Mary Ana joined the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership in June 2020, bringing extensive experience in humanitarian leadership roles with a range of leading INGOs and academic institutions.
Mary Ana oversees CHL’s strategic direction and acts as the focal point for the Deakin University and Save the Children Australia partnership. In her four years with the organisation, Mary Ana has developed and rolled out CHL’s Strategic Plan 2020-2024 during which period the organisation has obtained significant new funding with new and existing partners, rolled out a highly regarded new leadership development short course and won numerous Deakin University and industry awards.
Mary Ana holds dual Masters degrees in public policy and nursing from Princeton University and the University of Washington. She comes to the CHL with almost 20 years of experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner and a decade of country level experience designing, implementing and overseeing humanitarian and development programs.
Mary Ana’s humanitarian experience covers a wide range of contexts in Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, in roles including Country Director, Global Emergency Response Coordinator and Global Health Advisor. She has designed and managed humanitarian programs across a wide range of disciplines including epidemic response; conflict, post-conflict and refugee health systems; emergency WASH-related services for refugees and IDPs; microfinance and women’s empowerment; natural disaster response; and community-based peacebuilding.
Mary Ana has worked for a range of leading INGOs including MSF, Relief International and Mercy Corps. She has vast leadership experience in these roles and others, including managing academic researchers and serving as a visiting lecturer at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health.
