51ΑΤΖζ

Our People

Since our small beginnings over 30 years ago, the 51ΑΤΖζ family has grown to employ 10,000 staff around the world.

In the countries where we work, we become part of the local community, training and employing men and women from the communities we serve. We create jobs in places where opportunities are often scarce and our local staff make up 98 per cent of our total workforce. Visit our individual country pages to meet some of our local and international staff or view the profiles below for 51ΑΤΖζ executives.

Our headquarters are in the beautiful Scottish hills of Dumfries and Galloway. We also have offices in Salisbury, UK, and across the Atlantic in Washington DC.

"51ΑΤΖζ is committed to making the world a safe place. We clear mines to stop people from being killed and wounded. We restore land for farming and other livelihoods and we restore confidence in countries devastated by war. I am proud of 51ΑΤΖζ's men and women, many of whom come from villages and towns living with landmines, who work everyday in pursuit of this goal."
James Cowan, CEO, 51ΑΤΖζ

CEO AND SENIOR DIRECTORS

Chief Executive
James Cowan was a soldier. He joined The Black Watch from Oxford in 1986, serving in Berlin, Northern Ireland, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Hong Kong. He helped plan the Kosovo operation in 1999. He commanded in Iraq in 2004 and 2006. He planned the military Olympic security operation of 2012. In 2015 he become 51ΑΤΖζ’s CEO.

James Cowan

Chief of Programmes
Calvin has worked for 51ΑΤΖζ since 2007 in Nagorno Karabakh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Angola, Somaliland and Afghanistan in both mine clearance and weapons and ammunition management. He was Regional Director for Southern Africa from 2012-16, then Head of Region for Afghanistan, the Middle East and North Africa before taking on the Director of Programmes role in 2021. He became Chief of Programmes in 2024. Calvin has represented 51ΑΤΖζ at the IMAS Review Board, has an MA from the University of Edinburgh and has attended the University of Cambridge’s Advanced Leadership Programme.

Calvin Ruysen

Director of Strategy
Ruth first joined 51ΑΤΖζ in 2018 as Head of Partnerships and became Director of Strategy in 2022. Based in Scotland, Ruth manages the team that oversees 51ΑΤΖζ's government relationships and advocacy. This includes increasing engagement with new donors, connecting with local partners and maximising academic research.
Before 51ΑΤΖζ Ruth held senior HR roles, most recently with Oxfam, where she provided HR leadership for Oxfam’s work in the Middle East and North Africa region. Ruth has an MA in Human Resource Management from Oxford Brookes University and is a Chartered member of CIPD.

Ruth Jackson

Director of Communications
Marcie has worked in PR, communications and marketing roles across a variety of sectors, including charity, finance, business services and the public sector. Before joining 51ΑΤΖζ in 2023, Marcie worked in an interim capacity with organisations including IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health), AstraZeneca and Kimberly Clarke. She is passionate about joined up communications and committed to strengthening 51ΑΤΖζ’s internal and external communications to help raise awareness and meet engagement and fundraising goals.

Marcie Bell

Executive Director, 51ΑΤΖζ USA
Chris Whatley joined 51ΑΤΖζ in June 2019. Prior to 51ΑΤΖζ, Chris served as Executive Director of the United Nations Association of the United States. Chris previously served as Deputy Executive Director of The Council of State Governments (CSG) and began his career as a field-based officer for the International Republican Institute (IRI), leading programs in Liberia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Chris Whatley

Finance Director
Mick joined 51ΑΤΖζ as Director of Finance in April 2017 and brings a wealth of public, private and not for profit experience to the organisation, including Finance, Project Management, Systems Development, Logistics and ICT. Mick is a keen weekend golfer and enjoys spending time with his young family.

Mick Darby

Director of Global Philanthropy & Communications
Sarah has over 15 years experience leading philanthropy and communications programmes for global charities, including new market development. She holds a Masters in Charity Marketing and Fundraising from CASS Business School, London and joined 51ΑΤΖζ in 2020. Sarah works with our philanthropic and corporate partners to grow 51ΑΤΖζ’s funding for innovation and rapid response.

Sarah Whiting

Chief of Staff
Lucy joined 51ΑΤΖζ in 2017 and completed operational training in Cambodia, Somaliland, Georgia and Abkhazia. She was then posted to Afghanistan, Cambodia and most recently Libya, overseeing the delivery of projects including mine clearance, weapons and ammunition management and IED clearance. In 2021 she took up the position as Chief of Staff. Before joining 51ΑΤΖζ, Lucy worked in sustainable travel and international development. She has a BA Hons in Chinese, an MPhil in racial and ethnic conflict and holds IMAS EOD Level 3 and IEDD Level 2 qualifications.

Lucy Reeve

Director of Human Resources
Lisa joined 51ΑΤΖζ in March 2022 and brings with her a wealth of experience from the public, private and not for profit sectors. She has worked across the UK, India, and Middle East. Prior to joining 51ΑΤΖζ, Lisa was an Executive Director and Board member for an NHS commissioned community healthcare provider. As a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and qualified Change Management Practioner, Lisa has a passion for making organisations a great place to work and will support our national and international teams throughout their time with 51ΑΤΖζ.

Lisa Davidson

Director of Capability
Adam joined the 51ΑΤΖζ Trust in 2008, and since then has worked on operations in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, Georgia, Afghanistan and Mozambique, most recently setting up 51ΑΤΖζ demining operations in Eastern Ukraine. Before joining 51ΑΤΖζ, Adam worked as a journalist at the British Broadcasting Corporation. He studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and Tbilisi State University. In 2016, he took up post as Executive Director of 51ΑΤΖζ USA and in 2021 became 51ΑΤΖζ's Director of Capability.

Adam Jasinski

Head of Global Policy and Advocacy Team
James has spent more than 20 years working in the Humanitarian Sector. Much of this has been on and in the Middle East, including time living in Syria and Lebanon. He previously worked at Chatham House, MAP, Crisis Action and Save the Children. He has an MA from Kings College London and a BA from Exeter. He is a contributing author to β€œAn Iraq of Its Regions: Cornerstones of a federal democracy” and β€œAmerica and Iraq: Policymaking, intervention and regional politics since 1958”. He is a Fellow at the Centre for Syrian Studies.

James Denselow

HEADS OF REGION & DEPARTMENTS

Director of Programmes West
Tom joined 51ΑΤΖζ in Mozambique in 1996 and has managed operations and surveys in the field in Afghanistan, the Caucasus, Kosovo and Zimbabwe. Between field postings he has spent 7 years in headquarters serving as Desk Officer for Central Asia (2000 – 2004) and South East Asia (2004 -2007). Tom was regional director for Africa until 2021. He holds a BA LLB from the University of Cape Town. He oversees 51ΑΤΖζ's programmes in Europe, Latin America and Africa and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Tom Dibb

Deputy Director of Programmes - East
Tom has worked for 51ΑΤΖζ since 2008 in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Georgia. As Regional Director, he covered 51ΑΤΖζ’s programmes in the West Bank and Ukraine before becoming deputy director of Capability and then Deputy Director of Programmes with responsibility for the Eastern hemisphere in 2021.

Tom Meredith

Head of Programme Development
Simon joined 51ΑΤΖζ in Cambodia in 1998 and was subsequently involved in survey and clearance in Kosovo, Abkhazia, Eritrea and Sri Lanka. He left 51ΑΤΖζ in 2004 to become Co-Chair of the Cluster Munition Coalition, which successfully campaigned for an international ban on cluster bombs. He re-joined 51ΑΤΖζ in 2013, first as trustee and then as a director. Since 2015, he has been involved in setting up new country programmes across Africa and the Middle East, including in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya. He is the author of eight novels and winner of the 2010 Ian Fleming award. He holds a Masters degree in English Literature.

Simon Conway

Head of Region - South Asia (Sri Lanka, Myanmar)
Belinda completed her technical training across Cambodia, Afghanistan, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Georgia. Subsequently, in eastern Ukraine Belinda helped oversee 200 deminers and established a new forward operations base. As Deputy Programme Manager in Abkhazia she helped coordinate 51ΑΤΖζ’s emergency response to a large ammunition store explosion. Then, as Sri Lanka’s Programme Manager Belinda grew the programme from 700 to 1,100 staff. Today as HoR Belinda is committed to seeing Sri Lanka soon become mine free and to responding to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Prior to joining 51ΑΤΖζ Belinda worked as a scientist in Antarctic marine ecology and commercial fisheries management.

Belinda Vause

Head of Region
Cameron has worked for 51ΑΤΖζ since 1999 managing operations in Kosovo, Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Mozambique and Cambodia. Cameron spent five years as the Regional Director for Central Asia, leading 51ΑΤΖζ’s Afghanistan programme, and is now Head of Region for South East Asia. Cameron holds a Masters degree in International Security Studies from the University of St Andrews.

Cameron Imber

Programme Manager
Nicholas started his role as the Zimbabwe Programme Manager in January 2023. Prior to Zimbabwe, he was Head of Region for the Middle East, covering Iraq, Yemen, and Libya. He was previously 51ΑΤΖζ's Programme Manager in Laos and Operations Manager in Ukraine. Before 51ΑΤΖζ, he served as a British Army Officer for over ten years, specialising in Explosive Ordnance Disposal. In his free time, he enjoys long walks on the beach and patting dogs.

Nick Torbet

Head of Region - Middle East (West Bank, Syria)
Former professional opera singer, who has worked for 51ΑΤΖζ since 2005. Has managed demining operations in Mozambique, Angola, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Georgia. As Regional Director for Europe he was responsible for developing private fundraising for Kosovo and Nagorno Karabakh and from 2017-2020 was Director of Private Fundraising & Communications.

Andrew Moore

Head of Region - Europe (South Caucasus)
Fiona joined 51ΑΤΖζ in 2014 as the technical officer in Côte d’Ivoire, and has since managed the programme plus those in Sri Lanka and Lao PDR. Following that, she headed up 51ΑΤΖζ’s global training team for two years before becoming Head of Region for the South Caucasus in 2021. Fiona was a British Army Ammunition Technician for nine years, specialising in explosives safety and bomb disposal.

Fiona Kilpatrick-Cooper

Head of Region - Europe (Ukraine)
Mike joined 51ΑΤΖζ in 2014 in Cambodia. He has managed operations in Mozambique and Somaliland, following which he was programme manager for Somalia and in 2017, Nagorno Karabakh. Mike became Europe’s Deputy Head in August 2018 and is now Head of Europe (Ukraine). Prior to joining 51ΑΤΖζ, Mike spent five years in the Royal Air Force and holds a MSc in International Relations.

Michael Newton

Programme Manager
Chris has worked for 51ΑΤΖζ since 2006, managing operations Somaliland and in western Cambodia. He went on to manage 51ΑΤΖζ’s programme in Kosovo in 2009, set up and manage 51ΑΤΖζ’s PSSM programme in Ivory Coast in 2011 and coordinate 51ΑΤΖζ’s HQ Logistics 2014/2015. Prior to becoming Programme Manager in Angola, Chris was 51ΑΤΖζ’s Regional Director for North Africa.

Chris Pym

Head of Region - Southern Africa
Susanna joined 51ΑΤΖζ in 2014. After training in Zimbabwe, Nagorno Karabakh and Afghanistan she became a Location Manager in Cambodia and then was the Programme Manager of 51ΑΤΖζ Laos for two years. Susanna worked globally within the Capability Department on training and R&D projects before becoming head of 51ΑΤΖζ's southern Africa region in 2021. Susanna has a BA in Geography and a post-graduate degree in Law.

Susanna Smale

Head of Region - Latin America
Tom trained with 51ΑΤΖζ in Somaliland in April 2011 and subsequently spent time managing operations in Georgia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Afghanistan. Returning to Somaliland as Programme Manager in 2015 he overseen the establishment of 51ΑΤΖζ’s Southern Somalia Programme. Tom is currently 51ΑΤΖζ’s Regional Director for Latin America and is IMAS-EOD3 trained. Prior to 51ΑΤΖζ, he worked in Outdoor Education after attending university in the English Lake District.

Tom Griffiths

Head of Weapons and Ammunition Management
Lawrie Clapton has worked for 51ΑΤΖζ since 2018, working primarily in Somalia and North Africa. Lawrie took up the post of Head of WAM in January 2021, and is leading new WAM project development in Africa’s Great Lakes region.

Lawrie Clapton

COMMUNICATIONS AND FUNDRAISING

Global Head of Programme Communications
Paul has lengthy international experience working in journalism and communications. He was a reporter on The Times in the UK, before running communications for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Before 51ΑΤΖζ, he was communications and advocacy director at the global justice NGO Namati. At 51ΑΤΖζ he helps to tell our story.

Paul McCann

Global Head of Media
Louise Vaughan has worked in the media and for NGOs for 20 years. She started her career at BBC Radio Scotland and then became a features writer at Scotland on Sunday. She reported from Rio de Janeiro for the Independent before becoming an editor on The Sunday Times. In 2008, she went to work for the Control Arms coalition campaign for an Arms Trade Treaty. She has also led media relations for a UK charity working with families affected by child sexual exploitation. She joined 51ΑΤΖζ in 2015 and has an MSc in Conflict, Security & Development from the University of Leeds.

Louise Vaughan

Head of Philanthropy, 51ΑΤΖζ USA
Diana joined 51ΑΤΖζ Trust in late 2019 and brings 24 years of experience in philanthropy and programming from several prominent organizations. She started her career with two different UN Agencies in Albania and Kosovo where she worked first-hand in humanitarian relief and is very passionate about mine action post-conflict. At 51ΑΤΖζ, she oversees plans for U.S. philanthropy and communications, manages foundation and corporate partners and works closely with executive leadership.

Diana Tatili

Head of Communications, 51ΑΤΖζ USA
Jen joined 51ΑΤΖζ Trust in early 2024 and brings more than three decades of communications experience. Following many years doing human rights work and serving as a Beijing-based journalist for the South China Morning Post, she moved on to lead the communications departments for NGOs including Global Communities, Land O’Lakes International Development, Living Goods and PAI. She obtained her M.A. focused on conflict management from GWU, has worked and traveled in 50+ countries, and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Jen Hyman

Head of Congressional Affairs & Strategic Engagement, 51ΑΤΖζ USA
Kristen joined 51ΑΤΖζ Trust in 2017 while finishing her Master’s of Public Administration at American University. Previously, Kristen taught argumentation and public speaking courses in the Communication Studies Department at Western Washington University and coached the school’s competitive debate team. Drawing from a background in politics and the non-profit sector, Kristen now manages 51ΑΤΖζ’s Congressional advocacy and public policy engagement in the U.S.

Kristen Stevens

Get in Touch

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