Greater Edinburgh Area
With extensive strategic and operational leadership across HQ and County Offices, a versatile and highly accomplished Executive Director / Country Director with exemplary credentials in transforming organisational vision into reality. Driven by a passionate commitment to community development, utilising broad perspective, political insight in global programs and the intuitive fundraising acumen to drive the organisation forward and deliver success. Specialising in building community-based and civil society organisations with focus on gender equality, institutional development, embedding value-based change and local ownership. A talent for devising innovative solutions in adversity and a holistic approach to relief, recovery, process efficiency, optimising resources and sustainability. Relied upon for collaborative decision-making, conflict management along with championing people of diversity through coaching, mentoring and inspiring others to achieve their highest potential individually or as a cohesive team. A strategic visionary who leads from the front, combining confidence to challenge and influence at all levels with the highest integrity, infectious enthusiasm and belief in human empowerment.
Merged 30 staff from 5 independent high-level fundraising teams into IFP, provided strategic direction, established joint fundraising goals and devised 3-year business plan to capitalize on donor / partnership opportunities; developed teams as “fundraisers of the 21st century” by targeting new, more agile ways to optimize resources and recover costs. Focused on economic conditions, evolving donor models and adjusted the plan bi-annually. Defined how natural synergies added value to all stakeholders; emphasized unit synergy across joint fundraising / partnerships; developed platforms for sharing information to leverage joint fundraising and match opportunities and advocacy messaging to influence donor strategy and practices to align with organizational / sectoral priorities. Delivered successful partnership including people, innovation and the highest ROI and exceeded $156m fundraising goal by $50m. • Member of CARE US Finance Strategy Task Force in 2013. • Member of CARE Global Fundraising Committee representing CARE US. • Pakistan Program Security Assessment which influenced CARE operation in Pakistan and other high security country offices. • Led development of CARE global emergency fundraising strategy.
US Foundations Team was under review, needed to develop systems and ensure fund flow from institutional donors was maintained and increased at optimal level. Recruited, trained, mentored new team (4); provided guidance and support on financial resource acquisition by managing relationships with professional foundations. Developed / utilized new donor research system and new partnership opportunities; established guidelines on how / when to address cross-cutting issues with donors (advocacy, gender, humanitarian) and built fundraisers and staff capacity around influencing donor strategies and practices to align with organizational goals and priorities. Doubled fundraising goal in FY10 from $18.2m to $42m with FY14 goal at $68m. Without extra resources, recognized globally as a high performance team exceeding all goals. • Strengthened relationship between Foundation Unit and COs, Program Quality RMUs and other fundraising channels. • Led in developing selected concept papers and proposals for foundation donors, including $35m complex and organizationally strategic initiatives in support of the Signature Programs, Food Security, Emergency and Climate Change.
Simultaneously, led the complex Sudan Program and devised a long range strategic plan focused on key program areas: emergency, peace building and gender. 550 staff received coaching, mentoring and training to reflect rights-based and integrated approach in all programming. Oversaw project managers / team leader; increased women in senior management and national leadership; drove information sharing portal / proposal development site improving communication in 15 sub offices and efficiency of proposal development - adopted globally. Expanded portfolio by increasing program funding from $5m to $40m in 2 years and led innovative programming and impact measurement processes, strategic planning and development of policy / program operating plans; main streamed emergency preparedness, gender sensitive approaches and livelihoods in a hostile environment. Represented on NGO, UN and government forums. • Maintained strong networking with donors and other NGO partners ensuring competitiveness in applying for donor funding and maintaining strategic deployment of advocacy efforts. • Played a central role in CO leadership strategic planning and policy development through the CO Leadership Team.
Oversaw programming in Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia and Serbia. Directed major projects, economic development, reconstruction, civil society and peace building and assisted the BiH, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro country offices in design, implementation and contractual compliance of projects funded by Netherlands Embassy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Ministry and European Commission.
Co-founded (EDA), set up to deliver relief supplies during the Balkan conflict, assist return of refugees / displaced persons, develop large resettlement projects and €30m project pipeline valued from the EC, BPRM, Norweigan and Portuguese governments, IOM, DFID, DG1A, ECHO, and CARE-QIF. Managed 5 offices, up to 300 local / international staff, ensuring all contracts met deadlines. Reported to donors and EDA Head. • Obtained funds and delivered 2 of the largest return programmes in Kosovo funded by EAR and IOM, with a €15m budget and team of 200. Managed construction of 950 houses, clinics, schools, community centres, electricity / water supplies and sustainable rehabilitation for all ethnicities.