Staff and stakeholders

Core staff

Susanne Garnett - Executive Director

Director since 2003, Susanne has more than twenty-five years experience in voluntary sector management and fundraising, mostly in the international development sector. She has also taught world history, religion, politics and sociology in secondary and higher education, and is an active campaigner on behalf of minority rights and political prisoners.

Nuhu Salihu - Africa Programmes Director 

Nuhu Salihu has worked for Village Aid as Africa Programme Manager since 2001. Nuhu is from the Mbororo cattle herding tribe (of Cameroon) and is from the second generation of Mbororo pastoralists to get a University education. His main interests are in social justice, inter-ethnic relations, challenging cultural boundaries and exploring alternatives to mainstream development aid.

George Ferguson - Research and Development Director  

George (pictured left) has worked for Village Aid as an Africa Programme Co-ordinator since August 2003. A long time ago, George was a Management Consultant before deciding to spend 2 years as a VSO volunteer in Nigeria, an experience which committed him to international development as a career.

Joanna Williams - Donor Development Manager

Jo’s interest in International development was cemented after living and working in East Africa. Her role is to engage with and attract our members to ensure our partners are supported well into the future.

Helen Hunter- Drama Education Co-ordinator

Helen is an experienced teacher, drama educator and theatre-in-education practitioner having been a Head of Drama, an Education Officer at Chester Gateway Theatre and a Teacher-Actor at The Play House, Birmingham. As Drama Education Co-ordinator, Helen has the opportunity to use drama to engage and inspire young people with global issues.

Katie Illingworth - Financial Administrator

Married to Jim with 3 teenage sons, Katie’s role is to keep track of Village Aid’s financial resources and to help share the admin load.

Mehreen Jaswal - African Programme Officer

Mehreen (pictured centre) is very excited about being the new addition to Village Aid! Having spent some time living in Kenya, she also did some voluntary work with marginalised youth. Mehreen then went on to do her Masters in African Sustainable Development and spent the last year working with vulnerable women in Yorkshire.

Trustees

James Kellie - Chair of Board of Trustees

James Kellie has been the Chair of Village Aid since 2004 and a member since 1992. As a Graduate Engineer he worked London & Scandinavian Metallurgical Co 1961-2000, and later retired as Technical Director. Hobbies and interests include Photography, Gardening/farming, Music and Travel. His interest in Village AiD sits in the grassroots partnerships they form that lead to improved lifestyle from self-development in rural communities

Alan Davies - Board member

Alan is a self-employed trainer/consultant, having spent over 30 years in the Civil Service. He has recently been out to The Gambia with Village Aid, and would be happy to discuss his experiences there with local groups. Alan and his family have lived in Derbyshire for some 21 years.

Graham Jones - Board member

Graham is currently a lecturer in Social Science and Health at Sheffield University, with research interests in health and international development. He lives in Bakewell.

Nick Gregory - Board member

Nick runs a specialist consultancy working with inner-city voluntary and community sector groups in the East Midlands. In particular he has a lot of experience undertaking development work with activists from predominately Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

Kate French - Board member

Kate has worked for the last 15 years as a consultant on organisation development and change across the health and social care sectors. Formerly an Assistant Director of Social Services in London, and a Trustee and Chair of the Terrence Higgins Trust, Kate who lived in Swaziland as a teenager is now semi retired and living locally in Derbyshire.

Peter Dent - Board member

Peter trained as an engineer and worked in design and production of automotive and aero components before switching to communications and logistics organisations. He became a trustee in 2006.

Caroline Dobinson - Board member

Caroline was born in the Volta Region of Ghana, and lived in Akosombo in the Eastern Region, where her father worked at the hydro-electric power plant. Before coming to England, she worked as a secretary at Ghana’s Trade Union Congress in Accra. She now lives in Derby with her husband David. She has worked as a volunteer giving talks on behalf of Village AiD and became a trustee in 2005.

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