Goodbye to our CEO, Jess Camburn

This week we say goodbye to our CEO Jess Camburn. Jess has been at the helm of the organisation since 2009, when Elrha was just a two-person project team within Save the Children UK.

It’s impossible to capture the full depth of Jess’ contribution to Elrha. For 15 years, she has steered us through various stages of growth, navigating growing international need, ever-changing humanitarian spaces, and a global pandemic. Throughout it all, she has led with empathy, integrity and openness, encouraging an inclusive and creative culture within Elrha, and becoming known as much for her warmth and approachability, as for her vision and commitment to humanitarian efforts.

Under her direction, we’ve multiplied in both number and activities, becoming an independent global organisation which has funded almost 250 humanitarian research and innovation grants in more than 50 countries.

Her contributions to the wider humanitarian community cannot be overstated either. Jess has consistently advocated for the value research and innovation can bring to aid delivery and response, and regularly challenged the lack of investment from within the humanitarian system.

As Jess once said:

“Continued investment in research and innovation in humanitarian settings is vital if we are to ensure effective, ethical, and appropriate humanitarian response in the years ahead. While new data suggests some progress on equitable research partnerships, which is critically important, we need to continue to purposefully invest in locally-led research and solutions that collaborate with global partners who share a commitment to improve humanitarian action.”

She has been a vocal champion of the need to integrate local and diaspora actors into decision-making and leadership, ensuring that humanitarian research and innovation centres the needs and priorities of people affected by crises

On behalf of Elrha’s Board of Trustees, Chair Jane Cocking expressed heartfelt thanks and support for Jess as she moves on to her next role:

“Jess’s vision and her commitment have been pivotal to Elrha’s growth and development since its inception. She has been an extraordinary leader for over fifteen years, guiding the team with such thoughtfulness and integrity.”

We wish Jess the very best for the next stage of her career as she takes on a new CEO role with Cerebra, and we will continue to deliver on the strategic ambitions she has laid out for the organisation.