Staff

Ben has been CEO of the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) since 2015. He has 30 years’ experience of working internationally, with an emphasis on global health and disability work. He has worked extensively across Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia during this time, harnessing expertise from across the UK health community, in the NHS and in specialist medical charities such as Sue Ryder and Sense, to benefit the development of health and social care in low and middle-income countries. For the last fifteen years he has been in leadership roles, building a strong track-record in advocacy and programme innovation, and working closely with UK Government departments and UN agencies. His knowledge of the INGO sector is further informed by periods chairing BOND Working Groups and taking active roles in health networks such as STOPAIDS, the network he directed from 2010 to 2015. Ben has led an active voluntary life in the UK throughout this time, serving as a Councillor and acting as a Trustee of several charities. He became a Fellow of the RSA in 2019 and is a member of the BBC Charity Appeals Advisory Committee. Ben has an MSc in Development Management from the Open University and an MA in History from Edinburgh University.

At THET, Ben leads an organisation that is pioneering a health partnership approach to the training of health workers across 30 countries in Africa and Asia. Health partnerships harness the skills of staff from the UK National Health Service in ways which bring mutual benefit to all involved, a vision of co-development that speaks to the new era of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ben.simms@thet.org

@bensimms65 

Louise is an experienced manager of international development programmes and organisations with specific thematic expertise in health and social development and on policy influence. Louise has geographic experience across Africa, Asia and Latin America and spent 12 years living and working in Brazil.

During her professional career working for a range of international health and development organisations, including NGOs and research institutes, Louise has developed a strong track-record in partnerships, programme design and management, capacity development and the generation and use of evidence to inform policy making and practice.

Originally trained as a nurse, Louise has a BSc in Philosophy and Sociology and an MSc in Environmental and Development Education. At THET, in her role as Head of Programmes, Louise leads the Country Programmes and Grants Management teams.

Louise.mcgrath@thet.org

@LouiseM_THET

A CIMA qualified Chartered Management Accountant, Saf has over 15 years’ experience working within the non-profit and INGO sector.

With considerable experience leading teams in cross-divisional projects, Saf has supported senior management and Board members during her career providing strategic leadership and operational support during the implementation of finance systems and change management phases at International Organisations.

More recently at BBC Media Action, in her role as Head of Project Finance, Saf led a team of Project Accountants during a significant finance transformation project, delivering financial management training and guidance to Country Directors, Finance Managers and project staff based in country offices across Africa, Asia, and MENA regions.

Saf is an Independent Member of the Audit and Risk Committee at UNICEF UK, where her role includes providing guidance and recommendations for the Board on a range of policies and procedures including oversight on financial reporting, risk, HR, governance, and internal controls. In 2019, Saf was appointed a Trustee at The Charity Finance Group joining the Board.

Richard joined THET in November 2014 as Grants Officer. He has a Masters degree in International Development from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to working with THET, he spent two years in Nairobi initiating a refugee education programme, and he previously worked in fundraising and communications for London-based NGOs.

Richard.skone-james@thet.org

Amy has built and grown strategic communications functions across the international development sector. Prior to THET she led communications for the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, a United Nations Foundation data and technology network of 700 governments, businesses and civil society. She has worked in communications and policy roles at the Overseas Development Institute, Crown Agents and the World Health Organization.

Amy is passionate about youth engagement and broadening access to the international development sector. She is a trustee for the grassroots NGO Education Partnerships Africa and a mentor for the London International Development Network and the Media Trust.
She holds a degree in Human, Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Follow her on Twitter at @_amy_leach

Zoe is an experienced research scientist with expertise in using empirical evidence to support and develop programme designs and interventions for international development. Prior to joining THET, Zoe was Head of Global Research at The Donkey Sanctuary, where she led a team delivering research to demonstrate that healthier working animals are better able to support human health, livelihoods, and rural economies in marginalised communities in LMICs.

Born and raised in the Middle East, Zoe spent ten years living and working in Africa and is passionate about a One Health approach to global public health. She has a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Bristol and is a strong advocate for the use of data to understand development outcomes and drive future change.

Kokila Swamynathan MSc ACP joins THET on secondment from the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board , Wales. Kokila completed her bachelor’s degree in Nursing in India and started her career in the UK in 2001. During this time, Kokila has worked in various NHS trusts in England and Wales and the independent sector. She has long championed the importance of Inclusion and Diversity, is the executive lead for the British Indian Nurses association Wales Region and is a member of the Wales Chief Nursing Officer’s Ethnic Minority strategic group. Kokila was awarded a Highly Commended Extraordinary Contribution to Covid -19 Response by the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association 2021 and was a finalist at the National BAME healthcare awards in 2022.

She has also received a Lifetime achievement award from the Chennai Kongu Nanbargal Sangam, Tamil Nādu. Kokila is passionate about eliminating health inequalities and promoting inclusive healthcare settings by celebrating the contribution being made by diaspora staff. Her secondment is sponsored by Sue Tranka, the Chief Nursing Officer of Wales and is funded by the Welsh Government.

Alexandra is a sociology graduate from the University of Leeds where her dissertation was on the homogenisation of the black body. After university, she spent time working in sales and marketing for different organisations throughout Leeds until she would move to Nigeria in September 2020. During her time in Nigeria Alex founded an arts collective.

She continues to be passionate about the continent of Africa and is keen to return to help in some way.

Domagoj joined THET in July 2022 as Digital Marketing Officer. Prior to THET, Domagoj worked as a freelancer, developing engaging and powerful content for different organisations.

Over the years, Domagoj accrued a wide range of experience across social media management, video production and brand awareness. Through these experiences and skills, he has developed a unique sense of design and a belief that the best solutions are those that are both simple and powerful.

Domagoj obtained a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the Faculty of Business and Economics in Zagreb and a bachelor’s degree in Public Law from the University of Law in Zagreb, Croatia.

I graduated with a joint-honours degree in History, Politics, and International Relations from Royal Holloway, University of London.

During University, I worked as a BAME Student Liaison Officer to develop initiatives and programmes to facilitate the inclusion of all students in academia. I also interned at Runnymede Trust to support a policy paper that identified inequalities within secondary schools. I also worked as a Project Coordinator within an Inner London school to promote digital inclusion and create access to digital skills and tools for all students.

I have a huge passion for diversity and inclusion and seeing how this can be achieved through policies. I love that we can use research and data to create real organisational change that makes a difference in people’s lives.

Fiona joined THET in September 2022. Prior to joining THET, Fiona supported the Cancer Innovation Programmes in the NHS and previously managed health, development and education projects in Ethiopia and Uganda.

Fiona also worked as a teacher and holds her undergraduate degree in Education. She subsequently graduated in 2019 from UCL with a Masters Degree in African Studies with Education.

Laura joined THET in October 2022. Prior to her role at THET, Laura has worked in philanthropy roles at two NGOs; Mercy Ships UK and The Sparkle Foundation. Laura graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2021 with a BA in International Development and is currently pursuing an online Master’s degree in Global Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh.

She has an interest in Global Health initiatives with a particular focus on the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases.