Jessie began working in community health programming in Asia in 1999 and has worked on programmes in Burma, Cambodia, China, India, and Thailand. She has a wide range of work experiences from hands-on work with community groups, to strategy and policy development. Jessie is now working as a freelance consultant supporting programme development, evaluation and research for different NGOs and institutions within the region. Her current assignment is with the UNFPA Asia and Pacific Regional Office, mapping organisations and networks working on youth and sexual health throughout the Asia region and making strategic recommendations for network strengthening.

Jessie has broad-based technical expertise in HIV prevention, care, treatment and impact mitigation. She is also experienced in providing support to HIV and AIDS programmes in organisational development including skills-building for: project management, monitoring and evaluation, fundraising and systems development. She has extensive capacity building experience, mentoring and coaching individuals and groups at different levels including Programme Directors, Project Officers, field staff and community volunteers.

Her commitment to high-quality and evidence-based HIV and AIDS programming is reflected within her academic studies. She graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE) with a MSc in Health, Community and Development at the Institute of Social Psychology. She has particular expertise in supporting community participation and small-scale collective action to enhance health and well-being in public health and health promotion.

After graduating , Jessie took up a new posting with Health Unlimited in Cambodia. She spent two years working as Technical & Management Advisor on a project aiming to improve access to primary health care for indigenous peoples. The project will see the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples’ Health Association and Network to advocate at local, national and international levels for more affordable and appropriate healthcare.

Jessie recently visited the autonomous regions of Burma / Myanmar to conduct an evaluation of the development of primary health care services.

Jessie worked with the International HIV/AIDS Alliance for three years, providing support to community level HIV/AIDS projects in East and South-East Asia. The International HIV/AIDS Alliance strives to prevent HIV infection; improve access to treatment, care and support; and lessen the impact of AIDS.

Jessie has also worked as a volunteer on community development projects for many years. From 2004 – 2007 she served as Trustee on the Board of Directors for DHIVERSE, a local HIV and sexual health charity in Cambridge, UK.

Jessie’s first degree (BA Hons) was in English Language and Literature at the University of Sheffield, UK.