Our Team

Renewable World is managed by a small secretariat based in Brighton and has regional offices in both Kathmandu and Nairobi.

The charity employs a team to work on strategic development, project implementation and research, fundraising and marketing and communications.

	Neil Jeffery Chief Executive Officer Tel: 01273 234 801 Email: neil.jeffery@renewable-world.org Neil has a decade’s experience leading and building organizations: for 5 years he was Executive Director of a research and policy institute in Washington DC providing analysis for the US Congress and more recently he has successfully led two UK based organizations through significant periods of change and growth, as CEO of International Development Enterprises and Executive Director of the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights. Neil has worked with poor communities in the developing world for over 20 years with particular expertise in poverty and economic development. He lived and worked in Latin America for several years, is a fluent Spanish speaker and has an MBA with distinction from Sir John Cass Business School and an MA from the University of Cambridge.

	Jo Kelly Programme Development Director Tel: 01273 234 801 Email: jo.kelly@renewable-world.org Jo has worked in the not-for-profit international development sector for ten years, leading and developing interventions from both head office and in the field. She brings to Renewable World experience of defining, directing and facilitating community-based development approaches; familiarity with training and managing community field teams; and experience in scoping, communicating and implementing international change programmes. Previously she worked for VSO and MAG in a variety of roles. Jo has an MBA from Cranfield University and an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge.
	Paolo Mele East Africa Programme Manager Tel: + 254 (0) 731 564 791 Email: paolo.mele@renewable-world.org Paolo joined the Renewable World team as its first overseas Programme Manager and is based in Nairobi. He is an experienced project manager and small business consultant with 20 years of working experience. He has worked in microfinance and income generating projects in a number of developing countries. He brings business modelling, programme management and mentoring experience to the team. In particular he will ensure local partners get financial management and business planning support to ensure long term sustainability. His recent working experience has been in Sri Lanka, Uganda and Malawi and has worked in the past with VSO and MicroLoan Foundation and Business Link.
	Robyn Vernon-Harcourt South Asia Programme Representative Tel: + 977 1 5533 953 Email: robyn.vernon-harcourt@renewable-world.org Robyn took up the position of South Asia Programme Representative in November 2011, having previously worked at Renewable World's Head Office in the UK. Prior to working for Renewable World, Robyn worked for the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women on the Mentoring Women in Business programme and has previous not-for-profit experience working for the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres) and Smallbusinesseurope in Brussels. Robyn has an MA in International Relations with Distinction from the University of Warwick.
	Melanie Matthews Marketing Director Tel: 01273 234 801 Email: melanie.matthews@renewable-world.org Melanie has been a professional fundraiser for 14 years. She brings to Renewable World a broad experience of fundraising and communications, with an emphasis on relationship management; skills in creating and implementing systems for small and growing non-profits; and success in building and leading small teams. Previous roles have included Development Director at TB Alert and managing the Corporate, Trusts and Trading team at WaterAid.
	Nicola Ward Communications Manager Tel: 01273 234 801 Email: nicola.ward@renewable-world.org Nicola joined Renewable World as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator in February 2009. Previously, Nicola worked for Oxfam for more than four years, most recently as the Regional Communications and Information Officer for Oxfam’s Southern Africa programme, working on communications projects in Malawi, Zambia and South Africa. Nicola has an MSc in Climate Change and International Development with a merit from the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University.
	Sarah Farney Fundraising Manager Tel: 01273 234 801 Email: sarah.farney@renewable-world.org Prior to joining Renewable World in August 2011, Sarah worked at the RSPB for 8 years, where she led and managed a fundraising team, bringing in up to £2m/year into the South East Region. She brings with her in-depth experience in fundraising from a broad range of sources, for both revenue and capital projects, including skills in project development and management. Sarah has also gained experience in development, having worked as Funding Advisor in Sri Lanka with VSO.
	Annabel Yadoo Sustainability Consultant Annabel advises Renewable World on issues of sustainability within a rural energy and development context. She has worked as an energy researcher and consultant for a leading international NGO, Practical Action, and has recently completed a PhD on Delivery Models for Decentralised Rural Electrification from the University of Cambridge. During this time, she has gained extensive fieldwork experience, notably in Peru, Nepal, Kenya, Nicaragua and Mozambique, published four journal and conference papers, presented at three international conferences, and spent two months working as a researcher and assistant policy adviser in DFID’s low carbon development team (part of the Climate and Environment Group). Annabel is now concentrating on building up her private sector skill set, working as a consultant for a leading management and strategy consultancy, Oliver Wyman. Annabel has a MPhil in Development Studies and a MA in Modern Languages (Spanish and German) from the University of Cambridge.