We are optimists about Africa, and have a relentless belief that change is possible and problems can be overcome. We work in countries that are at turning points and draw inspiration from their resilience. We seek to recruit determined optimists. Our diverse teams include old hands and development newcomers. But they share a determination to make a difference. If you are interested in a career with AGI, click here.
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Tony Blair, Founder and Patron The Rt Hon Tony Blair is the founder and Patron of the Africa Governance Initiative, and acts as a pro bono strategic advisor to AGI’s partner governments. For a more detailed biography of the former UK Prime Minister, see here. |
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Kate Gross, Founder and Chief Executive Kate, a former Senior Civil Servant, founded AGI with Tony Blair in 2008 and is AGI’s Chief Executive. Kate advised Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prime Minister Gordon Brown as Private Secretary for Parliamentary and Home Affairs from 2004-2007, and has experience in a variety of UK government departments and the European Commission. Kate is a Fellow of the African Leadership Network and was selected as one of the 2011 “40 under 40” development leaders in the UK. Read what Kate has been writing here. |
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Nick Thompson, Chief Operating Officer Nick became AGI’s Chief Operating Officer in September 2011. Prior to this, he established AGI’s first programme in Sierra Leone, before returning to London to oversee AGI’s three country programmes, as Director of Projects from 2009-2011. Before joining AGI, Nick worked in a variety of UK Government Departments and in Brussels advising Ministers on a range of policy areas including trade, energy and the environment. |
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Paul Skidmore, Director of Projects and Performance Paul became Director of Projects and Performance in September 2011. He first joined AGI in 2008, helping to establish AGI’s Rwanda programme before going on to lead the Sierra Leone project, returning to London as Director of Strategy and Fundraising in 2010. Before joining AGI, he worked as a strategy advisor and consultant to various UK government departments. Previous to this he was a senior researcher at the UK think tank Demos, and began his career as a speechwriter for David Lammy MP. Read what Paul has been writing here. |
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Andy Ratcliffe, Director of Strategy and Development Andy joined the AGI London team in September 2010, after a stint as our Deputy Country Head for AGI in Rwanda. After leading our Lessons Learned project for a year, he took over as Director of Strategy and Development in August 2011. He was previously a Senior Policy Adviser on Education in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit in London. Before that Andy worked for the University of Oxford on definitions and measures of poverty in the UK and in Africa (for more information and a list of publications see www.casasp.ox.ac.uk) Read what Andy has been writing here. |
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Shruti Mehrotra, Guinea Country Head Shruti joined AGI in November 2011 to lead our newest project in Guinea. Previously, Shruti worked as Senior Campaigner at the NGO Global Witness and as an independent advisor focused on resource scarcity, sustainable development and political stability. Prior to that, Shruti served as Associate Director and Global Leadership Fellow at the World Economic Forum for five years, following several years in the field directing humanitarian and development programmes, in Afghanistan, the Palestinian Territories, Eastern Chad and Darfur for Oxfam GB and other international NGOs. Shruti started her career as a strategy consultant at the Monitor Group. |
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Steve Haines, Rwanda Country Head Steve became Rwanda country head in August 2011. In Kigali, Steve has worked in both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Public Sector Capacity Building Secretariat in the Ministry of Finance. Before he joined AGI in September 2010, Steve was the Chair of International Campaigning and Communications at Save the Children. Prior to this he was Head of Policy and Strategy for Save the Children’s UK Programme, and Head of Policy at the Disability Rights Commission, following a career in local community development projects. |
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Malte Gerhold, Sierra Leone Country Head Malte joined AGI from the position of Deputy Director of the Strategy Unit in the Department of Health. Before this he worked on health reforms in the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit under Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He began his career as a public sector strategy consultant for Accenture, following a PhD at the University of Oxford. |
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Shaun Chau, Liberia Country Head Shaun is leading the Liberia Programme, having worked for AGI in Rwanda in the President's Strategy and Policy Unit. He was formerly a Senior Policy Advisor at the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit and a Strategy Advisor at the Foreign Office. He began his career as a corporate lawyer in Australia. |
AGI UK Board of Trustees
The Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative is a UK charity governed by a Board of Trustees, and managed day-to-day by the AGI Management Team, led by our Chief Executive Kate Gross.
Liz Lloyd, Chair of the AGI UK Board
Liz was previously Deputy Chief of Staff to Tony Blair, and before that his Senior Policy Advisor on Climate Change, Africa and Home Affairs. Since leaving Downing Street, Liz has advised several Prime Ministerial and Presidential Offices. Liz now works for Standard Chartered Bank, and is Chair of AGI's Board of Trustees.
The Rt. Hon. Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top, AGI Trustee
A former social worker and university lecturer, Hilary Armstrong worked for VSO in Kenya before entering politics. Hilary was first elected as Labour MP for North West Durham in 1987. Between 2001 and 2005, she was Government Chief Whip before becoming Minister for the Cabinet Office until 2007. Shortlisted for the Charity Champion Awards by VSO, Hilary played a key role in the ‘Women Matter’ campaign, helping to ensure that women were prioritised in the new Department for International Development HIV and Aids strategy. In June 2010, Hilary was made a life peer as Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top in the County of Durham.
Stephen Lewin, AGI Trustee
Stephen is a senior partner at law firm Bircham Dyson Bell. His practice includes a focus on charity law, primarily advising on constitutional issues, assets and investment powers. Stephen is a trustee and advisor to a number of charities, in Africa, the UK and elsewhere.
