Ann has extensive leadership, governance, and transformation experience starting with posts in three governments, the UN, Commonwealth, and as CEO of two global not-for-profit organisations. In 2024 she stepped down after seven years as Senior Fellow growing the NGO Women in Global Health from a start-up to a global women-led movement, guiding governance and strategy, and engaging in significant fundraising and advocacy efforts.
Her varied roles include CEO for the International Diabetes Federation, where she founded the NCD (Non Communicable Diseases) Alliance and led the successful civil society campaign for the first UN High Level Summit on NCDs. She has held senior positions in the United Nations Population Fund, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the UK Civil Service, including serving as the Head of Gender Equality Policy for the UK Government. Ann has addressed women’s rights and reproductive health issues across more than 100 countries, primarily in the Global South, and spent nearly a decade working in Pakistan. She has strong networks across multilaterals, bilaterals, and NGOs, and supports a data and evidence driven approach to ensure measurable impact.
Ann is currently Chair of Age International, a Trustee of Age UK and Board Director with CommonAge, reflecting her interest in global ageing. She is a member of the Advisory Group of the human rights charity, Sex Matters, and has held a large variety of board and advisory roles including with Women in Global Health and as Vice-Chair of Womankind Worldwide.
