Education

09/2001 – 09/2002                                 School of Oriental and African Studies

MSc Violence, Conflict and Development

This Masters degree explores the relationships between conflict and development. I have taken courses in Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development; Theory, Policy and Practice of Development; Refugee Studies and Development Practice. I plan to complete my dissertation on issues relating to human rights abuses and conflict in India. Currently my assessed work has been of the Merit and Distinction levels.

09/1995 – 06/1998             London School of Economics and Political Science                                                                                    

BSc (Joint Hon.) International Relations and History

Achieved a class 2:1 degree. I examined in detail issues relating to areas such as Nationalism; International Institutions; International Political Theory; Colonial History and International Economic History.

01/1989 – 06/1995                     Toothill Comprehensive School, Notts

A Levels: English Literature (A), History (A), Sociology (A)

GCSEs: 7 A Grades (including Maths, English and German)

             2 B Grades (including French)

Work Experience

04/2002 – 010/2002                      International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN)

Consultant Coordinator

Principal Duties:

• Planning and coordinating the IDSN response to international fora and events as they arise, including the UNCHR, CERD, EU etc
• Developing a briefing function in coordination with IDSN members (including Human Rights Watch, Antislavery International and others) for appropriate international bodies, fora and networks
• Researching and preparing submissions for international for a (recent submissions include the UN CERD and the EU)
• Maintaining and developing links with IDSN members in South Asia, East Asia and Africa, as well as providing advice and support for their in-country initiatives
• Researching the existence of caste discrimination in other countries and developing links with relevant groups

03/1999 – 09/2001                                     United Nations Association, London

Membership, Fundraising and Youth Officer

Principal Duties:

• Membership development and administration
• Researching and producing funding applications and appeals to members, trusts, companies and institutional donors
• Providing campaign assistance to UNA’s local group, university, youth and affiliate organisation networks
• Researching, producing and developing campaign materials
• Input on strategic planning and co-ordination of UNA campaigns
• Day-to-day media and public affairs work, both pro-active and reactive
• Providing lobbying assistance to UNA departments, including working with the UN All Party Parliamentary Group
• Input into the strategic development of the organisation
• Maintaining a Youth network of university and school groups

12/1998 – 03/1999                                               Fairtrade Foundation, London

Events and Fundraising Volunteer

Principal duties:

• Preparing funding applications to charitable trusts and researching funding policies of UK and European institutional donors
• Organising a successful “Funders evening” to provide information on the Foundations work
• Researching key trade issues and standards in the coffee industry

Part time 03/1998 – 03/1999                                         Pell and Bales, London

Fundraising agent

Principle duties:

• Contacting supporters on behalf of charities (including Christian Aid, Red Cross and Oxfam)
• Researching charity campaigns and issues

Other activities, responsibilities and interests

I have been active in other political and campaigning organisations on a range of domestic and international issues since I was a sixth-form student. I am currently an active member of CODEP (Conflict, Development and Peace network), a member of the Coexistence Initiative and an elected executive member of UNA London Region. My interests range from music, reading and the theatre to sports, travel and a keen interest in South Asia.

Computer skills

• High level of competence with relational databases (Access, Progress) including design, development and programming
• Good competence in Microsoft Excel
• Excellent word processing skills and fast typing
• Ability to use Microsoft Publisher and Adobe Pagemaker
• Good internet and email skills, including strategic development of websites, some programming and web based research skills

Other relevant skills

• Clean driving licence
• Good basic French and German

Referees

Dr Chris Cramer, Course Convenor VCD, Development Department, SOAS, Houghton Street, London

Peter Dyson, Deputy-Director, United Nations Association, 3 Whitehall Court, London, SW1A 2EL

Margaret O’Grady, Programme Coordinator, Anti-Slavery International, Thomas Clarkson House, Broomgrove Road, London, SW9 9TL