We are delighted to announce that Lauren Watters, our Director of Impact and Advocacy, has been promoted alongside our current CEO Karl Hankinson, to become co-CEO at Able Child.
Lauren brings with her great experience into the role. She is the current co-Chair of the Bond Disability and Development Group, and co-Chairs the International Disability and Development Consortium’s (IDDC) Safeguarding Task Group.
Lauren also authored the first Disability-inclusive Child Safeguarding Guidelines and was recently invited to give evidence to the UK government’s International Development Committee enquiry.
Karl said:
Lauren has been at Able Child for over 10 years and has played a seismic role in the success of Able Child during that time. Operating at a senior level for the last six years, Lauren has become a well-respected, senior figure in the disability and development sector, an expert in her field and a powerful advocate for the inclusion of children with disabilities across both the national and international arena.
Lauren’s commitment and leadership have been a great support to me during my time at Able Child, and as we near the launch of our new 2030 Strategy (later in March 2024), moving Lauren into this role alongside me will ensure we are better equipped to deliver on our new strategy, and be able to speak with a more powerful voice so that ultimately, we can support more children with disabilities across Africa.
I am really looking forward to working with Lauren to bring about this change over the coming months.
Lauren will take on this role alongside Karl from 04 March 2024.
