Meet the team

Women Working Worldwide has a small but experienced team of staff and Trustees with expertise in project management, organisational development, women’s enterprise, finance management, women’s rights, sustainability and communications. As well as knowledge of working in UK, Africa, China, India and Eastern Europe and experience of cooperatives, NGOs, governments and community groups, which all add value and richness to our portfolio.

We have a number of volunteers on placement with us at any one time, please see below if you are interested in joining us. We can also call on a range of experts who have a working association with Women Working Worldwide.

Staff and volunteers

Over the years, she has worked with and for national and local governments, businesses, social enterprises, statutory bodies and NGOs, so has an understanding and respect for the different perspectives, challenges and opportunities that these sectors face. She believes that collaboration and equity are the ways to achieve equality and lasting change.

Caroline Downey

Executive Director

Caroline joined Women Working Worldwide in July 2016. She is a passionate believer in women's rights and believes that gender equality is critical in achieving a sustainable world. She has worked in international development, ethical trade, sustainability and participatory learning in Africa, China, India, Eastern Europe and the UK.

Alina Alpine

Alisa Smitnova

Alison Li Tianyu

Ayushi Shah

Ellie Holly

Eva Berwing

Evie Gilbert

Grace Doyle

Hala Elamin

Hanna Peruala

Isis Barei-Guyot

Kaamilah Munshi

Katalin Szalai

Kate Davidson

Naima Shah

Nina Roberts

Sally Kenyon

Salma Ahmed

And all the others who have volunteered over the years!

Thank you to our past volunteers

Emma Willder
Finance

Emma Willder, FCMA CGMA, CIS (Affiliated) is the director of Beyond Profit Ltd. Emma and Beyond Profit provide Women Working Worldwide with our finance management.

Erzhena Dashieva
Research Volunteer

A recent graduate of MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects, I am interested in finding practical solutions for the promotion of gender equality. Currently, I am glad to join the Women Working Worldwide team as a volunteer and contribute to the activities dedicated to the empowerment of women at their working places across global supply chains.

Volunteering for Women Working Worldwide is an opportunity for me to discover how gender practitioners can assist corporate companies to fulfil their commitment to gender equality and protect the rights of female employees ensuring fair wages and a safe working environment. I also appreciate a chance to get acquainted with the operations of the international NGO and gain experience in the advocacy for women’s rights.

Be our next student or volunteer

Would you like to take up a student or volunteer placement with Women Working Worldwide? We are always delighted to welcome people with the interest in a range of areas such as: gender, media, fundraising, workers rights, international development and general office admin.

At the moment our volunteering opportunities are managed mostly remotely. We can't offer payment and only an irregular office environment but we can offer regular 121 phone meetings, monthly zoom catch ups, and engagement in a worthwhile cause. When we are in the office we will also offer unlimited teas, coffee and biscuits!

Interested? Then email us with an A4 letter saying who you are and why you'd like to volunteer with us, attach your CV, and send to, contact@women-ww.org with VOLUNTEER in the subject heading. We look forward to hearing from you!

Trustees

WWW is a charity and a company limited by guarantee. We have a Board/Management Committee of seven Trustees, all of whom are also Directors of the company, and they have overall responsibility for the organisation. The Board has wide-ranging experience in Africa, Latin America, Asia – as researchers, activists, trainers, advisors, working in garment, horticulture and flower supply chains, as well as sustainability, international development and advisers to UK/European companies.

Current Trustees are:

Nkechi Deborah Adeboye

Nkechi currently works as a social impact consultant following the completion of her MSc in Development Studies at LSE. Prior to this, she worked as a software engineer in financial services, including projects on “Tech for Good”. She has a strong commitment to social impact, with over eight years of experience in the third and charity sector, focusing on issues such as gender-based violence, technology-facilitated abuse, and gender equality.

Nkechi also has experience working as a freelancer on projects related to stigma, poverty, policy, and power, equitable access to education and employment rights.

Dr Linda Shaw

Linda has been involved with Women Working Worldwide since 1989 and is a researcher and educator. She has worked on gender and development issues in Africa, Asia and Latin America as a trainer, researcher and project manager.

Linda has written for a range of publications from academic articles to worker training manuals on gender and labour issues. She has also worked in co-operative development globally and is currently researching and writing on the histories of co-operatives.

Tasneem Azad

Tasneem is a professional economist and managing director in a global financial services firm. Based in the City of London, she has been active in leading women’s networks and supporting the career development of female professionals.

Prior to working in the City, Tasneem worked for the UK Government Economic Service including within the DTI, the OFT and Cabinet Office, and as a national expert for the EC, focussed on market and regulatory matters.

Halima Ahmed

Halima is an an international development professional with a passion for driving social and environmental progress for the most vulnerable in society, through working with businesses, governments, industry stakeholders and civil society. She has worked on projects focused on women's economic empowerment in West Africa, as well as with private sector businesses to address gender inequalities and women workers’ rights in their supply chains. She is currently based in Dubai, UAE, working on a number of consultancy projects including as Gender Advisor for the ETI.

Jane Blacklock

Jane is the Head of Environment Social Governance (ESG) for Passenger Clothing, an outdoor clothing brand based on the South Coast of England. She's been working in sustainability and ethical trade for over 17 years looking at working conditions in supply chains, responsible purchasing practices, marketing and sustainable raw materials. Before joining Passenger she has held in-house roles at B&Q, FatFace, SABMiller and Mothercare, as well as volunteering as a Non-Executive Director for the Ethical Trading Initiative for 6 years.

Kate Robinson

Kate has worked for twenty years on business and human rights in global supply chains. A research and impact specialist, Kate's primary interest is using data and evidence to enhance voice and accountability.

She brings a depth of strategic planning, programmatic and fundraising experience to Women Working Worldwide, from working at UNRISD, CARE International, the Ethical Trading Initiative and Sedex.

Harriet Cole

Harriet works as Responsible Sourcing Manager for Berryworld, a global soft fruit supplier, supporting the business's Human Rights Due Diligence approach. She has spent most of her career within fresh produce with knowledge in post-harvest, compliance, ethics and sustainability. She has experience living and working in Africa and supporting specific customer foundation social projects. Since being a member for various Food Network Ethical Trade (FNET) working groups and recently instigating a menstrual health awareness project, she has gained a passion for driving the 'beyond audit' mind set and being part of the wider solution.

Could you be our next trustee?

We are looking for new trustees to join our board.

All trustees need to:

Attend Board meetings; trustees attend our 1.5-hour (approx) meetings via zoom every 6 weeks.
Attend annual strategy meetings; staff, volunteers and trustees meet in the WWW offices for a day or half-day once a year.
Contribute to the success of WWW by fundraising and building networks.

Full role description here

If this sounds like you and you would like to apply you can do so by emailing a CV (max 2 sides A4) and a cover letter to contact@women-ww.org.

Any questions regarding the role and organisation can also be directed to this email. THANK YOU!