Chief Executive: Olivia Cosgrove
Olivia Cosgrove, an Irish Chartered Accountant and Tax Consultant is vastly experienced in responding to humanitarian disasters worldwide having worked in the sector since 1995. She has spent 2 years working in development.
Humanitarian Experience
Olivia has worked primarily with Concern Worldwide. She has led response teams in many high profile disasters including the Tsunami 04/05 and has been publicly commended by the UN for her work in Kosovo (1999) and Afghanistan (2001).
Olivia has assisted government develop polices for humanitarian operations and written in-house manuals on refugee camp construction/management, logistics and finance. She has conducted finance courses on behalf of the Irish Government to non-financial mangers. Throughout her work Olivia has trained many local management teams to ensure the sustainability of projects. Her work includes:
Area Coordinator/Project Management
- Shelter:Kosovo/Albania 1999: 180,000
- Refugee camps: Afghansistan/Pakistan 2001/02: 100,000
- Nutrition: Malawi 2002: 20,000
- Trouble-shooter/Technical Advisor: Mozambique Floods 2000
- Systems - Haiti 98, Ethiopia 99
Evaluation: Interim & Final
- Mozambique 2000, Malawi 02
Partnership Advisor
- Malawi 2002/03: Food distribution in Southern African Famine
Head of Departments
- Finance: 3m - 15m: Tanzania 1995, Burundi 1999
- Logistics & Transport: Tsumani, Indonesia 05/06, Malawi 02/03, Rwanda DRC: 96/97
- Administration & IT: Tanzania 95, Malawi: 02/03
Development Experience
Olivia worked with the World Bank for 2 years on a Capacity building project at the University of Malawi, Central Africa. During her time in Malawi she was a Technical representative on National Accounting Board to review International Accounting Standards and conducted academic research on humaritarian operations.
Olivia assisted in the set-up of a local NGO in Malawi to provide cattle to vulnerable families.
Commercial Experience
Olivia trained with KPMG and has undertaken a range of commercial roles including setting up a life assurance company and working with high Growth IT companies in the Corporate Finance Sector.