About Us

Harry is the Founder and Executive Director of Standing Voice and an award-winning British documentary filmmaker and photographer. Harry’s film work has covered a wide range of human rights issues and taken him to remote corners of the world. The extraordinary global response to his BBC and PBS feature documentary In the Shadow of the Sun, led him to founding Standing Voice with Anton Bilton in 2013. Under Harry’s leadership Standing Voice has grown into a one of the foremost human rights charities defending the rights of persons with albinism in Africa, known around the world for its pioneering response to this issue. Harry provides executive management across Standing Voice's operations and oversees key partner and funder relationships.

Jon Beale is Standing Voice's Director of Development and is responsible for the charity's global operations. He has extensive experience promoting social justice through organisations in Africa and in the UK. Jon has worked with a number of groups facing societal challenges, including torture survivors, political detainees, asylum seekers, orphaned children in rural Kenya, children with autism and ADHD, and people with albinism in Tanzania. Jon is also an experienced researcher, with a particular interest in the cyclical nature of trauma in society and the impact of conflict and extremism on human rights in Africa. Prior to Standing Voice's establishment Jon worked as Swahili Translator for In the Shadow of the Sun. He holds a First Class degree in African Language (Swahili) and Culture from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), London.

Dr Rebecca Kammer is Standing Voice's Vision Programme Director across Tanzania. She has been an Associate Professor of Optometry and Chief of Low Vision at the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) for thirteen years. She has Diplomate status in the American Academy of Optometry and several awards for leadership in the field. That same year, she completed her PhD in Education, which focused specifically on innovative teaching that promotes critical thinking. Since 2010 Dr Kammer has provided vision care to over 600 people with albinism in Tanzania. She resides in the U.S. but visits Tanzania at least twice a year to oversee delivery of the Standing Voice Vision Programme.

Ruth is Standing Voice's Head of Programmes and Partnerships responsible for the effective delivery of programmes and building strong partnerships. She has 25 years of experience working in public health with communities that have been stigmatised and discriminated against. She has worked on sexual and reproductive health, HIV, disability rights, social inclusion, neglected tropical diseases, social and behaviour change and organisational strengthening and governance. Most recently she worked on policy advocacy for sexual and reproductive health, social inclusion, gender equality and diversity managing an advocacy fund. She holds a MA in Gender and Development. She is from Ecuador and has worked on projects globally including various countries in sub–Saharan Africa.

Alfred Thomas is Standing Voice’s Finance Manager, responsible for maintaining all financial activities, records and accounts in the UK, Tanzania, and Malawi. With over 20 years of financial experience, Alfred has worked for several NGOs and INGOs in the UK that has earned him a great track record of success in his career development. Alfred has a master’s degree in Professional Accounting and his enthusiasm in finance has enabled him to embrace and bring positive changes to SV’s benefit and advantage.

As Standing Voice’s Fundraising and Communications Officer, Giovanna is responsible for raising essential funds and awareness to support the delivery of Standing Voice’s work in Tanzania and Malawi. Giovanna has a strong background in fundraising, digital campaigning and advocacy, and joins us from the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. She holds a BA in International Studies and a BA in History from Loyola University Chicago, and an MSc in African Politics from SOAS University of London.

Christiane holds a Master's of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Montreal School of Public Health. For her MPH practice, Christiane collaborated with the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS) to analyse the stigmatisation of persons with albinism in Tanzania and its impact on their access to healthcare. She has recently designed a research project to analyse the impact of magic-religious beliefs on the health, education and access to legal support of persons with albinism in several regions of Mozambique. Committed to advocating for marginalised populations and questioning the systems that threaten their human rights and normalise their intersectional oppression, Christiane has worked with multiple populations including migrants at the border between Mexico and the USA (in Mexicali and Tijuana), survivors of the FARC conflict in the Pacific area of Colombia, people who use drugs in Tanzania and refugee claimants in Montreal, Canada. She currently works with Doctors Without Borders Canada as the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer.

Born and raised on Ukerewe Island, Alex was orphaned at four years of age and spent his formative years moving from family to family. These early experiences inspired Alex to work with deprived communities, with a particular focus on orphans and vulnerable children. He has worked as a Translator and Tanzanian Production Coordinator on the BBC feature-length documentary film In the Shadow of the Sun, and has played a particularly active role in the development and operation of Standing Voice’s Umoja Training Centre. Fluent in five languages and deeply sensitised to the cultures of the Lake Region of Tanzania, he brings lived experience to our work.

Robi was born and raised in Tarime, a rural District in the Mara region of Tanzania. He studied Project Management with a view to helping those less fortunate than himself. He has worked with the Peter Hewitt Care for Africa Foundation Inc that provides communities with access to clean water, health care and opportunity. He also has extensive experience working in Street Children programmes in Dar es Salaam. He currently leads monitoring, evaluation and learning processes for Standing Voice's programmes in Tanzania.

Mary supports Standing Voice’s project delivery in Tanzania through her administrative and accounting background. She was born and raised in Tanzania and attained a degree in Business Administration with specialisations in accounting and finance. Before joining Standing Voice, Mary was a Project Officer with an organisation that helps farmers to earn a sustainable income by developing their agriculture techniques and agribusiness acumen. Mary enjoys applying her passion for numbers and administration in service of Standing Voice's mission to empower people with albinism in Tanzania.

Chrispine is a diploma holder in Aquaculture with five years of experience working with both national and international NGOs in Tanzania. His work has influenced community development with a range of interventions targeting child and maternal nutrition, social accountability monitoring, child protection, primary healthcare, and water and sanitation projects. His lobbying and advocacy skills have been critical in his work empowering the voices of marginalised groups and enhancing local government accountability through negotiation at regional, district, and international levels. Chrispine is passionate about guaranteeing the rights of women, youth, children under five, people living with HIV/AIDS, elderly people and the disabled. He is currently working for Standing Voice as our Welfare Manager.

Born and raised in Tanzania, Tuju has eight years’ experience as the Secretary General for the Mwanza branch of the Tanzanian Albinism Society. He has also taught at Kirumba Primary School since 2009, and, as the beneficiary of the Standing Voice Education Scholarship Fund, has completed his bachelor’s degree in Arts with Education. Tuju is our Education Support Officer, and provides support to beneficiaries across our multiple health, education and advocacy programmes.

Theresia previously volunteered with Standing Voice in Mwanza, before joining the organisation as a field officer. With a background in human geography and poverty alleviation, and a bachelor's degree from Mwenge Catholic University in Moshi, Theresia provides vital support to the delivery of our health programmes across the Tanzanian lake zone

Vedastus originally became involved with Standing Voice following his starring role in the documentary In the Shadow Of The Sun. Since then, he has completed secondary school with the support of Standing Voice’s Education Programme and is now pursuing a career in radio production and journalism. As our UTC Support Officer, Vedastus provides on-the-ground assistance to many of our operations at the Umoja Training Centre on Ukerewe Island.

Valelia was born and raised on Ukerewe Island and attained a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics from Mwenge Catholic University in Moshi. Before joining Standing Voice, she worked as a Mathematics teacher at Mzigu school in Mwanza.

Born and raised in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Thelma has a diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy and is currently completing her Bachelor’s in Community Economic Development at the Open University of Tanzania.

Born and raised on Ukerewe Island, Tanzania, Innocent graduated from Dodoma University with a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism and Cultural Heritage. Thereafter he worked on projects with women living in extreme poverty, those raising orphans, and HIV+ mothers. Innocent was inspired to work with Standing Voice because of the organisation's commitment to ending human rights abuses against persons with albinism.

Born in Kilimanjaro and raised in Dar es Salaam, Ramadhan works across all of Standing Voice's programmes. Ramadhan's previous experience in youth development projects, combined with his background in accounting and finance, make him an ideal leader of community collaboration.

Christina was born and raised in Arusha. She has experience working with women, youth and people with disabilities. She is deeply committed to promoting inclusion, empowerment, and advocacy for marginalised groups and has an empathetic approach, comprehensive understanding of disability issues, and ability to foster resilience and independence among my clients. Christina holds a Bachelor in Social Work from the Institute of Social Work in Dar es Salaam, where she specialised in disability studies and advocacy. Before joining Standing Voice, Christina worked at Under the Same Sun and the Tanzania Albinism Society as a Helpline Officer, supporting people with albinism advocating for their rights and dignities. She also served as a Project Coordinator at the Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organization working on a UNFPA funded project.

Born and raised in Mwanza, Tanzania, Victoria pursued a BSc in Mathematics and Statistics at Mwenge Catholic University before working as a Research assistant at Mwanza International Trial Unity (MITU) under the National Institution of Medical Research in Tanzania. She now works as a Field Officer for Standing Voice, facilitating delivery of our life-saving programmes on the ground.

Jane was born and raised in Mbeya, Tanzania and she is Standing Voice Finance and Admin Officer. Before joining Standing Voice she worked for Zaidi Accounting, a Tanzania auditing firm, as Assistant Auditor. She holds a Bachelor degree in Accounting from the University of Dar es Salaam.

Elizabeth was born and raised on Ukerewe Island, Tanzania. She is among Standing Voice's Education Scholarship Alumni. Elizabeth got her secondary education at Alliance Secondary School before she joined Buhare Community Development Training Institute, where she studied a diploma in Community Development. Elizabeth is currently volunteering at Standing Voice, where she is providing support to the Health Programmes Team. Elizabeth is passionate about advocating for the rights and welfare of persons with albinism in her country.

As our Country Manager in Malawi, Bonface is responsible for coordinating the operation of our programmes and development of our partnerships in Malawi. He holds a degree in Agriculture from Bunda College, a Master's in Disability and Rehabilitation Studies from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, and a certificate in leadership from the University of Virginia Presidential Precinct under the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Bonface has over eight years' experience working in senior management positions and civil society leadership in Malawi. He has worked on disability programmes and as an advocate for the rights of persons with albinism in Malawi and across Africa. He has received a number of awards and accolades in recognition of his contribution to the protection of human rights in this area.

Tuntufye is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in project and partnership management. Prior to joining Standing Voice, she has worked with Save the Children as Inclusive Education Technical Specialist and Inclusive Education Manager giving her the opportunity to serve vulnerable communities especially children with disabilities and those impacted by inequalities and discrimination. Her motivation is seeing children smile from the various interventions and supports that enable them to be included in the societies they live in. She holds a MSc in Management Studies from the Malawi School of Government.

As our Clinical Coordinator, Dr Kaseko is instrumental in the management and delivery of clinical care through Standing Voice's health programmes in Malawi. Dr Kaseko previously worked as a Dermato-Venereology Officer in the skin department at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, where she ran weekly skincare clinics for people with albinism.

Carol is currently the Practice Manager at Edenpark Surgery, a progressive GP-training practice based in a deprived part of North Dublin. Her background is in business administration and large-scale project management, in Dublin and also London. As a board member of community organisation SAFE, Carol has spent many years working with marginalised groups in her practice area. She also has experience volunteering and fundraising for a number of charities at home and abroad. In 2013, Carol and her family spent six months volunteering in Malawi, where she taught English in a village secondary school. Her work there exposed her first-hand to the NGO sector in Malawi, and gave her new insight into the marginalisation faced by people with albinism in the country. Since then, Carol has been committed to establishing skincare services for people with albinism in Malawi, and is facilitating the replication of Standing Voice’s Skin Cancer Prevention Programme there to that effect.

Eric was born and raised in Lilongwe, Malawi and he is Standing Voice Finance Officer. He has 10 years experience working in finance, and before joining Standing Voice, Eric worked for African Vision Malawi helping children and vulnerable people. He believes that his passion to support vulnerable communities is well expressed by working with charities and that working in the finance department for Standing Voice gives him a rare opportunity to help in defending the rights of people with albinism in Malawi. Eric holds a Bachelor degree in Applied Accounting, Auditing and Information Systems from Malawi College of Accountancy.

Owen is a Standing Voice Project Officer in Malawi. He has more than three years experience in project planning and implementation. Before joining Standing Voice, Owen worked with the government of Malawi for more than two years in various development projects. Promoting the rights of persons with albinism and fostering their wellbeing motivates Owen’s work with Standing Voice. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and a certificate in Psycho-social Counselling.

Swerd is Standing Voice Office Assistant. He holds a certificate in Financial Management. Before joining Standing Voice he worked as a Chef at Alpine Caterer's Company, and was a Distribution Supervisor for Flexopack Limited. Swerd has a passion for mathematics and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in accounting. Swerd plays a crucial role in supporting the Standing Voice Malawi finance and programmes teams, by conducting general day to day admin tasks, such as helping to maintain stock rooms and running important errands

Chikondi is Standing Voice Malawi Social Welfare Programmes Officer. She is a firm believer of social justice and has three years' experience in implementing social justice related projects. Her interests include disability rights and women rights. Chikondi has been a role model for young girls with Albinism in Malawi given her role as Miss Albinism Malawi in 2019. The Miss Albinism title has also helped her in raising awareness on the daily lived experiences of persons with Albinism in Malawi.

Lexxa is a Social Welfare Field Officer at Standing Voice Malawi. Born and raised in Malawi, she has over nine years of experience working with different human rights advocacy organisations, including the Association of Persons Albinism in Malawi and the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, where she worked as a volunteer, advocating for the inclusion of and ending injustices for persons with albinism. Lexxa has a Diploma in Hotel Management and Catering, and a Certificate in Psycho-Social Counseling.

Daisy Chikowi is a dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in welfare, public health and advocacy. In her current capacity as a Social Welfare Field Officer at Standing Voice Malawi, her work is centred on providing support and addressing the specific needs of individuals with albinism. Daisy holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Anthropology from the Catholic University of Malawi.

Anton Bilton is an economics graduate of City University London. Anton is Executive Deputy Chairman of London Stock Exchange-Listed Raven Russia Ltd. He has been a founder and director of three other public companies that have floated on London's AIM. Anton's philanthropic efforts are focused through his own charity, The Bilton Charitable Foundation, and through Standing Voice, which he was inspired to co-found after watching In the Shadow of the Sun.

Sabine is a PR professional with over a decade of professional publicity experience. She is the founder of Zetteler Creative Publicity, a London-based agency specialising in PR, marketing, filmmaking and events for people, brands and institutions operating in the fields of design, craft and art. She holds a degree in management and sustainability, and is closely involved with a number of charitable initiatives alongside Standing Voice, including Hackney Winter Night Shelter and Crisis at Christmas.

Gurmeet brings a wealth of experience from her background in Finance and International development. She started her career in Finance and switched to international development almost a decade ago driven by her passion for providing opportunities to those who are less privileged. Most recently, she headed up Impact Funds investments at the CDC Group where she was responsible for setting up the investment strategy and building a portfolio of investments in East Africa, West Africa and South Asia. As a result, Gurmeet has spent a large amount of time across Africa and Asia looking at businesses that serve the poor and marginalised. Prior to this role, she worked at the Children's Investment Fund Foundation where she was responsible for grants targeting significant maternal and child health improvements in Africa

Sr Martha Mganga is a community support worker and advocate based in Arusha, Tanzania. As the seventh child born into her family, but the first with albinism, Sr Martha was ostracised by her family and community throughout childhood. She overcame discrimination to enrol in a religious training programme in Kenya, before dedicating herself to the protection of children with albinism through family counselling and community sensitisation. Sr Martha later founded Peacemakers for Albinism and Community, a grassroots civil society organisation working to empower people with albinism through community advocacy and vocational training. Sr Martha brings invaluable lived experience as a woman with albinism and a depth of expertise as a community mobiliser to our Board of Trustees in Tanzania.

Tadala Peggy Chinkwezule is a trained lawyer with over 10 years of practice experience and the current President of the Women Lawyers Association of Malawi. Tadala holds a Bachelor of Law Degree Hons from the University of Malawi, and a Masters in Human Rights and Democratisation (LLM) from the University of Pretoria. She works for the AHL Group PLC as Legal Services Manager and serves as Company Secretary for one of the subsidiaries AHL Commodities Exchange. Prior to working at AHL, Tadala worked as Legal Counsel for the Malawi Revenue Authority and as a Senior Legal Aid Advocate for the Malawi Legal Aid Bureau, then under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. Tadala is passionate about the promotion and protection of human rights, especially the rights of people with albinism, women and children.

Mr Andrew Sharp was raised in East Africa, undertaking his surgical training in the UK and Zimbabwe. For many years he combined general practice with a hospital surgical post in Leicester, UK. In 2014 he left general practice to focus on his role in skin cancer management and surgery in the Department of Dermatology in Leicester. He is a member of the British Society of Dermatological Surgeons, a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Owing to his strong interest in skills-training for medical professionals who manage skin cancer in people with albinism, he first joined Standing Voice as a volunteer in 2017. Dr. Sharp now leads in the development of surgical training in Standing Voice’s Skin Cancer Prevention Programme.

Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin is a board-certified dermatologist practising in New York City, a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, clinical attending professor at New York University Langone Health, clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Hospital in the Department of Dermatology, and Founder and Director of Entière Dermatology. She is committed to the education and training of dermatologists by serving as a reviewer for numerous medical journals, performing clinical research trials, and lecturing at national professional meetings. Dr. Levin’s interest in training local healthcare providers in Africa began when she spent a year performing research in Kaposi’s Sarcoma in Uganda. Since that time, she has undertaken research, delivered dermatological care, and taught dermatology in Thailand, Botswana, and Uganda.

Dr. Levin plays a leading role in Standing Voice’s contributions to research and training in skin cancer prevention.

Dr. Daudi Mavura is the current Principal of the Regional Dermatology Training Center (RDTC) and Senior Lecturer of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College in Moshi, Tanzania. Dr. Mavura holds a Medical Degree from the University of Carlos J. Finlay (Cuba) and a Master's of Medicine degree in Dermatovenereology from Tumaini University (Tanzania). Dr. Mavura specialised in dermatosurgery, developing his knowledge at UKT-Germany and the Univesidad de Alcalá de Henares in Spain. Dr. Mavura has published and co-authored several papers, primarily in tropical dermatology.

Through Standing Voice’s partnership with the RDTC, Dr. Mavura plays an instrumental role in developing the expertise of community dermatologists enrolled in Standing Voice’s Skin Cancer Prevention Programme.

Dr Mark Wheeler is a GP with a particular interest in dermatology. He worked as a GP in Australia before becoming a GP Principal in Hove, UK. In 1997 he moved with his family to Ireland to practise in Dublin. He is the Senior Partner at Edenpark Surgery, a progressive teaching and GP-training practice in Dublin. He serves on the Board of the Irish Skin Foundation and is a member of both the Primary Care Dermatology Society of Ireland and the Primary Care Surgical Association. Dr Wheeler was also the medical adviser for the Irish charity To Russia with Love and is currently the doctor for the Howth RNLI in Dublin. In 2013 he undertook a sabbatical working as a volunteer doctor in a clinic in Malawi. Since then, he has been collaborating with Malawian dermatologist, Dr Kelvin Mponda, to develop a skincare programme for people with albinism in Malawi. In Spring 2016 he joined forces with Standing Voice to pursue this shared goal.

Professor Saka is a Togolese Dermatologist and Professor in Dermatology at the Centre Hospitalier-Universitaire (CHU) Sylvanus Olympio de Lomé, Togo. Professor Saka has made vital contributions to the prevention and management of skin diseases among people with albinism in Togo. He is a member of the Togolese Society of Dermatology (SOTODERM) and the French Society of Dermatology (SFD), and has over 90 publications in international and African medical journals. Professor Saka provides vital support and guidance to the Committee and implementation team on the international replication of the Skin Cancer Prevention Programme in Francophone African countries.

Dr Lund is Associate Professor at Coventry University’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. While working as a lecturer in genetics at the University of Zimbabwe in the early 1990s, Dr Lund initiated a project investigating the inherited condition oculocutaneous albinism. Since then she has explored genetic, health, educational and social issues surrounding albinism in southern and central Africa, publishing countless research studies to provide the evidence base to inform policy and attitudes to albinism. Dr Lund’s research has largely defined scientific discussions relating to albinism over the past 30 years. Dr Lund has worked with the SV for many years on projects targeting community perceptions of albinism, through the development of awareness-raising materials and methods to grow community understanding of genetic inheritance relating to albinism. Dr Lund has worked with the Standing Voice team on research and advocacy projects funded by the International Foundation of Applied Disability Research (FIRAH) and the Wellcome Trust.

Dr Charlotte Baker is Professor of French and Critical Disability Studies at Lancaster University. Charlotte’s research focuses on disability and stigma in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular interest in albinism. She has published widely on the socio-cultural realities of living with albinism, cultural representations of albinism, and the human rights abuses against people with albinism. She led the Wellcome Trust funded Albinism in Africa project (2014-2017) and she is currently leading the Disability and Inclusion in Africa project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, which foregrounds the importance of alternative explanations for disabilities in African contexts.