Kenya
I am a results-driven strategic leader, researcher, and certified trainer with over a decade of experience delivering excellence in humanitarian access, health and safety, corporate security, and safeguarding across some of the world’s most complex environments. My strength lies in aligning global standards with field realities to ensure safe, ethical, and sustainable operations. I have direct experience across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the MENA region, where I have led transformative safety, access, and safeguarding initiatives. One of my most significant achievements has been the successful rollout of a new Health and Safety function across multiple countries in Asia at Oxfam GB, establishing regional systems from the ground up. This initiative strengthened duty of care, enhanced compliance, and built frontline and leadership capacity across diverse operational contexts. I bring a deep understanding of cross-cultural dynamics, geopolitical risk, and operational nuance. I am also a Training of Trainers (ToT) facilitator in First Aid, Humanitarian Access, and Acceptance widely recognized for building institutional capacity and empowering teams to lead with competence and confidence. What truly sets me apart is my unshakable integrity. I lead with transparency, accountability, and ethical clarity qualities that have earned me trust at every level, from field teams and senior leadership to local communities and international partners. I believe that integrity is not just a personal value but a professional asset one that strengthens safety systems, enhances acceptance, and ensures compliance with both the letter and spirit of humanitarian principles. Academically, I hold a master’s in international Sustainable Humanitarian Action from Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia, a Master’s in Environmental Earth Sciences (Geomorphology) from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Nairobi. I complement this with advanced certifications in Occupational Health & Safety (OHS), Security Risk Management, and Safeguarding. Whether leading humanitarian negotiations, advising on policy, conducting high-risk assessments, or designing HSS systems, I consistently deliver solutions that are locally grounded, policy-aligned, ethically sound, and globally informed.
Reporting to: Global Head of Administration (Peru) and Regional Directors (Africa & Asia) Lead strategic and operational risk, safety, and security governance across 15 countries in Africa and Asia, including Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Cameroon, Ghana, India, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and the Philippines, covering some of the most complex operational environments. Provide senior advisory support to global leadership on organizational risk posture, crisis preparedness, geopolitical analysis, and risk informed decision making. Drive enterprise risk oversight, integrating, reputational, safeguarding, and duty of care risks into global strategic planning Co design and institutionalize the Global Risk, Safety and Security Framework, enabling safer, more accountable global operations. Develop and oversee global RSS policies, standards, compliance systems, and operational protocols aligned with donor and regulatory requirements Lead the development of organizational risk registers, risk appetite guidance, early warning mechanisms, and crisis management protocols. Strengthen global operational access strategies by providing access and negotiation frameworks, and local actor engagement for high risk contexts. Provide leadership during major crises, including crisis coordination, strategic planning, decision support, and field deployment to high severity incidents. Establish and chair cross regional safety and security platforms, global crisis management groups, and occupational health & safety committees. Direct global capacity building initiatives, including the recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and training of RSS focal points across multiple regions. Lead high level complex risk assessments, security audits, access analyses, and organizational resilience assessments Strengthen organizational resilience through risk mitigation systems, scenario planning, Lead sensitive RSS internal investigations
Developed and implemented a comprehensive safety, security, and safeguarding frameworks for an INGO operating across Kenya, Somalia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Yemen Designed and facilitated context specific safety and security training programs tailored to diverse high risk environments in Somalia, Mozambique, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen Supported three NGOs in election preparedness in 2025: Tanzania, Malawi, and Bangladesh, through the development of election specific contingency plans, scenario planning tools, staff safety briefings, and emergency communication protocols. Conducted workplace safety, security, and safeguarding audits aligned with national legislation and ISO standards in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, resulting in improved compliance and reduced operational risk. Developed and conducted emergency and crisis management trainings for staff across multiple high risk operational environments, in Kenya, Somalia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Yemen
As the inaugural Global Health & Safety Roving Advisor for Asia, I led the establishment and rollout of Oxfam GB’s first regional Health & Safety function. Reporting to the Global Health & Safety Lead and Head of Business Operations, I supported multiple country programmes across a complex and diverse humanitarian operating environment, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Key Achievements Established and led Oxfam GB’s first Health & Safety structure in Asia, building systems, processes, and governance models from the ground up. Led the implementation of Oxfam GB’s first global Health & Safety Strategy across all Asia country programs. Held full strategic ownership of regional H&S communications, tools, policies, and resources. Recruited, trained, and managed Country H&S Focal Points, significantly strengthening in house capacity. Developed the region’s Health & Safety Operational Plan and budget, ensuring strategic alignment and resource efficiency. Drove initiatives to improve organisational safety culture and staff wellbeing across the region. Reported on H&S KPIs to senior leadership, including Regional Director, Country Directors, International Operations Director, and Global H&S Lead. Provided expert support during emergency responses, including the 2025 Myanmar Earthquake and major flooding events. Developed and conducted emergency and crisis management trainings, enhancing preparedness and response capability across Asia.
Reporting directly to the Global Health and Safety Lead: As the first-ever International Health and Safety Coordinator at Oxfam GB, I supported the establishment and rollout of the new global Health & Safety function across Africa, Asia, and MENA. Working directly with the Global Health & Safety Lead, I contributed to building foundational systems, policies, structures, and coordination mechanisms that strengthened global safety governance across multiple country programmes, including Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, DRC, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mali, Zambia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Ukraine. Key Responsibilities & Achievements Supported the strategic development of Oxfam GB’s International Health & Safety function across executing affiliate countries in Africa, Asia, and MENA. Developed global health and safety policies, plans, procedures, and tools, enhancing alignment and compliance across regions. Collected, analyzed, and reported global H&S KPIs, enabling performance monitoring and evidence based decision making. Assisted with the recruitment, onboarding, and development of OGB Health & Safety Roving Advisors across various nodes. Created and coordinated global H&S networks, improving collaboration, peer learning, and cross confederation alignment. Played a key pioneering role in designing and shaping the early systems and structures of Oxfam GB’s global Health & Safety function.
Reporting directly to the Country Director & the Regional Head of HSS: Coordinated health, safety and security risk management across NRC field operations, ensuring compliance with NRC global policies, donor requirements, and national laws. Supported the development and rollout of country‑level security plans, SOPs, contingency plans, and risk assessments, significantly improving organisational preparedness and operational resilience. Monitored security dynamics and context analysis, delivering timely updates and recommendations to senior management to guide operational planning and decision-making. Led and supported incident reporting, investigation, documentation, and follow-up, strengthening accountability and learning across the mission. Delivered safety and security training, including personal safety, hibernation/relocation/evacuation procedures, movement protocols, and risk awareness sessions for staff and partners. Played a strategic role in NRC’s shift from direct implementation by leading the partner safety and compliance selection process, ensuring prospective partners met NRC’s safety, security, and duty‑of‑care standards before onboarding. Oversaw occupational health and safety compliance including office safety, fire safety systems, first aid readiness, and physical security measures. Supported emergency and critical event response, including relocations, evacuations, high‑risk movement planning, and crisis coordination. Built and maintained strong networks with local authorities, INGOs, and security coordination forums, improving information sharing, early warning, and humanitarian access. Promoted organisational safety culture through awareness initiatives, improved reporting mechanisms, and continuous capacity building
Provided technical leadership on safety and security risk management, ensuring all country programmes adhered to ACF policies, procedures, guidelines, and compliance requirements across ACF USA operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Zambia, and Haiti. Led SIDA’s Training of Trainers (ToTs) on Access and Acceptance for deployments across Africa, strengthening field staff capacity to operate safely in volatile and constrained humanitarian contexts. Conducted intelligence gathering and analysis, working with intelligence agencies, security networks, and media sources to monitor security trends, produce incident reports, and provide timely context updates to ACF staff and Country Directors. Developed and reviewed country level security plans quarterly Led regional threat and risk assessments, identifying security risks, designing mitigation measures, and aligning recommendations with global security risk management standards. Conducted security risk assessments for ACF offices, staff residences, and partner hotels, ensuring facilities met required safety standards. Identified safety and security capacity gaps and designed customized training and development plans for each country program. Ensured accurate, timely, and consistent safety and security reporting from country focal points, contributing to global dashboards and data tracking systems. Delivered comprehensive security inductions for new staff and provided additional briefings during major shifts in the security context. Represented ACF in security forums, interagency coordination groups, and external meetings, advocating for staff safety and coordinated operational access. Ensured gender specific risks, diversity, and inclusion were embedded into all safety and security risk management practices. Chaired the Regional OSHA Committee and served as EHS Focal Person, ensuring compliance with OHS global standards