Emma Douglas
London,United Kingdom
Summary
Multi-disciplinary team leader, facilitator and partnership builder, experienced in strategic policy, operations and programme delivery. Trusted communicator with senior leaders in politically sensitive contexts. Effective operator across inter-agency missions, government Ministries, Parliament, media, civil society and private sector. Eighteen years working with UK government, UN, EU and non-profits delivering multi-sector support focused in fragile settings.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Strategic Transition Coordinator
UN Special Political Mission, Somalia
Mogadishu
09.2023 - 10.2024
- Advised UN Special Representative to Somalia and led local international negotiations with security partners to prepare Somalia to take on security responsibility from African Union and UN. Forged local, regional and capital level support to reinforce Somali capacities. Led UN strategic and contingency planning across 30 humanitarian-stabilisation-development entities, informed by field visits across local regions and researched-based evidence.
Strategic Advisor
Famine Relief Fund
London
04.2021 - 06.2023
- Chief of staff role for largescale public-private innovation fast-tracking $0.5 billion+ of Gulf funds to UN agencies to avert famine in Yemen and Ethiopia. Shaped CEO and Founder leadership decisions, conveying complex operational requirements and political sensitivities to steer interventions. Led external engagement on behalf of team of 10 technical experts, ensuring showcase of best practice aid delivery and restoring Gulf donor confidence on impact.
Senior Advisor, Stabilisation & Cross-Government
UK MoD
London
09.2019 - 03.2021
- Built and led networks for UK’s deployable, multi-agency, multi-national Standing Joint Force HQ for crisis planning and response. Focused on Middle East and Nordic-Baltic region preparedness. Led strategy for UK joint task force on response to Covid19 in British Overseas Territories, devising direction and plans across healthcare, security, logistics.
Head, Governance, Security & Justice
UK FCO (British Overseas Territories)
London
09.2017 - 10.2018
- Led £39m Programme for British Overseas Territories following hurricane disaster, managing project leads for 10 projects and navigating political sensitivities. Established new public-private partnerships to build resilience and enable transition from initial crisis response. Initiated and delivered UK strategy on minimum-standards in OT Prisons.
Head of Multilateral Team (FCO); Advisor PVE (UN))
UK FCO & UN DPKO
London-New York
07.2015 - 07.2017
- Led FCO team mobilising international support for Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism initiatives. Later seconded to UN New York to advise on strategy integrating PVE/CVE into support for UN Peace Operations.
Military Trainer, Protection of Civilians
EU Mission, Mali (UK DFID)
Koulikoro
03.2014 - 04.2015
- Trained Malian Armed Forces as part of UK contribution to EU Training Mission in Mali, focusing on International Humanitarian Law, prevention of sexual violence, military-humanitarian coordination.
Secretary to Inquiry into IRA ‘On the Runs’
Independent (Lady Justice) Hallett Review
London
03.2014 - 09.2014
- Project managed judge-led inquiry into scheme under Northern Ireland Peace Process, alleged to give IRA suspects ‘amnesty’. Led legal-official-investigator team to deliver high quality report to UK Parliament.
Head, Rule of Law & CN; Civ-Mil Liaison, Helmand
UK FCO
London & Helmand, Afghanistan
08.2011 - 12.2013
- Led multi-disciplinary teams for UK RoL & Counter Narcotics support in London and Helmand (team of 40). Appointed Civ-Mil lead, deconflicting time-critical political/security priorities of US Mil HQ and UK Civ HQ for Helmand transition of authority.
Private Secretary to Minister of State / Advisor
UK MoJ
London
05.2007 - 04.2011
- Led private office of Minister of State Lord McNally, covering whole Justice portfolio (Prisons, Probation, Courts, Constitution) in new Coalition Government. Promoted from international and human rights Policy Advisor (2007-10).
Constitutional Law Officer
JUSTICE (NGO)
London
04.2006 - 08.2007
- Author and researcher of JUSTICE publication ‘A British Bill of Rights? Informing the Debate (2007)’, reporting to executive committee of 15 constitutional academics, judges, QCs and Parliamentarians.
Education
LLM - Public International & Human Rights Law
London School of Economics
Bachelor of Arts - Law with Law Studies in Europe (French Law)
Oxford University, Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas
Skills
Oct 2024 – Nov 2024
Pro Bono – Informal ‘Group of Experts’ on Israel & Palestine
Supporting the convening of eminent Palestinian/Israeli experts to advance collaborative initiatives
Apr 2023 – Jun 2023
Harvard Kennedy School of Government – Public Leadership Executive Certificate
Crisis Leadership; Negotiation Strategies; Persuasive Communications
Apr 2019 – Aug 2023
Trustee, UK Prisoners Abroad – UK charity
Chair of Governance & Risk Committee; strategic guidance on charity’s vision, resources, contingency planning
Feb 2020 – Jun 2023
Member, Independent Monitoring Board – HMP Wormwood Scrubs
Monitor of standards in challenging UK prison; regular all-access visits to prisoners and staff with annual reporting
Nov 2018 – Aug 2019
Sabbatical
‘Outdoor Professional’ training - National Mountain Centre, Wales; 200hr Yoga teacher training; Impact Review - UK FCO International Programme Fund; writer for Global Retreat Company (fitness/wellbeing)
CORE SKILLS
Shaping and influencing strategy; Delivering strategic policy; Transition planning; Leadership and coordination; Negotiation and communication
Languages
English
Native
French
Fluent
Timeline
Strategic Transition Coordinator
UN Special Political Mission, Somalia
09.2023 - 10.2024
Strategic Advisor
Famine Relief Fund
04.2021 - 06.2023
Senior Advisor, Stabilisation & Cross-Government
UK MoD
09.2019 - 03.2021
Head, Governance, Security & Justice
UK FCO (British Overseas Territories)
09.2017 - 10.2018
Head of Multilateral Team (FCO); Advisor PVE (UN))
UK FCO & UN DPKO
07.2015 - 07.2017
Military Trainer, Protection of Civilians
EU Mission, Mali (UK DFID)
03.2014 - 04.2015
Secretary to Inquiry into IRA ‘On the Runs’
Independent (Lady Justice) Hallett Review
03.2014 - 09.2014
Head, Rule of Law & CN; Civ-Mil Liaison, Helmand
UK FCO
08.2011 - 12.2013
Private Secretary to Minister of State / Advisor
UK MoJ
05.2007 - 04.2011
Constitutional Law Officer
JUSTICE (NGO)
04.2006 - 08.2007
LLM - Public International & Human Rights Law
London School of Economics
Bachelor of Arts - Law with Law Studies in Europe (French Law)
Oxford University, Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas
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