, said Board Chair Lily Sarafan. “Their leadership experience, global perspectives, and enduring commitment to Stanford’s mission will strengthen the board’s work during a consequential period that calls for both ambition and careful stewardship.”

Jeffrey W. Bird

Jeffrey W. Bird is managing director of Bluebird Ventures, which he founded in 2019. Previously, he was a managing director at Sutter Hill Ventures, where he invested in early-stage life sciences companies, including GRAIL and Horizon. During his tenure, he helped found several Stanford-based startups.

Jeff joined Sutter Hill in 2002 after a 14-year career at Gilead Sciences, where he served as senior vice president of business operations and oversaw sales operations across the United States, Europe, and Asia. In 2012, Jeff served as CEO of Verinata Health, where he led the introduction of noninvasive prenatal testing.

He serves on the boards of 92Bio, Epirium, Helix, Procyrion, and Savanna Biotherapeutics.

At Stanford University, he serves on the boards of Stanford Health Care (vice chair), the Hoover Institution, and the DAPER Investment Fund. Jeff and his wife, Tina, BS ’82, are longtime supporters of Stanford Medicine, undergraduate education, the School of Engineering, the Hoover Institution, and Athletics. In 2023, they endowed the Rising-Bird Fellows Program, which supports approximately 100 undergraduate internship scholarships each year.

Jeff earned his undergraduate degree in biological sciences in 1982, his PhD in cancer biology in 1988, and his MD in 1992, all from Stanford. Jeff and Tina have three children and reside in Menlo Park. With Stanford Medicine, they supported the recruitment of the new faculty leader for the Early Phase Cancer Clinical Trial Program, strengthening Stanford’s ability to conduct Phase 1 clinical trials in cancer.

Claire Cormier Thielke

Claire Cormier Thielke is global head of product development for Prologis, the world’s largest industrial real estate company. Previously, she was chief investment officer – Asia. Prior to joining Prologis in 2023, she held executive roles at Hines, a private real estate investment, development, and management firm, including senior managing director of Hines Asia Pacific from 2019 to 2023 and chief operating officer of Hines Investment Management from 2013 to 2019. Previously, she was a professional athlete for USA Track & Field.

Claire serves on the board of Zillow Group and as a Young Global Leader China delegate of the World Economic Forum. She previously served on the boards of Memorial City Bank and Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and as board chair of Legacy Community Health.

At Stanford, Claire has served on the board of the Stanford Management Company and as a lecturer in the Urban Studies program. She and her husband, Rick, MBA ’09, are supporters of The Stanford Fund and the Graduate School of Business.

Claire earned her undergraduate degree in urban studies in 2008, her Master of Science degree in 2008, and her degree of engineer in civil and environmental engineering in 2009, all from Stanford. Claire and Rick reside in Hong Kong.