Mary Ana joined the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership in June 2020 following a major restructure to more aptly accommodate our growing services and team.

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 field-based roles 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.