Maddie Roberts

MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response (2020).

During my time at HCRI I enjoyed most the diversity of core and optional modules that allowed for technical, theoretical, and even vocational skills in the humanitarian sector.

As a previous psychology undergraduate and having spent a few years working in organisations supporting people on the move at UK-French border I was drawn to the global health, young people in conflict and displacement, cash-based assistance, and emergency humanitarian assistance modules. These modules really helped better my understanding and develop my professional skillset both for the hard and soft aspects of crisis response roles.

Additionally, the modules I audited in securitisation and technologies of control were greatly influential in my dissertation and theoretical thinking to the barriers and future of the sector.

Since, my master’s degree I have worked in various crisis response roles, and I am now the Syria Programme Officer for the British Red Cross. I support our programmes and partnerships with donors, stakeholders and our implementing national Red Cross Red Crescent Society partners in Syria. This work primarily supports our flagship and tailored cash voucher assistance programmes, flexible emergency response support and localisation through the national society development.