Tim is the Country Director for Concern Universal Nigeria

Tim has 14 years’ experience of working on conflict and development issues, both at the policy level and in the field, particularly in West Africa. Prior to joining Concern Universal, Tim was the CEO of the Craig Bellamy Foundation in Sierra Leone, an NGO that uses sport to tackle the countries many development challenges.

He has also worked for the peacebuilding NGO International Alert in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and London; as Head of the United Nations Association's Peace & Security Programme in the UK; as a political risk analyst in the extractive industries; and as an international development adviser at the UK House of Commons. He holds a Masters Degree in War Studies from King’s College London and is the author of 'Women, Elections and Violence in West Africa' (2010).

If you would like to interview Tim, please .

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Sanjukta Sahany is the Head of DRR and Humanitarian Response in Bangladesh.

“I come from a strict middle-class family, so it was difficult to break with tradition and try to work in a male dominated society. Luckily for me, my Father was open-minded and his thoughts and ethics have encouraged me to fulfil my potential.

I have always been near the frontline of natural disaster. My small home State in Odisha, India is extremely vulnerable to natural hazards. My first experience of humanitarian work was in the super cyclone of 1999 which affected Odisha. The heart-breaking devastation and my small contribution providing relief to reduce people’s sufferings was a milestone in my professional career.

My educational background of Psychology and Disaster Management with extensive humanitarian and development experience in India inspired me to work in international development. A strong believer in ‘working for people and with people,’ I aspired to be in a better position to contribute in international development through my association with international forums, networks, aid agencies and global platforms. I believe development cannot be globalised unless the poor and the marginalised are treated equally in society.

I dislike being called a relief worker, because my role is bigger than that. I started my career as a program officer, got experience of proposal development, planning, monitoring and supervision, and worked with partners of diverse sectors and levels. Providing technical support capacity development of staff/institutions, liaising with donors and host governments to be able to respond effectively to multiple disasters in the region has been a great journey.

Concern Universal keeps people at the centre of its work and strives to improve each intervention- this makes it different to other organizations. It strives to be transparent and result-oriented. It is this, along with the opportunity to be creative that I enjoy most about my work.”

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Richard Harvey, along with his wife Kay, are patrons of Concern Universal.

Richard Harvey is the Chairman of PZ Cussons and is also a non-executive Director of Jardine Lloyd Thompson, Chair of the Equity Vehicle for Health in Africa for the IFC (International Finance Corporation - the World Bank), and sits on the board of the Church of England’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group.

Richard was previously the long serving CEO of Aviva plc (one of the UK's largest companies) until July 2007. His notable achievements include the successful merger of Norwich Union and CGU in May 2000 to create Aviva. Richard has held various representative positions: He was Chair of the Association of British Insurers (ABI); a member of the CBI’s Governing Council and the CBI President’s Committee; a member of the European Financial Services Roundtable and the Geneva Association.

In mid-2007 Richard and his wife Kay decided to take a ‘gap year’ with Concern Universal, and spent time in Kenya, Malawi and Mozambique. Since returning to the UK, they have continued to volunteer their time with Concern Universal, engaging business in development. As part of Richard’s ‘Good Business’ advocacy work with Concern Universal, he was invited by Kofi Annan to chair a Business Advisory Group for the Africa Progress Panel, which made recommendations in 2010 for better business engagement in Africa. Richard and Kay are patrons of Concern Universal.

If you would like to interview Richard, please .

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