Trustees

Our trustees, some of whom work for member agencies, use their in-depth knowledge of humanitarian & development work to direct BAAG’s long-term strategy.

 

 

Pete Simms (He/Him): Pete Simms is an education specialist and has worked in international development for the past fifteen years. Originally a primary school teacher, Pete has supported education systems as a teacher trainer, an advisor to Ministries of Education, and within UN Agencies and INGOs. He specialises in fragile and conflict settings and responses to complex and protracted crises. Pete is currently a Senior Advisor at Plan International.

 

Monica Encinas, BAAG TrusteeMonica Encinas (She/Her): Monica Encinas joined the BAAG Trustees in June 2020. She is a Senior Programme Management Specialist at Plan International UK. Before joining Plan International UK, she worked at BAAG for six years in programme management and support roles. Monica holds an MA in Migration Studies from the University of Sussex.

 

Tareq SholiTareq Hassan Sholi (He/Him): Tareq is BAAG's Treasurer.  He joined the Board of Trustees in May 2017.  Tareq holds an chemistry degree from the University of Edinburgh and is a Chartered Accountant and member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.  Having trained at a big 4 firm, he has spent the last 15 years in global corporations, specialising in accounting and compliance in Europe and Africa.

 

Ramani Leathard (She/Her): is Christian Aid’s Head of Region for South East Asia and Afghanistan and has specialised in programme strategy & development, communications and funding with nearly 30 years experience in long term development and humanitarian spheres in the INGO sector. She has a strong personal and professional commitment to social development, with extensive experience in conflict and peacebuilding and supporting community health initiatives in fragile/sensitive contexts and actively involved with Palestinian, Sri Lankan and Burmese refugee populations in search of durable solutions.  

 

Mark Bowden (He/Him): Mark joined the BAAG Board in 2019, he has worked in the humanitarian sector for over 30 years in a career spanning work with INGOs, the UK Government and the United Nations. In the UN he served as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan and as the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator. He previously worked in Somalia as the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. As head  of the Policy Branch in OCHA (2001-2006) he was extensively involved in the design of the major UN humanitarian reform process. Mark served for over 20 years in the United Kingdom and European voluntary sector as the Vice President of VOICE, the European NGO body addressing emergencies and has held several board memberships in other consortia and NGOs. He is currently a trustee of the British NGO – Afghan Aid.

 

 Elizabeth WinterElizabeth Winter (She/Her): Elizabeth has been involved with Afghanistan and aid agencies working there since the 1980s.  She is a founder member of BAAG, and a trustee of one of its member agencies, Afghanaid.  A social scientist and researcher, she specialises in civil society development.  She has extensive experience of managing NGOs in the UK, Afghanistan and Pakistan and travels to Afghanistan regularly.  Elizabeth is currently the Executive Director of BAAG.