Staff and Board of Directors

CHRISTA BENNETT, Director, Christa Bennett completed a masters in International Relations at King’s College London.  A member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London Network of Human Rights Watch, and Sudan Divestment UK, her primary interests are the protection of human rights, development of communities, and the recognition of women and children in global, state, and local politics.  In October 2007, Christa moved to California , where she coordinated the successful application for nonprofit status for a US branch of Network For Africa, a Waging Peace partner.

CHRIS GREEN, Director, is Chief Executive of the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters. Formerly Director of the Poetry Society and Deputy Director of the City of London Festival, he has also been an arts consultant. In his earlier career Chris was a campaign social worker, television journalist and subsequently ran the press office for the Britain in Europe Campaign in 1975. He stood for parliament as a Liberal candidate from 1970 through to 1987 and chaired their Arts Advisory Panel in the early 80s. He is currently chair of the Liberal Democrats’ Broadcasting Advisory Panel.

SOPHIE McCANN, Director, holds a masters in Conflict, Security and Development from the War Studies Department at King's College London. Sophie wrote her postgraduate dissertation on the role of land and oil in Sudan's civil wars,  and her particular interests lie in the root causes and dynamics of conflict, the protection and promotion of human rights, especially women's rights, and the UK treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. She co-produced and edited the Waging Peace report entitled 'China in Africa: the Human Rights Impact', and has carried out research for Waging Peace in Chad, Rwanda and northern Uganda.

LOUISE ROLAND-GOSSELIN, Director, completed a masters in Human Rights at the London School of Economics. Having grown up abroad and worked in Rwanda and Morocco, she has a particular interest in conflict resolution, refugee-related issues and genocide prevention. She has carried out research for Waging Peace in Chad, Rwanda, northern Uganda and Central African Republic. As Director, Louise lends her expertise on Darfur in particular to WP campaigning.

REBECCA TINSLEY, Chair, is a journalist and writer who has written in publications such as the New Statesman, Times, Independent and Telegraph. Formerly with the BBC, she has had two novels published. She has stood twice for parliament and was national chair of the Union of Liberal Students. Rebecca is on Human Rights Watch London committee and is a trustee of the Carter Centre UK and the Bosnian Support Fund. She has a law degree from the LSE.

OLIVIA WARHAM, Director and Company Secretary, has a degree in Politics from Durham University. She has previously worked with Refugee Action, researching the problems faced by female asylum seekers in the UK and the shortfalls they encounter with the Home Office asylum system. She has also conducted research for Response International, investigating the impact of disability on the economy of Lebanon. At Waging Peace, Olivia is involved in campaigning, research, fund raising and event organising. Her particular interests are in refugees and conflict.

Patrons

Dr Reverend Giles Fraser is canon chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral and formerly a lecturer in philosophy at Wadham College, Oxford. He is a regular contributor to various publications including The Guardian, The Church Times, Thought of the Day as well as being an associate to Ekklesia, an independent think tank which examines the role of religion in public life and advocates transformative theological ideas and solutions.

Rabbi Maurice Michaels is currently chair of the Assembly of Rabbis of the Movement for Reform Judaism and, in that capacity, is a vice-chair of the Movement. He has a keen interest in communal affairs and has served on the Board of Deputies, the Zionist Federation Council, and the National Council for Soviet Jewry as well as a variety of other Jewish and non-Jewish organisations.

Martin Sheen is better known for his acting career, however he has also earned recognition as a political activist. He has supported numerous causes including protests against political repression in Central America. He has promoted more liberal political asylum policies in the United States and marched with the Reverend Jesse Jackson to protest so-called immigration reform legislation in 1993. Sheen has also endorsed and supported Help Darfur Now, a student run organization to help aid the victims of the genocide in Darfur. He has received awards for his social activism, including the 2001 Peacemaker Award from the Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a South-African cleric, activist and known opponent of apartheid. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. He was the first black South African Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa and he is currently the chairman of The Elders. As Chair of The Elders, Archbishop Desmond Tutu led their first mission to Sudan in 2007 to foster peace in Darfur. Moreover, he campaigns for the oppressed and is an active defender of human rights and justice in Africa.

Advisors

Annabelle Harris - fundraising

Carrie Braes - design

Waging Peace functions in part thanks to the amazing work of its volunteer researchers. We are very grateful in particular to the hard work of Madelon, Isobel, James, Nam, Louise, Vikki and John.