Laurel Adams

Experience

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  Global Exchange (South African Partnership Programme)

  Jul 1989 - Dec 1992

  Southern African Field Representative , Reality Tours Coordinator

  Established a new office and presence for Global Exchange in Southern Africa, and developed programmes around fair trade, advocacy, capacity building, educational tourism.

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  South African National Rural Development Forum

  Apr 1993 - Dec 1995

  Management Committee Member, Organiser, Information Officer

  Helped build a national network, from local rural communities through provincial structures to national, to represent the interests of poor rural peole in South Africa during the transition from apartheid to democracy.

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  UK URBAN Community Initiative

  Jan 1997 - Dec 1999

  National Network Coordinator

  Advised partnerships between local government and civil society in 18 UK cities on how to most effectively involve poor and excluded people in urban regeneration, as well as building and mainting network for advocacy and share learning.

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  Oxfam GB

  Jan 2000 - Mar 2005

  Regional Manager/Director

  Regional Program Manager in HECA and in West Africa for just under 4 years, managing Country Directors, Regional Advisors, and Regional Campaigns. Interim Regional Director in West Africa for 1.5. Responsible for up to 11 countries, total of 220 staff, and budget of circa £8million. Also founded Pan Africa Programme.

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  ActionAid

  Apr 2005 - Oct 2012

  International Head of Innovation and Learning (Impact Assessment)

  Served as Head of Innovation and Learning for final six months responsible for innovation, sustainability, knowledge management, learning and training, and internal communications. Previously the Head of Impact Assessment, responsible for world wide Accountability, Learning and Planning System (Alps) binding members in 43 countries. Advised on strategy and program development, developed systems and built capacity on M&E, designed and led annual reporting process. Report to the audit and risk committee on accountability issues, and served on ActionAId Brazil among other roles. Show less

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  Oxfam

  Oct 2012 - Mar 2016

  Newly created cross-divisional role at OGB headquarters to bring Oxfam's commitment to women's rights more effectively to the heart of all our work globally, including influencing & campaigning, programmes, communications, fundraising and operations. This role has regional and global components. In addition to leading and managing Oxfam's programme in Southern Africa, I play a corporate international role on gender justice and am part of Oxfam confederation change process. A major focus is shifting role and identify of current team in the region in line with new vision, with a new Oxfam South Africa affiliate due to become member in 2015, bringing stronger southern leadership into the confederation.

  • Women's Rights Director

    Apr 2015 - Mar 2016

  • Regional Director, Southern Africa

    Oct 2012 - Apr 2015
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  Women for Women International

  Feb 2016 - now

  Lead strategy, organizational development, fundraising, representation and management of global organization, including program offices in Afghanistan, Iraq, South Sudan, DRC, Palestine, program affiliates in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Rwanda, partners in Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar and supporter offices in the US, Germany, and UK. Lead program and partnership strategy, business development (grants), and support and oversight of program offices and partners.

  • Chief Executive Officer/President

    Jul 2016 - now

  • Vice President, Programs

    Feb 2016 - Jun 2016