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Our staff

Scotland’s International Development Alliance has a team of dedicated, experienced staff members who work alongside the board of trustees to ensure that SIDA operates effectively and continues to grow.

Our staff

Frances Guy

Frances Guy

Chief Executive

Frances Guy joined SIDA in 2021, after a long career in diplomacy and international development. She was born and educated in Scotland, Italy, and Canada before embarking on an international career that has taken her principally to the Horn of Africa and the Arabic speaking world, including Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. Frances worked for Christian Aid between 2014 – 2017 as head of their Middle East team based in London. Most recently she was gender team leader for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) regional office in the Arab states. She was Representative for UNWomen in Iraq from May 2012 to December 2014 and before that she had a long career in the British Diplomatic Service during which she served as British Ambassador to Lebanon (2006 -2011) and to Yemen (2001 -2004).

Frances holds overall responsibility for the operational management of the organisation. This includes leading the development of SIDA’s strategy and business plan, and overseeing the delivery of both.

Email: frances@intdevalliance.scot

Fatima Shakeel Blair

Fatima Shakeel Blair

Evaluation and Impact Officer

Fatima joined Scotland’s International Development Alliance in 2023. She has over a decade’s worth of experience developing and managing programmes in Pakistan, particularly in the areas of democratic governance, human rights, and access to justice. Before relocating to Scotland, Fatima led the Local State-building programme portfolio in Pakistan for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Prior to this, she worked on programme development and grant management with the USAID Citizens’ Voice Project.

Fatima is responsible for monitoring and evaluation at SIDA, helping design and put in practice a results-based system to track and demonstrate our progress, and to learn how we can maximize our impact. Her responsibilities also include ensuring effective and responsible data management at SIDA.

Email: fatima@intdevalliance.scot

Hannah Clyne

Hannah Clyne

Humanitarian Action and Global Citizenship Officer

Hannah joined Scotland’s International Development Alliance in 2022 after 12 years working in community led development and gender equality programmes in East Africa, Central America, and Scotland. Previous to this, she studied Social Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh, with a focus on rural education systems in central Tanzania.

Hannah is passionate about amplifying the voices, ideas and power of activists and change makers in the Global South and creating spaces for collaboration and understanding across borders, cultures, and viewpoints.

Hannah’s responsibilities include promoting global citizenship amongst the Scottish public and developing a coordination mechanism for organisations in Scotland who are responding to humanitarian crises abroad.

Email: hannah@intdevalliance.scot

Kat Court

Kat Court

Digital Communications and Events Coordinator

Kat joined Scotland’s International Development Alliance from a small charity providing support for people and families living with HIV. Kat is passionate about radically decolonising global sustainable development, ensuring an actively anti-racist approach, and prioritising global climate justice for all.

Kat studied Philosophy at the University of St Andrews, before completing her postgraduate studies in Social Justice and Community Action with Akwugo Emejulu at the University of Edinburgh.

As Digital Communications & Events Coordinator, her priorities are to enable, encourage, and facilitate collaboration within the global sustainable development sector in Scotland. She leads digital communications for SIDA, from social media to press releases, as well as improves & maintains our extensive & comprehensive website, creating digital spaces for our membership to gather for collaboration, connection & community, through the SIDA Community network.

Kat is currently on maternity leave, please contact her cover David Cunningham in her absence!

David Cunningham

David Cunningham

Digital Communications and Events Coordinator (Maternity Cover)

David joined Scotland’s International Development Alliance, having previously worked for Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, where he managed communications with Members and organised the delivery of their events program.

In his role as the Digital Communications & Events Coordinator, David focuses on fostering collaboration within Scotland’s global sustainable development sector. His main responsibilities include leading the Alliance’s digital communications efforts, encompassing social media management, email newsletters, and press release coordination. Additionally, David upkeeps our website and digital platforms, that enable our members to connect, collaborate, and foster a sense of community online.

In addition to his role at SIDA, David is currently studying Msc International Conflict and Cooperation, having previously studied Marketing at Stirling, graduating in 2019.

Email: david@intdevalliance.scot

Louise Davies

Louise Davies

Head of Policy, Communications & Digital Engagement

Louise joined SIDA in 2022 having previously worked across environmental and social justice issues in a variety of roles. Most recently Louise led the campaigns, policy, and research function at The Vegan Society. Prior to that she co-ordinated the Green Party in Wales and ran an award-winning sustainable event management agency.

Louise has a long-standing interest in global sustainable development, having been a trustee for Hay2Timbuktu for several years, linking the towns of Hay-on-Wye in Wales with Timbuktu in Mali. She also co-founded a thriving fair trade retail business.

Louise leads our policy and influencing work and holds overall responsibility for our communications output.

Email: louise@intdevalliance.scot

Deirdre Muldowney

Deirdre Muldowney

Finance and Operations Manager

Deirdre joined SIDA as Finance and Administrative Officer from a local community development trust working to support local economic, environmental and social development. Prior to this, Deirdre worked for the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, an organisation established to support awareness and commitment to sustainable development in Scotland through Fair Trade.

Deirdre studied Fine Art in Ireland, then travelled and worked abroad before returning to complete a Master’s Degree in Anthropology and Development, focusing on the long term impact of international food aid, primarily in Ethiopia.

As Finance and Operations Manager, Deirdre is responsible for the internal management of financial, governance, administrative and HR functions.

Email: deirdre@intdevalliance.scot

Francis Rodgers

Francis Rodgers

Membership Engagement and Development Manager

Francis joined Scotland’s International Development Alliance in July 2021 having spent the previous six years at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) where he was Head of Membership. Working to a mission of delivering sustainable, inclusive economic growth, he has a wide network across the private, public and third sectors, and extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and business development.

Francis studied philosophy and politics at the University of Glasgow and after spending much of his early career in the private sector, and is firmly focussed on delivering the SIDA vision of ‘Scotland for a fairer world’, maximising value for our members and expanding the profile and influence of SIDA to a wider audience. Francis leads on member and stakeholder engagement, growing the membership and developing partnership and collaboration opportunities for SIDA.

Email: francis.rodgers@intdevalliance.scot

Ashley Taylor

Ashley Taylor

Knowledge Exchange Officer

Ashley joined SIDA after an academic career as a social and political theorist. She has lectured, organised, and supervised research for undergraduate and postgraduates in Scotland, England, and Canada. She most recently ran an MSc in International Political Theory for the University of Sheffield. Ashley completed her Phd in Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. She moved to the UK for the first time after serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Kazakhstan under the aegis of the US Department of State where she organised education and nutrition programs. Before that she completed her undergraduate degree in International Relations and Philosophy across the US, Thailand, and Russia.

As Knowledge Exchange Officer, Ashley coordinates SIDA’s programme of learning and training activities, including peer knowledge exchange events, and SIDA’s mentoring program.

Email: ashley@intdevalliance.scot

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