Associates | The Centre

Michael Barrett

Marketing & Communications Officer, Diplôme d’Études Supérieures en Leadership Humanitaire

Michael has more than 25 years experience in marketing, communications, events organisation and both trade association and NGO management. He is well-versed in CSR and sustainability, having founded two NGOs to support people with disability and promote adaptive sports as well as environmental education programmes.

Michael is an independent consultant driving events, marketing and CSR activities in the travel retail sector and marketing, communications and events organisation at the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership, with a focus on the Diplôme d’Études Supérieures en Leadership Humanitaire.

Michael is passionate about his Christian faith, singing and swimming, preferably in the ocean.

Dominic Bowen

International Operations and Humanitarian Response

Dominic has more than 20 years’ experience specialising in humanitarian response, operational resilience, risk management, business continuity, and crisis response. He led UN Standby Partnership Program Surge Mechanism working groups and real-time reviews with UNICEF and UNHCR, and has worked for MSF, DRC, Red Cross, Access Aid, GOAL, RedR, MTI, and Save the Children. Dominic has led response teams in Pakistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Syria, Haiti, Yemen, Ukraine, and many other humanitarian settings. Dominic has a Masters of International Relations, a Diploma of Public Safety, a Diploma of Security and Risk Management, and is finalising a Master of International Law.

Paula Brennan

Humanitarian Leader and Coach

Paula has spent almost two decades in the humanitarian sector leading emergency interventions across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. For the last 10 years she has led Save the Children UK’s humanitarian programme quality agenda. She deployed to Mozambique, Yemen, The Horn of Africa and, more recently, Poland, to support the Ukraine refugee crisis. Prior to Save the Children, Paula led teams for Oxfam and MSF amassing experience in conflict related emergencies in DRC, Chad, and South Sudan; weather related catastrophes in Myanmar, Philippines, and Guyana; and food crises in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Sahel. She also coordinated Oxfam’s cholera response in Haiti before becoming Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in West Africa.

Paula is a trained coach, joining the Centre as a faculty coach on the Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership in 2017. She acted as Interim Director of the Centre in 2020 and occupied the coach lead role in 2021. She has participated in programmes such as Breaking Barriers, which provides mentors to individuals in marginalised groups who wish to progress their career. She is also a mentor on the Across Organisation Mentoring Programme, mentoring women in leadership across the humanitarian sector.

Paula holds a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and a post-graduate Certificate in Organisational Coaching and Mentoring for Leadership. She is a qualified Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) practitioner and has trained as a Team Coach with David Clutterbuck. Paula is currently undertaking an MA in Coaching at Leeds Beckett University as well as Systemic Leadership Constellations Practitioner Training.

Jo Goldsmith

Humanitarian Advisor and Facilitator

In 20 years of field, HQ and wider sector experience with Concern Worldwide and World Vision UK, Jo has established, coordinated and supported humanitarian operations in a wide variety of conflict and sudden-onset crises across Asia and Africa. She has extensive experience of providing integrated programmes to affected populations as well as playing a leading role in interagency coordination efforts at local, national and global levels.

More recently Jo has worked across a wide range of humanitarian, development, peace-building, mission and academic organisations to support the development of collaborative initiatives, advise on organisational systems and processes, conduct response evaluations, and develop interactive, blended learning programmes. Through creating and delivering digital learning modules, online interactive events and in-person intensives she brings 15 years of experience to developing experiential learning that focuses on reflective practice – the key to building lasting skills and behaviours.

In the face of ever-changing contexts and increasing global challenges, Jo believes holistic approaches, active collaboration and building solutions locally are fundamental to ensuring effective and sustainable support for those at risk.

Jo holds an MA MEng in Engineering (University of Cambridge, UK), MSc in Engineering for Development (University of Southampton, UK) and a Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Leadership (Deakin University, Australia).

Lauren Harris

Learning & Program Designer, Facilitator, and Coach

Lauren brings over a decade of experience across humanitarian, development, and peace and security sectors, specialising in leadership development, learning design, and program strategy. Her career spans diverse roles, from research, policy, and advocacy to learning and program design and delivery, with a focus on quality co-design and fostering impactful, sustainable solutions.

Lauren’s work includes roles with the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region, Save the Children Australia, and Save the Children International, where she worked on humanitarian policy and deploying as an analyst. She has also worked closely with the Australian Defence Force and Red Cross on emergency preparedness, international and security policy, civil-military coordination, and lessons learned initiatives. Her experience also includes grassroots development in Timor-Leste and advisory roles across government, civil society, and the private sector.

Passionate about empowering others, Lauren integrates human-centered design, systems thinking, and experiential learning into her approach. She focuses on gender- and conflict-sensitive programming, Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and addressing climate and future security challenges, with a commitment to equity and sustainability. Coaching and mentoring are central to her practice, helping to build resilience and adaptability in teams.

Lauren holds a Master of International Security and Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Multimedia. She is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring for Organisational Development at Leeds Beckett University. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative approach, Lauren is committed to driving positive change in complex global contexts.

Camille Lemouchoux-Heffer

Coaching Lead, Trainer and Lecturer, Diplôme d’Études Supérieures en Leadership Humanitaire

Camille Lemouchoux-Heffer is Coaching Lead, Trainer and Lecturer for the Diplôme d’Études Supérieures en Leadership Humanitaire, and is responsible for academic teaching, training, coaching and supervising teams of professional coaches who are supporting students during the course of their studies.

Camille has more than 20 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sectors, having worked for various organisations in the field and in HQ in management positions before becoming an independent consultant.

Camille was previously Eurasia Unit Manager for Médecins du Monde France, Director of the Quality Accountability and Learning department in War Child Holland and Country Director for War Child in Palestine, Colombia, Sierra Leone, specialising in Child Protection and Partnerships.

As a professional coach, Camille specialises in leadership development, team management, prevention of burn-out, staff care and career transitions within or outside the development and humanitarian sectors.

Camille holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology (Paris VI), a Master in Public Health and Health Services Research (University of Aberdeen), and is a certified Master Coach.

Camille Lemouchoux-Heffer est Responsable du Coaching, Formatrice et Chargée de Cours pour le Diplôme d’Études Supérieures en Leadership Humanitaire, et en tant que tel, responsable de l’enseignement, de la formation, du coaching et de l’encadrement d’équipes de coachs professionnels accompagnant les étudiants tout au long de leurs études.

Camille a plus de 20 ans d’expérience dans les secteurs de l’humanitaire et du développement, ayant travaillé pour diverses organisations sur le terrain et au siège à des postes de direction avant de devenir consultante indépendante.

Camille a auparavant occupé le poste de Responsable du Pôle Eurasie pour Médecins du Monde France, a été Directrice du département Qualité Redevabilité et Apprentissages de War Child Holland et Directrice Pays de War Child en Palestine, Colombie, Sierra Leone, avec un focus sur la protection de l’enfance et les partenariats.

En tant que coach professionnelle, Camille se spécialise dans le développement du leadership, la gestion d’équipe, la prévention de l’épuisement professionnel, le staff care et les transitions de carrière à l’intérieur ou vers d’autres secteur que celui du développement et de l’humanitaire.

Camille est titulaire d’une Maîtrise en Psychologie Clinique (Paris VI), d’un Master 2 de recherche en santé publique et services de santé (Université d’Aberdeen) et de la certification de Master Coach.

Nick Outlaw

Leadership Expert and Coach

Nick has significant experience leading change and improving organisational performance in complex contexts. He works with individuals, teams and at the organisational level, leading interventions that engage people and deliver real shifts in capability and confidence.

Nick has delivered leadership development for Astra Zeneca, Unilever, Arcelor Mittal, and the UK Senior Civil Service. He has worked with humanitarian organisations to support global strategy and leadership as well as senior emergency teams in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Nick helped design the Centre’s Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Leadership and has also taught the course. He is trained in Gestalt Psychotherapy and is a graduate of the NTL Institute of Applied Human Sciences.

Gabrielle Schembri

Coach, Facilitator and Learning Professional

Gabrielle draws on over 25 years’ experience to support organisations, teams, and individuals globally and at all levels to harness their individual and collective power to navigate today’s complex and changing landscape and achieve the results they seek. She has worked in, and supported those responding to, humanitarian emergencies for many years, most recently at Save the Children’s Humanitarian Leadership Academy.

Now an independent consultant, Gabrielle delivers leadership development in the not-for-profit, private, and public sectors and strives to make coaching and learning experiences engaging, meaningful and safe, encouraging deep reflection and exploration. She is also a member of the faculty for the Centre’s Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Leadership. Gabrielle holds a coaching diploma, a post-graduate qualification in coaching and mentoring for leadership in organisations and is a CIPD graduate in learning design and delivery.