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

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

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

Lydia joined the UKCDR team in October 2024 as a Data Analyst. She leads on the MODARI tool, and supports data mapping, analysis, and foresight more broadly.

Lydia brings several years of experience in project management, research, and evaluations of international development projects. Prior to joining UKCDR, Lydia was a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Manager at Integrity where she worked closely with HMG colleagues to generate evidence for informed decision-making.

Lydia holds un undergraduate degree in Archaeology from the University of Edinburgh, and a MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from LSE.

l.burman@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