Meet the team

Lisa Reilly, Executive Director, has worked with GISF since 2011. She has over 16 years’ experience in the development and humanitarian response sector, working overseas in a variety of programme management roles in both Africa and Asia. Returning to the UK in 2009 Lisa took up a position with RedR as Security Trainer developing and implementing personal security and security management courses, as well as undertaking a number of short-term consultancy projects backstopping and evaluating humanitarian response programmes.

Starting as an engineer, Lisa’s security knowledge comes from implementing programmes in various conflict and post-conflict countries, subsequently enhanced through working with a variety of sector experts and on a number of research projects since her return to the UK.

In her current role, Lisa exercises overall responsibility for the GISF Secretariat, supporting the collaboration and exchange of information and best practice between GISF members and GISF’s wider network of humanitarian security risk specialists, as well as liaising with and acting as a resource for UN agencies, academic institutions, donors, etc., to develop appropriate policies and best practice in humanitarian security risk management.

Heather Hughes joined the GISF secretariat in November 2019.

Heather was Oxfam GB’s first Global Security Adviser, where she worked for over 20 years, focusing on strategic and operational security risk management including policy and practice, learning and development, supporting and managing serious incidents and crises, lessons learned and networking. Her career in Oxfam began in humanitarian and development programme support and management roles, including the Balkans conflict.

After leaving Oxfam GB, Heather was Director of Risk Advisory Services at International Location Safety, where she worked with a wide range of NGOs to support improvements in their security risk management approach and practice.

Heather has been involved with GISF since its inception in 2006, and was a member of the Steering Group for many years. As Deputy Director she will support the strategic work of GISF.

Jason O’Connor joined GISF in December 2020. He has joined on a three-month secondment from World Vision International where he has worked for over 5 years as a Global Security Advisor - Training. Jason has over 20 years of experience working with international organisations including numerous UN peacekeeping and assistance missions (Kosovo, Iraq, Liberia, Cambodia, South Sudan) as well as the OSCE (Kosovo) and IOM (Jordan, Liberia).

Jason has a BA in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters in Risk, Crisis, and Disaster Management from the University of Leicester.

In this new position as Deputy Director, North America, Jason will support the GISF Executive Director and lead activities in North America to achieve strategic goals with an aim to raise the profile of GISF.

Justina Amenu joined GISF in September 2014. She has over 10 years’ experience in working with non-profit organisations – managing membership, event organisation, and general administration.

Having completed her first degree, a BA in Economics with Sociology in Ghana, Justina moved to the UK. Her experience with NfPs begun as an administrator with the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, PESGB. She steadily increased her knowledge and experience by working with The InDus Entrepreneurs UK and Society for Editors and Proofreaders Ltd.

Justina is currently responsible for the administrative function of GISF – providing essential support to the team and introducing new ways of working to help the organisation run smoothly.

Léa Moutard joined GISF in August 2019.

Throughout her education, she focused on analysing conflicts, humanitarian operations and associated security issues. She realised various research projects including internal reports for UNHCR’s Beirut field office as well as for a community resolution centre in Berkeley. Trained in mediation, she organised and facilitated talks as the co-founder of two human rights related collectives. In her last role, she sought to bring practitioners, students and civil society actors together to reflect on ways to address the threats and opportunities associated with digital innovations. Léa holds two Masters degrees, in International Relations from Sciences Po Lyon (France) and Human Rights from LSE (UK).

As GISF Research Advisor, she works on initiating and developing practical and original research, along with best practice guides to help humanitarian organisations face security issues. She promotes partnerships across sectors to facilitate information-sharing and foster dialogue on security risk management. She assists the GISF Director in coordination and capacity-building missions.

Chiara Jancke joined GISF in January 2020.

After completing her undergraduate degree in International Studies specialising in the Middle East at Leiden University, Chiara worked on different security issues while interning at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Centre for Strategic Studies in Jordan. Co-founding a refugee foundation in The Hague called Reach & Teach and interning at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Amman motivated her to further investigate security from the humanitarian sector’s perspective. These experiences, as well as studying attacks on aid workers during her Master’s in Conflict, Security and Development at King’s College London, reaffirmed her commitment to work on protecting aid workers to achieve sustainable access for populations in need at GISF.

In her role, Chiara supports the Research Advisor in creating innovative and practical research. She also contributes to communicating about GISF work, to improve security risk management practices across the aid sector.

Laura Van de Vloet joined the GISF Secretariat in August 2019.

After having obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and Management and a Master’s Degree in Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security, Laura worked as an intern at the UN and Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and as a consultant at NATO and a physical security start-up. Her work focused on both security and development policy as well as the organisation and coordination of international high-level events. Most recently Laura worked as a Conference Planner at NATO.

In her role, Laura is responsible for tracking, maintaining and enhancing GISF member engagement. The primary function is to develop the member services component of GISF, including bi-annual forums, workshops, podcasts, etc.

Tara Arthur joined the GISF Secretariat in 2019.

Based in the US, Tara has a passion for working on cross-cutting solutions aimed at improving the lives of underserved populations, both domestically and internationally. With over 10 years' experience in the development and humanitarian space, she has served in various capacities including programmes, safety and security and advocacy, both in the field and at the headquarters level.

She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Virginia Wesleyan University and an M.A. in International Development & Social Change from Clark University. As well as this, she has over 25 years of experience in martial arts. Her most recent work before joining GISF was leading the Faces of Martial Arts Project, which included advancing social change concepts and initiatives within and around the martial arts community; including designing and conducting workshops, programmes, training and interviews.

In her role, she is responsible for fostering GISF member engagement in the Americas by developing member services including US-based Members' Forums, workshops, webinars and more.

Charlotte Sissons joined GISF in September 2020.

Charlotte has recently obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography with International Studies from the University of Manchester. As a part of her four year undergraduate Charlotte completed a year of overseas study at the University of Queensland, Australia. Charlotte is extremely passionate about social justice and international development and her university modules reflected this. She has previous experience in administration and working for an NGO.

At GISF, Charlotte is responsible for providing efficient administrative support to enable the smooth functioning of the GISF Secretariat.

Megan Hooson joined the GISF Secretariat in September 2020.

Megan graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in English in 2017. Since graduating, Megan has found her career path drifting more and more towards administration. After gaining most of her experience in the retail sector, she now wishes to branch out into a more challenging but rewarding role. Incorporating both her degree and experience, Megan works as an Admin and Project Assistant at GISF.

In her role, Megan works alongside Charlotte to provide support for the whole GISF team.