Maggy Heintz joined UKCDR in January 2022.  She leads UKCDR providing high-level engagement and strategic coordination of the SCOR Board.

Prior to UKCDR, Maggy was at the University of Leicester for 8 years. Most recently Head of Research and Business Development, she was International Research Development Manager for several years working with partners in low- and middle-income countries. In that role, she facilitated, managed, and coordinated large scale multidisciplinary research proposals addressing the UN SDGs.

Prior to this position, she was science attaché in physical sciences and innovation for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in London, and has a research background in Earth Sciences, having conducted research at the Australian National University and the University of Cambridge.

M.Heintz@ukcdr.org.uk

Sonja McGurk joined UKCDR as a Head of Operations and Strategic Projects in September 2023. Prior to this, she was a Chief of Staff in a cyber-security/ software development company for two years.

In 2021, she moved back to the UK after 14 years overseas, having lived in Spain, Jordan, North Macedonia and the USA. Some of her previous roles included – Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in North Macedonia, International Education Consultant for UNRWA in Jordan and Policy Adviser for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office at the British Embassy in Madrid, Spain. She has a BA degree in English and French and speaks several languages.

s.mcgurk@ukcdr.org.uk

Judy Holman is an Executive Assistant within the UKCDR team. Her role largely involves providing essential support to the Executive Director to deliver the organisation’s strategic responsibilities, in addition to providing secretariat function to the SCOR Board.

Judy holds a Bachelor of Arts from Sydney University, majoring in History & Philosophy of Science, and has previously worked extensively in the field of business engagement and administration in higher education.

j.holman@ukcdr.org.uk

Anisa joined UKCDR as Senior Research and Policy Officer in September 2023. She undertakes policy research and provides oversight for the portfolio of work within UKCDR.

Anisa is currently completing her PhD in International Development at King’s College London. Her research focuses on the impact of Global Value Chains on structural change in Malaysia, and how this leads to and perpetuates uneven economic development. Prior to pursuing her PhD at King’s, Anisa worked in various public policy and research organisations. These include the Central Bank of Malaysia, and the United Nations Development Programme in managing South-South Cooperation.

Anisa obtained her Master of Arts degree in Development Economics from the University of Sussex. Her dissertation was on ‘Growth, Trade, and Deindustrialisation: A study of Industrialised and Developing Economies’. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Government and Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

a.muzaffar@ukcdr.org.uk

Andrea joined UKCDR in April 2022 as a Research & Policy Officer. She is responsible for providing research and policy advice to UKCDR members and key stakeholders on international development issues.

Andrea currently leads a project analysing development research impact through the results of REF 2021 case studies. She also supports UKCDR’s work on research capacity strengthening and the COVID CIRCLE initiative.

She has several years of experience in international development, working at NGOs, public bodies and HEIs in knowledge management, partnership building and research. Prior to this position, Andrea worked as a Research Assistant for the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium and as a South-South Development Officer at Colombia’s Presidential Agency of International Cooperation. Andrea holds a BSc in International Relations from Universidad del Rosario and an MSc in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex.

a.padilla@ukcdr.org.uk

Pablo joined UKCDR in January 2024 as a Research and Policy Officer, tasked with providing international development research and policy advice to UKCDR’s stakeholders.

Pablo currently leads a project analysing case studies on mechanisms for funding development impact alongside coordinating the 2024 Health Funders Forum (HFF) meetings.

Prior to joining UKCDR, Pablo was a delegate at the United Nations Headquarters, where he coordinated a team of negotiators from the G77, the largest negotiating block at the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. He has a wealth of expertise in international negotiations, having drafted and facilitated over a dozen UN resolutions and ministerial declarations focused in financing for development.

Pablo holds a BSc in International Relations from Universidad Francisco Gavidia and an MA with Distinction in Economics from the University of Essex.

Adrian joined UKCDR in July 2017 and is presently the Senior Data Analyst leading the secretariat’s work on data mapping, analysis, and foresight. This is primarily done by analysing research investments to maximise the coherence of funding activity (such as in COVID-19). Adrian also leads UKCDR’s work on climate change and disaster risk resilience.

Previously, Adrian worked on research projects to develop models to finance the higher education of women and adolescent girls in Thailand and Cambodia, and to promote the rights of women and girls in Guatemala. Adrian has also managed a variety of sustainable development projects across Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nepal, while also managing the Dhaka field office from afar. Adrian holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Essex, and an MSc in Development Management from the London School of Economics.

a.bucher@ukcdr.org.uk

+44 (0) 207 611 8301

Chantel is a Data Analyst at UKCDR. As part of the MODARI project, Chantel is working to improve the availability and consistency of data on ODA-funded research and innovation across UK government funders and implementing partners. In addition, Chantel is working on mapping and analysing current UK research investments in climate change and international development.

Previously, Chantel was a Research Assistant on the COVID-19 Research Coordination & Learning (COVID CIRCLE) project. Chantel worked with large data sets, coding and mapping global COVID-19 research projects and conducting analysis to support coordinated funding efforts.

Prior to joining UKCDR in January 2022, Chantel had worked in multiple academic institutions in research, monitoring and evaluation, and data management roles. Chantel has managed multiple large datasets across institutions and is experienced in analysing, interpreting and presenting data for a range of audiences.

Chantel has a BA in Sociology from the University of Durham and an MSc in Sociology from the University of Oxford.

c.jones@ukcdr.org.uk

Lucy Lawrenson joined UKCDR in January 2022. She is responsible for promoting UKCDR’s work across all channels. Lucy’s professional interests span global health, climate change, and research practices. She also has a background in account management. 

Lucy has an MSc in Geography and a BA in French and Politics, both from UCL.

L.Lawrenson@ukcdr.org.uk

Mariam joined the UKCDR team in October 2023 as a Communications Assistant. Her role involves working closely with the Communications Manager to create and disperse content highlighting UKCDR’s ongoing contributions to international development research across various media.

Mariam holds a Biochemistry (BSc) from the University of East Anglia, and has interests in science communication, writing and graphic designing, and art.

m.jallow@ukcdr.org.uk