AMREF UK’s role
The AMREF office in the UK focuses on increasing the impact of AMREF's work in Africa by:
- Generating funding and providing technical support to Africa
- Influencing policy and practice
- Raising awareness of African health issues in the UK and relevant global forums.
We currently employ 16 members of staff at our office in London, including:
Belinda Coote
Chief Executive Officer
Belinda joined AMREF UK as CEO in April 2011, and brings a strong background in international development to the role. She spent 18 years with Oxfam in a variety of roles both in the UK and overseas, including in Nepal, Bangladesh and South Africa.
She has been Chief Executive of two organisations – Medical Aid for Palestinians (2002-2006) and Lattitude Global Volunteering (2006-2009). More recently she has been undertaking consultancies and interim management roles to support organisations through periods of change including for Merlin and EveryChild.
Shivonne Graham
Director of Fundraising and Communications
Voted in the top 50 (No.17) most influential in Fundraising Magazine's 2011 Poll, Shivonne is proud to lead AMREF's Fundraising and Communications team in the UK.
Shivonne has previously held senior leadership roles at Shelter, Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres and Comic Relief and led the inaugural 'Have a Heart' Appeal on Heart radio. Shivonne and her team are obsessed with telling everyone they meet about AMREF's inspirational story and contribution to delivering Better Health for Africa.
Miranda Harrington
Head of Programmes
Miranda leads the Programmes team in the UK and brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience from significant field based work across Africa, particularly Liberia and Sudan.
Her 4 years with the Department for International Development (DFID) have honed an impressive understanding of the funding landscape, while her time in Libera, managing a Primary and Secondary Health Care programme for Merlin, where she and her team were responsible for 14 Clinics and 1 major Hospital, mean Miranda is extremely well placed to understand the unique contribution that AMREF brings to Africa’s health care challenges.
Kwalombota M. Kwalombota
Programmes Manager
Kwalombota is the Programmes Manager at AMREF UK. A medical doctor trained in Zambia, Kwalombota worked in Zambia in both cities and rural districts. After completing a population and reproductive health MSc at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Kwalombota was a Regional Advisor for the East and Southern Africa region at Marie Stopes International.
Immediately before joining AMREF, Kwalombota worked at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, where he managed the International Health Links Centre.
Victoria Rugg
Communications Manager
Victoria has specialised in the field of communications for charities for the past ten years. Before joining AMREF, she managed communications for CAYSH, a charity offering support and advice to young vulnerable people in south London, re-branding the organisation and developing a range of communication materials.
Prior to this, she was based in Brussels, working for a number of health-related charities. She led the communications team for the International Planned Parenthood Federation's European Office, the largest global advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Please contact Victoria for any communications/press-related enquiries on (+44) 0207 269 6867 or v.rugg@amrefuk.org