Staff profiles
Laura Cranney, HR & Recruitment Services Officer, UK
Laura joined RedR in July 2008 and is responsible for our internal human resources and is the key point of contact for RedR’s Recruitment Services. Laura coordinates staff recruitment for the UK and international offices, managing performance and salary reviews, monitoring staff development, and producing HR policies and procedures.
As key point of contact for our Recruitment Services, Laura liaises directly with agencies to match requests for personnel for disaster relief with our Register of RedR Members. Laura is also responsible for the recruitment and coordination of RedR’s office volunteers.
What she says:
“I chose to work for RedR because, as someone with an HR background, I see the value of developing people. RedR plays an important part in professionalising and giving support to the humanitarian sector. It’s not just about people mucking in, but about giving people the real skills they need to make an impact. Because our training is interactive and scenario based it means that people can take what they learn outside of the classroom and into the field. RedR is an organisation that values the development of people and skills, and I feel proud of the strong reputation RedR has gained in the relief and development sector.
“I think it’s in examples like Haiti where I really see the value of the work I undertake, particularly in terms of results. In the first 6 months following the Haiti earthquake I worked with 26 international agencies to help them resource their emergency response and expand their existing international programmes. We received 97 requests from different agencies, many of which resulted in the placement of RedR Members in Haiti.”
Education and sector background
Since joining RedR, Laura has undertaken several RedR training courses including: Essentials of Humanitarian Practice, Managing People in Emergencies, and Distance Management. Before her current role, Laura worked as a HR Assistant for an IT company and volunteered in Malawi organising children’s activities. Laura has a degree in Human Resources Management from Northumbria University.
Moise Joseph, DRSS Security Trainer, Haiti
Moise began working for RedR on 3 March 2010. He is currently employed as a security trainer with the Disaster Relief Support Service (DRSS) in Haiti, a joint programme run by RedR and French training agency, Bioforce. The DRSS provides training and support to some of the 900 or more national and international agencies who are operating in Port-au-Prince, assisting the local population affected by the earthquake.
As a security trainer, Moise is responsible for preparing and delivering several training courses. Guard training, which covers: site security, handing emergency situations, VHF communications and guard duties. Staff safety training, which includes: personal safety, procedures in the event of kidnap, ambush, travel safety, and incident reporting. Moise is currently working on developing new training courses including: Emergency Preparedness, Abduction management training and First Aid.
What he says:
Describing the importance of the work that the DRSS undertakes Moise comments:
“Many of the staff working for national and international NGOs do not have the capacity to respond to some of the issues that face Haiti. These are not only issues that have arisen since the earthquake, but also issues from before the earthquake. The biggest challenge for Haiti over the last 6 months has been shelter. Many people are still living in temporary shelters such as tents and underneath tarpaulin.
“The DRSS has done a lot of training on security and logistics to cover some of the challenges of Haiti. I remember one particular day when I was translating for one of the trainers; after the training the participants were very happy that RedR/Bioforce had come to help them build their knowledge on how to do their job better. The certificate they received after their training gave them the possibility to find a job with other NGOs.”
Looking to the future, Moise is aware of the challenges both the country faces and that he faces personally:
“I think the challenges in the next 6 months will be the election and the hurricane season. Personally, my biggest challenges are that I am still living in a tent myself, and that I will be not able to continue my education.”
Education and sector background
Before working as a security trainer, Moise was employed as an office guard for the DRSS programme in Haiti. He then became a translator, providing support to trainers delivering courses for the DRSS.
Moise is a qualified trainer and previously worked for national NGOs in Haiti before working for the DRSS. When he gets time off from his busy training schedule he spends his time teaching children who have been made homeless since the earthquake.
Beruk Kabtamu, Programme Manager, Khartoum, Sudan
Beruk has been employed by RedR UK since January 2009. After 10 months
spent as a Training Team Leader for the Sudan Country Programme, Beruk was promoted to Programme Manager for the Staff Safety Programme. He is responsible for coordinating RedR’s large scale training and learning support programme in staff safety and security. His previous experience has given him substantial knowledge of the needs and security context of Darfur and an understanding of RedR’s approach, allowing him to take the programme forward during 2010.
What he says
“It gives me a great sense of satisfaction to be part of an initiative that contributes to the safety and security of humanitarian agency staff working in Darfur, an unstable area where many factors threaten aid workers’ well-being. The humanitarian community really appreciates RedR’s response to their needs, and know me as a Trainer on a subject that’s very important to them. Working with RedR is hugely rewarding and one of my greatest achievements.”
Educational and sector background
Beruk has a Master’s Degree and has worked in Ethiopia, Sudan and Afghanistan with many International NGOs in senior and mid-level positions related to programme management, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships, training and other capacity building areas in development and emergency programmes.
"I feel that RedR offers a unique and essential service to the sector, which is not available elsewhere. It has an excellent reputation which I am proud to be a part of."
Claire Privett, Marketing Officer, UK Office
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