Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
Large organizations rarely struggle with ambition - they struggle with execution. Good strategies get lost in complexity, support functions fragment, and transformation efforts lose momentum before delivering results. I have spent two decades helping a large and complex organization - the UN Refugee Agency - close that gap. Working across UNHCR - present in more than 130 countries, often in some of the world's most challenging humanitarian, political, and security environments, I have seen thoughout my career with assignments in Burundi, the Demorcratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, how complexity and crisis pressures can limit impact, even in mission-driven settings. Whether coordinating global operations, designing operating models, strengthening service delivery, or navigating restructuring under budget pressure, the challenge is consistent: turning intent into sustained, system-wide results for people. Most recently, I designed and implemented a HQ shared-services model, consolidating 20+ support functions into an integrated platform supporting 1,400+ personnel across Geneva, Budapest, and Copenhagen. The initiative improved efficiency, service quality, and operational excellence during a period of significant change. Between 2022 and 2024, I led a humanitarian operation supporting some 750,000 displaced people across one of the world's most protracted and complex displacement crises in the Somalia–Kenya–Ethiopia borderlands, compounded by climate change. I also drove the transformation of refugee operations into platforms for inclusive local development through public-private partnerships with governments, International Finance Institutions (IFIs), and private-sector actors. I also played a leadership role in translating UNHCR's engagement with IFIs into practical partnerships across more than 15 countries. By building organizational capability, forging relationships with governments and development actors, and supporting implementation at country level, I helped unlock large-scale development financing for refugee-hosting communities. This work contributed to broader efforts that mobilized more than US$13 billion and helped reshape refugee responses around long-term development, self-reliance, and economic inclusion. I thrive at the intersection of strategy, operations, partnerships, development finance, and transformation - bringing clarity and structure to complexity, leading cross-functional teams, aligning diverse stakeholders, and delivering sustainable results at scale. Based in Copenhagen. Working globally.
Designed and led UNHCR's headquarters shared-services transformation, establishing a new operating model supporting 1,400+ personnel across Geneva, Budapest, and Copenhagen while delivering 35%+ efficiency gains and strengthening service quality, resilience, and business continuity. Led UNHCR's global service platform across Copenhagen and Budapest, overseeing corporate and administrative services supporting 850+ headquarters personnel and holding administrative HR responsibility for approximately 500 locally recruited staff, while maintaining operational continuity during significant organizational restructuring. Designed and launched within 100 days a new headquarters shared-services organization by consolidating 20+ Resource Management Units into a single service delivery model covering HR, programme and project control, administrative services, and IT support. Recruited and led a multidisciplinary team of 35 professionals to implement the transformation. Led the people and organizational dimensions of a major headquarters transformation, enabling a workforce reduction of approximately 30% while transitioning, consolidating, or discontinuing numerous functions and maintaining critical service delivery during an unprecedented funding crisis. Served as UNHCR's senior representative with the Governments of Denmark and Hungary, maintaining strategic relationships throughout a period of significant organizational transformation and workforce transition. Built alignment among senior leadership, staff associations, host governments, and UN partners to implement a new headquarters operating model and establish UNHCR's Global Shared Services function. Represented UNHCR in the UN80 system-wide reform initiative, advising the Deputy High Commissioner and helping shape a Unified UN Service Roadmap under Work Package 14, linking organizational transformation with broader inter-agency efficiency and shared-services reforms.
Led one of UNHCR's largest and most complex field operations, supporting approximately 750,000 displaced people and host communities across the Somalia–Kenya–Ethiopia borderlands while transforming the operation from a humanitarian assistance model into a platform for refugee inclusion, local development, and long-term investment. Conceived and launched the Melkadida Refugee Compact (2024–2027), a pioneering government-led refugee inclusion and area-based development platform that brought together the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), development finance institutions, foundations, UN agencies, and private-sector partners, becoming a recognized model for refugee inclusion and durable solutions in Ethiopia and beyond. Mobilized and helped shape more than US$100 million in climate, development, foundation, and private-sector investments through partnerships with the European Union, IKEA Foundation, IFC, World Bank, African Development Bank, Dutch Prospects Programme, Green Climate Fund, and private-sector investors. Established one of Africa's most ambitious public-private partnership platforms in refugee-hosting areas, integrating development finance, private-sector engagement, and government-led planning to advance resilience, self-reliance, climate adaptation, and economic inclusion. Advanced innovative energy, water, and infrastructure solutions through renewable-energy partnerships, solar mini-grids, water-system solarization, and climate adaptation initiatives benefiting refugee and host communities. Influenced Ethiopia's refugee inclusion agenda by fostering collaboration among government, development finance institutions, foundations, and private-sector actors, with approaches informing Global Refugee Forum commitments and elements of the national Refugee Inclusion Roadmap (Makatet).
Played a critical leadership role in establishing and scaling UNHCR's strategic engagement with international financial institutions, developing partnership frameworks, operational approaches, and institutional capabilities that positioned refugee inclusion within national development and financing agendas. Mobilized development finance and public-sector investment by translating global strategy into operational partnerships across 15+ countries, advising governments, World Bank teams, Regional Bureaux, and country operations on leveraging development finance for refugee-hosting areas and advancing refugee inclusion through national development programmes. Contributed to broader efforts that mobilized more than US$13 billion in concessional financing and development resources for refugee-hosting countries, helping shift responses from humanitarian assistance toward long-term development, self-reliance, and economic inclusion. Led UNHCR's engagement with the World Bank Group, shaping strategic collaboration, supporting senior leadership engagement, and expanding UNHCR's influence within the Bank's Fragility, Conflict and Violence agenda. Co-led joint World Bank–UNHCR assessments and transition planning missions in Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Mauritania, Afghanistan, and the Republic of Congo, helping align humanitarian operations with government-led and development-financed service delivery systems and enabling access to large-scale development financing. Led negotiations and implementation arrangements for UNHCR's largest-ever direct contribution from the African Development Bank (€20M+), supporting COVID-19 prevention and response measures in remote border regions hosting forcibly displaced populations across five Sahel countries. Led the development of 14 Refugee Policy Reviews under the WB's Refugee Policy Review Framework, strengthening UNHCR's influence on policy dialogue, investment priorities, and financing decisions affecting refugee-hosting countries.
Led the operational response to the Boko Haram refugee emergency in Northern Cameroon, coordinating preparedness, contingency planning, and humanitarian assistance for 100,000+ Nigerian refugees while managing an annual response budget exceeding US$25 million. Established and led a multi-stakeholder refugee response coordination platform involving 20+ government, UN, NGO, donor, and development partners, ensuring alignment with OCHA-led humanitarian coordination mechanisms. Resolved a politically sensitive coordination impasse, restoring collaboration and mitigating significant operational and reputational risks. Led the development of six Regional Refugee Response Plans (2015–2017) covering the Nigeria/Boko Haram and Central African Republic refugee situations in Cameroon, aligning strategy, operational planning, and resource mobilization across 20+ partners in support of 300,000+ refugees and affected host communities. Led UNHCR's transition from emergency response to a development-oriented refugee inclusion approach, helping position Cameroon as the global pilot under the World Bank's IDA18 Refugee Sub-Window and secure the integration of refugee-hosting areas into US$274 million of World Bank-financed investments, advancing refugee inclusion within national development planning. Directed a socio-economic assessment across 17 municipalities and 85+ refugee-hosting villages and designed a joint Government–UNHCR Support Plan, creating the evidence base and strategic framework for long-term investments, refugee inclusion, and local development. Designed and coordinated a multi-stakeholder platform involving government, the World Bank, donors, development agencies, and humanitarian actors to align investments and advance refugee inclusion, helping establish Cameroon as a leading example of humanitarian-development collaboration and development-financed refugee responses.
Managed a portfolio of 18 humanitarian projects in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, overseeing programme planning, budgeting, monitoring, and performance reporting in one of the world's most complex displacement and conflict environments. Directed the allocation and oversight of more than US$15 million in annual programme funding, ensuring effective resource utilization, compliance, and delivery of protection and assistance activities for displaced populations. Managed partnerships with 13 national and international implementing organizations, strengthening programme coordination, accountability, and operational performance across a diverse portfolio of humanitarian interventions. Supported evidence-based planning, financial management, and results monitoring, enabling timely decision-making and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance in a highly volatile operating environment.
Deployed for a two-month emergency mission to lead the inter-agency response to the influx of approximately 114,000 refugees fleeing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, rapidly establishing coordination mechanisms and operational priorities for the humanitarian response. Chaired the Inter-Sector Working Group, aligning humanitarian strategy, planning, and operational delivery across UN agencies, NGOs, government counterparts, and donors. Directed the development of a joint inter-agency emergency appeal ("hybrid" CAP), mobilizing resources and establishing a common results framework for the refugee response. Coordinated multi-sector emergency interventions including protection, shelter, health, water and sanitation, and logistics, enabling the rapid scale-up of life-saving assistance for newly arrived refugees. Strengthened response governance and inter-agency coordination, improving operational coherence, accountability, and delivery during a fast-evolving humanitarian emergency.
Managed strategic partnerships with several European donor governments, including Germany, overseeing relationships that contributed approximately US$50 million in annual funding to UNHCR's global operations. Served as focal point for UNHCR's strategic partnership with the German development agency (GIZ), managing a portfolio of 12 projects across 10 countries with a combined annual budget exceeding EUR 28 million. Strengthened collaboration between humanitarian and development actors by aligning UNHCR programmes with bilateral development investments, helping expand opportunities for refugee protection, self-reliance, and local development. Advised senior management on donor priorities, funding trends, and partnership opportunities, contributing to resource mobilization efforts and stronger donor engagement. Coordinated complex multi-country partnerships involving governments, development agencies, UNHCR operations, and implementing partners, ensuring effective programme delivery, accountability, and results reporting.
Conducted research, analysis, and synthesis of civil society engagement and development initiatives in Mali and West Africa, supporting the Foundation's assessment of local institutional and community capacities. Translated and edited complex assessment reports from French to English, enabling broader dissemination of findings among international stakeholders and development partners. Contributed to the production of evidence-based publications and knowledge products that informed programme design, partnership development, and civil society engagement strategies.
Supported the development of UNDP's crisis response and surge-management capabilities by contributing to organizational policies, standard operating procedures, toolkits, and deployment mechanisms for emergency and recovery operations. Developed knowledge-management and information-sharing tools to capture lessons learned, strengthen institutional memory, and improve coordination across crisis and recovery programmes. Contributed to the design of internal crisis response systems, including operational rosters, guidance materials, and business processes that enhanced organizational preparedness and response effectiveness. Supported global initiatives aimed at strengthening UNDP's capacity to respond to complex humanitarian, recovery, and post-conflict environments.