Guernsey’s Overseas Aid & Development Commission has appointed three new voluntary Commissioners – Mr Chris Gregg, Dr Lindsay Jeffries and Dr Michelle Le Cheminant.
This follows the positions being advertised across local and social media in May 2022 and a thorough selection process being undertaken. The new Commissioners have been appointed for a four year term from 1st August 2022. It was also agreed at the States Meeting to reappoint Miss Judith Moore, Mrs Margaret McGuiness and Mr Bryan Pill for a further four year term.
The Commission, on behalf of the States of Guernsey, distributes funds for aid and development overseas by making grants to charities undertaking development and humanitarian work in the world’s least developed countries, and by contributing to emergency and disaster relief.
Mr Chris Gregg is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered IT Professional. He has worked for the international Charity Mercy Ships for over 22 years. He initially spent four years as a volunteer on a hospital ship working in West Africa, before transitioning to shore-based support work in the UK and USA in various roles for Mercy Ships. This included Managing Director of m/v Global Mercy – the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship.
He is currently a Senior Consultant to the Office of the Chief Operating Officer but working remotely in Guernsey. The Commission considers that Mr. Gregg’s extensive experience in senior management and operations in the international development sector, including a background in business strategy, project management and practical engineering, will be invaluable to the Commission.
Dr Lindsay Jefferies has an extensive academic background including a PhD in Health Economics. During her career she has worked as an Economist at the former UK Department for International Development, as a Researcher in Health Economics at Oxford University, and as Assistant Professor in Health Economics in the Department for Global Health and Development at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr Jefferies is currently the Managing Director of Island Global Research Ltd. The Commission notes that Dr Jefferies’ wide experience in international development which includes, but is not limited to, programme implementation and evaluation; an understanding of sustainable development as well as in-country political and cultural context; and governance and practical considerations for providing effective development assistance, will bring key knowledge and skills to the Commission.
Dr Michelle Le Cheminant (pictured) is a Consultant Anaesthetist with the Medical Specialist Group. Throughout her career Dr Le Cheminant has been committed to improving healthcare services in low and middle income countries through education and training. This includes a period as a Visiting Lecturer at the University Teaching Hospital of Lusaka in Zambia, volunteering with the Zambia Anaesthetic Development Project, as well as working with local teams to deliver rural outreach projects.
Since 2017, Dr Le Cheminant has been a volunteer faculty anaesthetist with the eye care Charity Orbis International including working in Vietnam, China, Mongolia and Malawi. She has also helped to develop an e-learning curriculum on the Orbis Cybersight website. The Commission believes that Dr Le Cheminant’s medical expertise and experience of working and teaching in the developing world will be of great benefit, particularly as it receives many applications from charities for healthcare and education projects.
Deputy Chris Blin, the President of the OA&DC, said: “When the Commission launched the recruitment campaign I said that it always impressed me the depth of experience we have in such a small Island – I certainly have not been disappointed. I would like to publicly welcome the new Commissioners and also congratulate the existing Commissioners who have been reappointed. I would also like to thank all those who applied for the positions, which were heavily oversubscribed with quality applications. Their interest is much appreciated.
“I would also like to thank the ‘retiring’ Commissioners who have reached the end of their Terms. Mr Philip Bodman, Advocate Teresa de Nobrega and Dr Nick Paluch were first appointed in 2012 and their commitment and hard work have been unstinting. The role of Commissioner is an unpaid one, but they have spent many hours reading and assessing each of the hundreds of Grant Aid applications received each year, as well as guiding the Commission in general.”
The main image shows Dr Michelle Le Cheminant working with the eye care charity Orbis International.
