Directorate team
The Board of Trustees delegates to the Chief Executive the management of Christian Aid.
The Chief Executive has authority to direct the charity’s staff, resources and relationships in line with the overall strategic policies, direction, goals and budget set by the Board of Trustees and in keeping with constitutional objectives, the essential purpose, identity and nature of Christian Aid.
The Chief Executive leads the executive group, known as the ‘Directorate’. The Directorate operates in a collegiate manner, as a team.
The Chief Executive however, as the chairperson, has ultimate authority over any decisions made within the Directorate. The Heads of Department (‘Directors’) have authority to lead their departments in line with the priorities collectively agreed by the Directorate.
Our Chief Executive and Directorate team
Patrick Watt, Chief Executive
Patrick Watt is the Chief Executive Officer for Christian Aid, leading the organisation in its work to tackle poverty and promote dignity, equality, and justice. He works closely with the directorate team and the Board of Trustees and engages staff, supporters, partners, and sponsoring churches to realise Christian Aid's vision.
Patrick has widespread experience working in development and humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, ActionAid, and most recently, Save the Children International, where he was the Advocacy and Campaigns Director. He holds degrees in Theology from the University of Cambridge and in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.
Osai Ojigho, Director of Policy and Public Campaigns
Osai oversees Christian Aid’s advocacy, policy, public campaigning, research and learning initiatives in the UK and internationally. The Policy and Public Campaigns team works with partners, coalitions and movements to challenge the structures that keep people poor, building the case for change and taking it to those with the power to effect change.
With extensive experience in international development, Osai has worked with various organisations, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, the African Union Mission in Mali and the Sahel, and Alliances for Africa.
Ray Hasan, Interim Director of International Programmes
Ray leads Christian Aid’s International Programme, which operates globally and works closely with partners and communities to tackle poverty and injustice. The team provides technical, practical, and institutional support to civil society, networks, and alliances and shares expertise and learning in development and humanitarian and peacebuilding practice to maximise our collective impact.
Ray has considerable experience in international development, supporting civil society organisations, engaging with governments and donors, and leading global programmes and large-scale humanitarian responses.
Claire Vincent, Director of People and Workplace Culture
Claire leads the global People and Workplace Culture function at Christian Aid. The team is responsible for enabling a healthy employee experience so that our teams can deliver their best work. She focuses on creating a positive, inclusive, and productive workplace culture aligned with our values of Dignity, Equality, Justice, and Love.
Claire is an experienced HR Director, having worked in large multi-national organisations across the development and education sectors. She is a specialist in organisational design and effectiveness, along with other HR disciplines.
Nick Georgiadis, Director of Fundraising and Supporter Engagement
Nick is responsible for leading the Fundraising and Supporter Engagement team. They communicate with a wide range of audiences to inspire them to fundraise for Christian Aid’s vital work, as well as engaging them to support the delivery of our strategy Standing Together, through speaking truth to power and enabling their prophetic voice to be heard to help end poverty.
Nick is an experienced fundraiser, having led fundraising teams at Cancer Research UK and British Heart Foundation. He serves with the youth ministry at his local church.
Liz Walker, Director of Finance and Corporate Governance
Liz leads the teams responsible for finance, technology, governance, audit, risk and property. They are responsible for enabling colleagues to deliver their best work by ensuring that suitable support, advice and tools are available. Support and assurances are given to the Trustee Board via the governance, audit and risk functions.
Liz is a qualified accountant who started a career in corporate finance and turnaround before joining the charity sector. She has held many roles in the sector either in an executive position or as a trustee.
Mervyn McCullagh, Director of Strategy and Global Change
Mervyn McCullagh has overall responsibility for leading Christian Aid’s global change process to align with our strategy, Standing Together. Mervyn works across the organisation to ensure coherence and alignment with business processes and ensures that our strategy is central to all decision-making, planning, programmes, and results.
Mervyn is a specialist in strategy development and consensus-building with faith-based organisations and churches. He holds previous roles with the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and the Irish Council of Churches. He is a Non-Executive Chapter Member and Lay Canon of St Paul's Cathedral.
