Senior International Consultant · cathyriley.co.uk

Bridging sectors.
Driving change.

Senior leadership in development, humanitarian response, and sustainability, building the cross-sector partnerships that create lasting impact for the world's most vulnerable.

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Cathy Riley

Cathy Riley  ·  Consultant & Advisor

About

Purpose-driven leadership across borders & sectors

Cathy Riley is a senior consultant and advisor with extensive experience spanning international development, humanitarian response, environmental sustainability, and social justice. Her work is anchored in a single conviction: durable change requires genuine partnership (across sectors, across borders, and across difference).

From governance reform in Ethiopia to climate adaptation in Nepal, from women's economic empowerment in Mozambique to data-driven humanitarian response through Flowminder, Cathy has worked across some of the world's most challenging environments, always placing the voices and interests of poor, marginalised, and vulnerable groups at the centre of the work.

She currently works with Flowminder Foundation and a portfolio of partner organisations, building the cross-sector relationships needed to put data and evidence at the service of those who need it most.

Development Leadership Humanitarian Response Climate Adaptation Governance & Accountability Gender Equality Cross-Sector Partnerships Social Mobilisation Behaviour Change
Areas of Expertise

Six pillars of practice

A portfolio career built across sectors has produced deep expertise in six interconnected domains, each of which informs and strengthens the others.

📡

Data, Digital Transformation & AI

Leveraging big data for policy and decision-making, modernizing statistical systems, and enabling governments to develop AI-ready data ecosystems; and simultaneously championing data protection, human rights and the need to address bias for equitable outcomes.

🌐

Senior Leadership in Development & Humanitarian Sectors

Strategic leadership and management for complex, multi-stakeholder organisations operating in fragile and challenging environments (from crisis response to long-term institutional change).

🌱

Environmental Sustainability & Climate Adaptation

Practical expertise in resource efficiency, climate resilience, and embedding sustainability into institutional strategy and programmes (including national policy engagement and multi-stakeholder platforms).

⚖️

Governance, Transparency & Accountability

Designing and strengthening mechanisms that ensure poor, marginalised, and vulnerable groups have genuine voice, agency, and recourse (from complaints handling to national strategy reform).

📢

Communicating for Impact

Social mobilisation, public engagement strategy, and behaviour change communication, translating evidence and advocacy into action that reaches and moves people, from community level to international summits.

♀

Social Justice, Women's Rights & Gender Equality

A career-long commitment to advancing gender equality and social justice, embedded in programme design, policy advocacy, groundbreaking research, and institutional culture change.

Selected Work

Projects & Initiatives

A selection of projects where data, partnership, and purpose came together to create measurable change on the ground.

Data for Health Flowminder Nigeria MPD Workshop
Nigeria · Adamawa State

Optimising COVAX Vaccination Outreach with Geospatial Data

Working with Flowminder, supported planners and vaccination teams in Adamawa State with optimised site placement outputs derived from geospatial data, transforming the reach and efficiency of the vaccination programme.

Daily delivery rates increased from ~2,000 to ~5,000 doses · Flowminder Foundation
Population Data Mobile Positioning Data Workshop
Jamaica · Haiti · Ghana · DRC

Mobile Data Partnership for Population Estimates & Social Protection

Nurtured data partnerships with mobile network operators and statistical offices to produce high-quality population estimates. In 2024, the estimates produced from Digicel data were integrated into the UNFPA Common Operational Datasets for the country, supporting social protection delivery by both government and UN agencies.

Data integrated into UNFPA Common Operational Datasets · Flowminder Foundation
Disaster Response Ghana NADMO disaster response workshop
Ghana

Population Mobility Data for Flood Disaster Response

Population mobility data informed the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) response to the October 2023 flooding, revealing displacement locations that would otherwise have gone undetected, enabling more targeted humanitarian assistance.

Critical displacement locations identified · Flowminder & NADMO, 2023
Humanitarian Response Nepal earthquake aftermath, 2015
Nepal

Multi-Stakeholder Earthquake & Flood Emergency Response

Orchestrated CARE International's humanitarian response to the 2015 earthquake and 2014 floods, coordinating multi-stakeholder delivery under severe resource and time constraints to reach those most in need.

100,000+ families reached · CARE International Nepal
Research & Advocacy Community vulnerability mapping exercise
Mozambique

"Hope Dries Up" — Groundbreaking Research on Women, Girls & Climate Crises

Commissioned and led this landmark research report during Mozambique's 2016–17 drought and cyclone crises, ensuring women and girls' rights and lived experiences were central to humanitarian programme design and donor advocacy.

Gender-centred crisis response adopted across programme · CARE Mozambique
Digital Inclusion Radio masts, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone

Expanding Radio Coverage for the Radical Inclusion Education Programme

Flowminder's optimisation outputs for radio mast placement guided investment decisions to expand radio signal coverage, directly increasing the reach of the government's flagship education initiative.

Improved radio coverage for Radical Inclusion programme · Flowminder Foundation
Advocacy & Campaigns

Speaking up for change

AI-ready Data Ecosystems — Africa

Selected to join the Africa AI Council's technical working group on AI data ecosystems, contributing thought leadership and practical experience to the ambition of ensuring quality, diverse and representative data for African AI applications.

Data for Humanitarian Decision-Making — Global

Working with Flowminder, advocates for the responsible use of population and mobility data to improve humanitarian and development outcomes, building the partnerships between governments, UN agencies, private sector, and NGOs that make data-driven decision-making possible at scale.

Ending Child Marriage — Nepal

Successfully lobbied the Nepalese government to adopt a new National Strategy to end child marriage. As a result, was invited to join Nepal's official government delegation to the UK Girls' Summit (2014/15), one of the most significant advocacy achievements of Cathy's career in country leadership.

Women & Girls in Climate Crises — Mozambique

Commissioned and championed the Hope Dries Up report, bringing rigorous evidence to bear on the disproportionate impact of drought and cyclone on women and girls, and ensuring gender equity was at the core of CARE Mozambique's emergency and recovery programming.

Climate Change Policy & Governance — Ethiopia

Introduced climate change as a new strategic pillar at Christian Aid Ethiopia, engaging with national policy debates and multi-stakeholder platforms. Served as civil society representative on the Advisory Board of DFID/KPMG's £25m Strategic Climate Institutions Programme (SCIP).

Women's Economic Empowerment — Mozambique

Pioneered the responsible introduction of digital tools into Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Mozambique (an early model for ethical technology adoption in frontline community programmes), securing CARE Mozambique's first digital funding and driving programmatic transformation.

Girl Summit 2014

Featured Voice

"Lasting change doesn't happen within a single sector, a single organisation, or a single programme cycle. It happens when we build the trust and the structures that let different kinds of power work together."
— Cathy Riley
Career Journey

Experience

A portfolio career spanning global organisations, governments, and civil society, consistently bridging sectors in pursuit of systemic impact.

Oct 2018 –
Present
Cathy Riley speaking at Global Data Facility Workshop
Flowminder Foundation · Southampton, UK

Strategic Partnerships Director

Responsible for a $10m+ Data for Development portfolio, including the flagship GRID3 programme, which developed innovative methods to produce population data in developing country contexts and strengthened national capacities for data-driven decision-making.

  • Nigeria (Adamawa): Daily COVAX vaccination delivery rates doubled from ~2,000 to ~5,000 through optimised geospatial site placement
  • Haiti: Mobile data partnership with Digicel produced population estimates integrated into UNFPA's Common Operational Datasets, supporting government and UN social protection
  • Ghana: Population mobility data informed NADMO's flood response (October 2023), revealing displacement locations that would otherwise have been missed
  • Sierra Leone: Optimisation outputs guided investment in radio mast placement, expanding coverage of the government's Radical Inclusion education programme
  • Led the organisation's strategic and operational response to COVID-19, integrating new population mobility workstreams and transitioning in-person training to an online learning platform
  • Initiated and secured funding for Flowminder Foundation's first corporate strategic planning process (2019)
May 2014 –
Present
Plan International UK Trustees Away Day, October 2024
Plan International UK  Voluntary

Trustee

Serving as a Trustee of Plan International UK, contributing governance oversight, strategic advice, and accountability to one of the world's leading children's rights organisations, with a particular focus on gender equality and girls' rights.

Jun 2015 –
Aug 2018
CARE Mozambique field work
CARE International in Mozambique · Maputo

Assistant Country Director

Responsible for the effective design, delivery and compliance of CARE's humanitarian and development programming across a $8–10m/annum portfolio, supporting 25–30 civil society partners in diverse thematic areas.

  • Secured CARE Mozambique's first digital funding opportunity, driving digital transformation of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) (an early model of responsible technology adoption in frontline programmes)
  • Led delivery of the core CARE–WWF Alliance programme, including a seminal large-scale study into long-term development and sustainability impact
  • Led emergency response to drought (2016) and cyclone (2017); commissioned the groundbreaking research report Hope Dries Up, ensuring women and girls' rights were central to crisis response
  • Maintained trusted donor relationships with Irish Aid, EU, USAID, OFDA, and family foundations including the Sall Family Foundation
Feb 2013 –
Jun 2015
Nepal delegation at the UK Girls' Summit
CARE International in Nepal · Kathmandu

Assistant Country Director

Led CARE Nepal through a strategic transformation and two major humanitarian crises, embedding partnership-based delivery, institutional accountability, and climate resilience into the country programme.

  • Produced 2015–2020 Business Plan and implemented strategic shift from direct implementation to partnership delivery, aligning with government systems and local actors
  • Successfully closed a $25m DFID/UKAid infrastructure programme at end of its five-year lifespan with zero disallowable costs, including managing sensitive staff redundancy processes
  • Coordinated humanitarian response to 2014 floods and 2015 earthquake, reaching 100,000+ families under severe resource and time constraints
  • Lobbied the Nepalese government on content for Nepal's National Strategy to end child marriage (2015); represented Nepal at the UK government-hosted Girls' Summit (2014)
  • Introduced Outcome Mapping and new MEAL measures including complaints and accountability mechanisms, strengthening transparency and safeguarding across the programme
Dec 2009 –
Feb 2013
Christian Aid Ethiopia team, 2009
Christian Aid · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Country Manager

Built a high-performing team delivering programming in HIV, livelihoods, and social accountability, while introducing climate change as a new strategic pillar and leading a transformation from hierarchical to collaborative organisational culture.

  • Oversaw Christian Aid's emergency response to the 2011 drought and food crisis
  • Diversified the portfolio of strategic partners and supported them through training and coaching on leadership, accountability, and power analysis
  • Introduced climate change as a new area of work; engaged with national policy debates and multi-stakeholder platforms
  • Served on the Advisory Board of DFID/KPMG's £25m Strategic Climate Institutions Programme (SCIP) as civil society representative
  • Served as Chair of the ACT Alliance Ethiopia forum (2012); elected vice-chairperson of the British INGO network in Ethiopia
Jun 2004 –
Dec 2009
Resource Futures · Bristol, UK

Consultant → Team Manager, Communications & Public Engagement

Progressed from Consultant to Team Manager within this environmental consultancy, joining the Senior Management Team and guiding the organisation through a four-way merger to form a new company and brand.

  • Lead author on the UK's first behaviour change impact toolkit for the waste and recycling industry (a reusable evaluation framework still relevant to practice today)
  • Diversified the company portfolio beyond waste and recycling to include water efficiency and environmental sustainability, working with government clients to introduce new technical solutions supported by effective public communication
  • As a member of the Senior Management Team, guided the organisation through a merger with three competitors to form a new company and develop a new brand
Jan 2003 –
Jun 2004
Calderdale Sustainability Forum · Halifax, UK

Sustainability Project Officer

Responsible for delivery of a publicly funded behaviour change project for this community-based organisation supporting Calderdale residents to adopt sustainable practices across energy, water, transport, biodiversity, and waste management.

  • Established new communication channels including a newsletter and website
  • Secured further funding to achieve the strategic goals of the forum and its members
1999 –
Dec 2002
Cathy at the Shewula Mountain Camp sign, Swaziland
Early Career · South Africa & UK

Postgraduate Research & Consultancy

A formative period spanning four organisations across South Africa and the UK, building the foundations in environmental consultancy, community development, and applied research that would shape the career ahead.

  • AEA Technology, Harwell (May–Dec 2002): Freelance consultant delivering DFID-funded research on the links between energy, poverty, environment, and micro-enterprise in developing countries
  • Open Africa Initiative, Cape Town (Apr 2001–May 2002): Coordinator for the African Dream Project, securing the first funding for a route outside South Africa (Swaziland/Eswatini), delivering the Shewula Mountain Camp and Conservancy, which remain operational today
  • Crowther Campbell & Associates, Cape Town (Feb 2000–Apr 2001): Environmental impact assessments, performance assessments, and management planning across oil & gas, transport infrastructure, and waste (managing community liaison, public meetings, and project budgets)
  • Peace Parks Foundation & Natural Resources Institute, Cape Town (1999–2000): Socio-economic evaluation of a British Council-funded community-based tourism and conservation project; primary and secondary research including field work team management
In Their Words

Testimonials

Reflections from colleagues and partners on working with Cathy across sectors and continents.

The most transformative work in data and development happens at the intersection of sectors, and that is precisely where Cathy excels. As a driving force behind the Data for Good Partnership in Ghana for over five years, she has built something genuinely pioneering: a model of cross-sector collaboration for leveraging mobile phone data that brings together government, the private sector, and international partners in ways that are still rare on this continent. She’s also been instrumental in building the capacity of others on how to access and use non-traditional data sources. As a consultant to the World Bank’s programme on using Mobile Phone Data for Policy, she has built the capacity of 20+ African countries.

What sets Cathy apart is her ability to nurture relationships that last. During my time leading Ghana Statistical Service, she helped cultivate the kind of trust between public institutions and private data holders that cannot be manufactured — it must be earned through commitment and skill. As Africa moves to harness the transformative potential of AI and data ecosystems, the partnerships Cathy has helped build offer a model worth scaling.

Prof Samuel Annim
Director, African Centre for Statistics, UNECA
(formerly Government Statistician, Ghana Statistical Service)

Cathy brings collaborative leadership to everything she touches. I have worked with Cathy on workshops, courses, events, and operational initiatives. What sets her apart is her ability to think broadly about the ecosystem she is designing for: the relationships, the dynamics, the needs of the stakeholders and beneficiaries.

When it comes to strategic convening, Cathy’s leadership expands the realm of the possible, turning what might otherwise be passive sessions into vibrant, participatory experiences that resonate long after the room clears. Working with her is a reminder that strategic partnerships are functional, imaginative, intentional, and deeply human.

Trevor Monroe
Senior Program Manager, World Bank
Get in Touch

Let's talk about what matters

Whether you are looking for a strategic advisor, a thought partner, a speaker, or someone who can help build the partnerships your work needs, I would love to hear from you.

Email
info@cathyriley.co.uk
Website
cathyriley.co.uk
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