Chair: Dr. Jane Cocking OBE

Jane is a senior operational and thought leader in the humanitarian and development sector with more than 30 years’ experience. Her humanitarian career has taken her from Somalia to Syria in and has included time living in East and Southern Africa, the Balkans and Asia. Her background includes close involvement in humanitarian response to the impact of conflict in Kosovo and South Sudan, natural disasters in Pakistan and Nepal, food crises in East Africa and Ebola in West Africa.

On the ground at key moments in the evolution of the sector Jane has been at the heart of many of the initiatives which have improved the quality, accountability and localisation of humanitarian action. She has extensive experience of influencing at the highest level with governments, the UN, national and international bodies.

Jane was CEO at MAG (The Mines Advisory Group) 2017-20. Before MAG Jane was Humanitarian Director at Oxfam 2008 -2016, responsible for the organisation’s global humanitarian capacity and response. This included leading extensive change to prepare for a world of growing crises and diminishing resources. She now works as a freelance practitioner, consultant and researcher.