Áine Markham, WGH Movement Building Director, brings expertise in humanitarian assistance, global health, research, policy, and governance. She is a passionate lifelong advocate for community engagement, women’s rights, sexual and reproductive healthcare, and particularly, the right of women and girls to safe abortion care.  

With over 25 years of experience in the humanitarian field, working predominantly for Médecins Sans Frontières, she held senior management positions in the field and at headquarters, including Director of Operations from 1999 to 2004.

Since a move back to Africa in 2004, she has worked as an independent consultant for national and international NGOs, Foundations, and Academic Institutions specializing in humanitarian and global public health issues. This work included designing, implementing, and evaluating research projects, strategy and policy development, change management, crisis management, and non-profit governance.

She has served on a number of non-profit boards and was elected to the MSF International Board in 2015 where she served six years as the chair of the Medical Standing Committee and five years as Vice-President.

Áine trained as a general and pediatric nurse in her home country Ireland and holds a Master’s degree in both Public Health and International Politics. She has lived and worked in Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Morocco.