The UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH) announces new director

The UK Humanitarian Innovation Hub (UKHIH), which is hosted by Elrha and funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is delighted to announce that Sian White has been appointed its new Director, to take over from Ben Ramalingam.

For the past nine years, Sian has been Assistant Professor for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

During her time at LSHTM, the organisation has played a pivotal role in developing a portfolio of applied research grants related to humanitarian crises, outbreaks and vulnerable populations in low-and middle-income countries. She was responsible for leading the Wash'Em Project, a hygiene behaviour change process that allows humanitarians to design rapid, evidence-based and context-specific hygiene behaviour change programmes in just a week.

Sian’s career to date has also included a senior role at World Vision, where she led the communications and behaviour change strategy of the National Tuberculosis Programme. Jessica Camburn, CEO of Elrha and member of the UKHIH Steering Committee, said: “Sian has a strong commitment to the development of research and investment plans related to humanitarian crises response work. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Sian and continuing the transformative work which UKHIH does to address these humanitarian challenges.”

Sian will start her new role, based in Farringdon, London on 27 June.