Harpinder Collacott

Start date with DI: April 2012

Where I am based: Bristol

What I do: As Chief Executive Officer of Development Initiatives I’m responsible for ensuring that our organisation is working towards achieving its purpose: to apply the power of data and evidence to build sustainable solutions that create an equitable and resilient world.

I am committed to supporting DI staff in delivering our strategy. As CEO, my priority is to support leadership, culture and ways of working at DI which allow all individuals to give their best and achieve their full potential. With staff and hubs across the globe, I provide overall leadership and ensure coordination across all strands of our work. I lead on strategic planning, external representation and organisational transformation, and I work with DI’s partners to examine the international development system and how it needs to change and adapt for the future to tackle poverty, reduce inequality and build resilient societies.

Previous experience: Political advisor to the Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (an international criminal tribunal for war crimes), Programme officer at Oak Foundation, Head of Communications and Campaigns at Meningitis Research Foundation. I spent three years living and working in Washington DC as research analyst for South Asia supporting Ambassador Dennis Kux at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Affairs, and Director of Strategic Planning for Citizens for Global Solutions. I have extensive UK and European public affairs experience as a research assistant and media manager for Nick Clegg at the European Parliament, Edward Davey MP and Lexington Communications. I hold an undergraduate degree from Cambridge University and a post-graduate degree in international relations from London School of Economics.