Our People


Regional Programmes Managers


Edward O’Connor
Programme Manager – West Africa

Edward joined Transaid in December 2009 as Nigeria’s Programme Manager. Edward is currently working on the PRRINN-MNCH project in Nigeria which deals with maternal mortality and child immunisation. He had spent the previous number of years working for Wincanton in various roles in different countries. Edward also spent some time as a volunteer with Transaid in Mozambique, Zambia and Nigeria.

 

Neil Rettie
Project Manager – Tanzania
Neil, a PCV driving instructor from Inverness, is on a two year secondment until December 2012 from Transaid member company Stagecoach.  Neil is coordinating the Transaid Professional Driver Training Project at the National Institute of Transport in Dar es Salaam.  He previously completed two three month secondments in Zambia where he worked with local coach operators, conducting training courses to improve the driving ability of long distance coach drivers.

 

Ana Luísa Silva

Project Manager - Nigeria                                                                   
Ana joined Transaid in April 2009 and specialises in rural transport and community engagement. She has recently worked for Transaid in Mozambique and Nigeria in projects aimed at improving access to emergency health care in rural areas. Ana holds an MSc degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.

 

Victor Simfukwe
Programme Officer – Southern Africa

Victor joined Transaid as a volunteer in 2006 and a year later started full time as a programme officer in Zambia. Coming from a community work background, Victor previously served as an education/outreach officer for Ubuntu, a Zambian NGO working with people with disabilities. Victor's current role is to support Transaid’s projects running in Zambia with his most recent work being the Bicycle Ambulance Project in the Eastern Province of Zambia. 

 

UK Support Team

 

The following staff are based in our UK London Office and provide valuable support to the Transaid team overseas.

 

 

Gary Forster
Chief Executive

Gary joined Transaid in 2006 and previously worked in logistics at Procter and Gamble.  He spent three years in Zambia and Nigeria before returning to the UK to take on the role of Head of Programmes in 2009. Since then Gary has helped build Transaid’s portfolio to include projects in Nigeria, Madagascar and Uganda. Gary has presented Transaid’s work to a range of international stakeholders including the UN, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Health Organization. Gary was appointed as CEO on 1st April 2011.

 

Caroline Barber

Head of Programmes

Caroline is responsible for managing Transaid’s existing projects as well as developing new opportunities and partnerships.  Caroline joined Transaid from Wincanton where she previously held roles in business development and project management.  Caroline spent two years in Zambia project managing the Transaid Professional Driver Training Project whilst providing support to other projects in the country.  Caroline has also worked for Transaid in Ghana with women market traders and in Sri Lanka, advising on logistics for the reconstruction phase following the 2004 Tsunami.

 

Chris Cuninghame
Office Manager

Chris started work in June as Office Manager. Before then he'd been working for 20 years with international NGOs in programme management and development, here in the UK and overseas. Most of his previous work has been in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe and is very happy to be able to increase his understanding of African development issues within Transaid. Chris is committed to supporting the growth of stimulating and well-focussed organisations such as Transaid. He has also developed funding proposals, grants management and donor relations for international NGO programmes in the past. 

 

Eve Baker
Office Assistant

Eve Baker works as an Administrative Assistant. The work she undertakes consists of general administrative duties and assisting the office manager with Transaid accounts.

 

Chantelle Cummings
Head of Marketing and Communications
Chantelle joined Transaid in May 2007 and has over 10 years experience in marketing and fundraising within the third sector.  Responsible for Transaid’s marketing strategy, she currently oversees all corporate account management and high profile events, and provides communications support to Transaid programmes.  She has lived and worked in Tanzania as a volunteer teacher and also spent time in South America, volunteering for a street children’s NGO.  Chantelle holds a Masters degree in Gender Analysis and Development from the University of East Anglia and is a member of the Institute of Fundraising.

 

 

Aggie Krasnolucka-Hickman

Marketing and Events Executive

Aggie has joined Transaid in September 2010. At Transaid Aggie looks after UK based events and overseas challenges as well as marketing and communication activities. Aggie has experience in corporate ethnic marketing and in the past used to work as a journalist in Poland and in the UK. She holds an MA in Linguistics and Literature from Lodz University in Poland and currently undertaking her second degree in Social Anthropology at Goldsmiths University in London.  

 


Transaid Trustees

 
We are extremely fortunate to have the guidance, expertise and support of some high flyers from the transport & logistics industry.  All devote a significant amound of time to the benefit of Transaid, its members and projects.  You can find brief biographies of our trustees here. Adobe Reader is required to read these biographies. This can be downloaded here.