
Who we are
Peace Direct is an award-winning, international NGO supporting local people in some of the most challenging conflict environments worldwide.
We are based in London, UK, and have offices in Washington, DC and New York.
If you’d like to work for Peace Direct, visit our jobs page to see current vacancies for interns or staff.
Elana Aquino, US Executive Director
Christine Trillana, Development and Administrative Associate
John Guinan, US Director of Development
Vahe Mirikian, Assistant Director for US Policy
Dica Adotevi, Senior Finance Officer
Gay Rosenblum-Kumar, UN Representative
Shannon Paige, Policy Associate
Elsie Mares, Scoville Fellow
Staff in the UK/EU
Dylan Mathews, Chief Executive
Harriet Knox Brown, Head of Programmes and Research / Deputy CEO
Valerie Bloomfield, Head of Finance and Operations
Gemma Britton, Head of Fundraising and Communications (job share)
Ryan Boyce, Head of Fundraising and Communications (job share)
Charlotte Divin, Programme Funding Manager
Jennifer Pobi-Browne, International Programmes Manager
Jennifer has an MA in Human Rights from UCL and a BA in Law (Jurisprudence) from Oxford University.
Lesley Agbarakwe, HR Manager
Bénédicte Aboul-Nasr, Senior Programmes Officer, Great Lakes
Bénédicte holds an undergraduate degree in French and Common Law from the Université Toulouse 1 Capitole and an LL.M. in Public International Law with a focus on international humanitarian law and human rights law from Queen Mary, University of London.
Manoela Baltar, Senior Programmes Officer
With an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from SOAS, University of London, and a BA in International Relations from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Manoela’s career has been focused on supporting programme implementation and helping to improve policy and practice in the humanitarian, development and peacebuilding sectors – while contributing to better integrating them through the “triple nexus” approach. Her experience includes working with grassroots organisations, government institutions and INGOs, including International Alert, the British Council and the EU. Among her many interests, Manoela is particularly devoted to promoting a human rights-based approach to P/CVE and exploring the links between underlying grievances and political violence.
Sam Crocker, Senior Trusts & Foundations Officer
Dimitri Kotsiras, Research Analyst
Joel Gabri, Senior Peace Technology Programme Officer
Ruby Quantson Davis, Senior Learning and Impact Advisor
Raaval Bains, Research Officer
Raaval holds an M.A in Social Anthropology with a focus on identity and belonging in ethnic minorities from SOAS, University of London and a B.A in History from the University of Cardif
Aji Ceesay, Research Assistant
Kit Dorey, Policy and Advocacy Manager
Anna Penfrat, EU Representative
Oscar Lester, Fundraising and Engagement Officer
Sarah Phillips, Senior Communications Officer
Natalie Roberts, Content and Storytelling Officer
Áine Donnelly, Finance Officer
Richard Andrew, Database Officer
US Board
Stacey Haefele, Chair
Colleen Smith CPA, Treasurer
Quscondy-Mohamed Abdulshafi
Anthony Smith
Evelyn Thornton
UK Trustees
Anthony Smith, Chair
Belinda Bell, Trustee
David Cutler, Trustee
David Loyn, Trustee
Jennifer Larbie, Trustee
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Niamh Neville, Trustee
" image=""][hidden_text teaser="Niamh has 15 years marketing and fundraising experience and has worked with over 100 charities."]Niamh has 15 years marketing and fundraising experience and has worked with over 100 charities. She is experienced in a diverse range of fundraising disciplines and channels gained at creative agencies, directly for charities, consultancy and in the field as a volunteer fundraiser in Zambia. Most recently she’s acted as a senior level fundraising consultant but has previously held roles at The Scout Association and WaterAid.
Nick Whitaker, Trustee
Stacey Haefele, Trustee
Patrons
Scilla Elworthy
Dr Scilla Elworthy is a distinguished activist for peace and has worked on peace related issues for over 30 years. In 1982 Dr Elworthy founded the Oxford Research Group, dedicated to researching defence-decision making and developing effective dialogue between nuclear weapons policy-makers and their critics. For this work she was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize and awarded the Niwano Peace Prize in 2003. From 2005 to 2007 Dr Elworthy helped to set up The Elders Initiative and acted as an advisor to Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Richard Branson. In 2002 she co-founded Peace Direct alongside Carolyn Hayman OBE.
Sir Mark Rylance
Sir Mark Rylance, Oscar winner, actor and former Artistic Director of the Globe Theatre, is a supporter of Conscience, Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), The Peace Pledge Union and World Development Movement (WDM). He was born in England in 1960 and raised in America until 1978. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), he was given his first job by the Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow in 1981. Mark is also an Associate Artist of the RSC, a Friend of the Francis Bacon Research Trust and Chairman of the Shakespearean Authorship Trust. He is also a trustee of the Murray Cox Foundation, and an honorary bencher of the Middle Temple. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters.
More about us