25 Years Advancing Gender Equality, Security, & Justice
Proven expertise across key areas of global development work:
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Security Sector Reform/Governance (SSR/G)
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Justice Sector Reform/Governance
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Women, Peace and Security (WPS)
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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 and 16
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Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Prevention (PSEA)
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Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Harassment (SGBH)
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Implicit Bias / Gender Bias
Strategic Support to Implementers
Proven experience delivering strategic, institutional, and operational support to implementing organizations, including:
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Conducting employee climate surveys and comprehensive institutional assessments
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Evaluating and reviewing projects for effectiveness and impact
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Assessing management and leadership capacity
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Designing tailored, actionable recommendations—ranging from policy development to institutional capacity strengthening
Knowledgable
Passionate
Innovative
My work sits at the nexus of gender equality, security, and justice—both domestically and internationally. I specialize in creating the enabling conditions that allow implementing organizations to fulfill their missions with integrity and impact.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve partnered with government institutions and civil society organizations across Eastern Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and South & Central Asia to drive meaningful, on-the-ground change.
Change is not an event—it’s a process.
For me, that process is rooted in innovative thinking, rigorous analysis, and a deep understanding of the local context. My approach focuses on fostering conditions to influence mindsets, shift values, and shape practices and policies through clear, concise, and compelling engagement. Whether working directly in the field or supporting implementers, I prioritize tailored solutions that center a process aimed at outcome-level change.
Over seven years of proven impact as a freelance consultant in the international development sector
We have used Heather for our internal survey, an important project evaluation as well as work around thinking through our structure and management approach. She is absolutely excellent: highly professional and timely in delivery. What really sets her apart in our view, is that while she is clearly independent and a lateral thinker, she is also highly pragmatic and well attuned to the running of a complex organisation in a complex world. Her recommendations are realistic and practical, while at the same time not hesitating to challenge established thinking. She has made important contributions to the workings of our organisation and its sustainability and effectiveness.
- Mark Shaw,
Executive Director,
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Participating as a facilitator in the Strategic Leader Seminar, expertly designed by Heather, was a transformative experience. The seminar convened high-level security and defense authorities from Peru, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to strategic leadership. Heather’s keen strategic insight, adapted to the local context, enabled us to identify critical issues, enhance awareness, and effectively navigate complexity while fostering synergies in the implementation process. Her guidance in refining strategic approaches ensured clear objectives and reinforced engagement, making the seminar a resounding success. It was an impactful team effort accompanied by her.
- Karina Hinojosa,
Independent Consultant on Conventional Arms and Ammunition International Instruments, Peru
Put simply, Heather is the most accomplished facilitator and presenter I have ever had the pleasure of listening to or working with. She is an innovative thinker with the magic to make complex, sensitive, or contested issues easy to comprehend. This includes turning complicated academic theories into understandable practical lessons, either verbally or in writing, and then supporting participants to work out practical solutions to complex, multi-layered problems. In my experience, she is quite unique, being able to operate confidently at policy, strategy, and implementation levels of decision making.
- Piet Biesheuvel,
Former UK Government
Security & Justice Development Adviser
Consulting Experience
I have been working as a freelance consultant based in Geneva, Switzerland, since the fall of 2017. My consulting work spans short-, medium-, and long-term contracts with a wide range of organizations. This includes INGOs, local NGOs, multilateral organizations, government institutions, and development companies. I've had the opportunity to collaborate with all of the organizations and institutions listed below--and I look forward to collaborating with you!
International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs)
Photo: DCAF, Ireland
INGO collaboration experience includes: The American Bar Association - Rule of Law Initiative, Beyond Borders Scotland, the Center for European Security Studies, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI), the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, the Global Initiative Against Transnational and Organized Crime (GI-TOC), Helsinki España, the Parliamentary Center, SecurityWomen, and the Small Arms Survey.
Local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Photo: AWJ, Bosnia and Herzegovina
NGO collaboration experience includes: The Association of Women Judges (AWJ), Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Atlantic Initiative (AI), Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Centre for Security Studies (CSS), Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Women's Association for Rational Development (WARD), Azerbaijan.
Government Institutions
Government institution collaboration experience includes: Centro Superior de Estudios de la Defensa (CESDEN), Spanish Ministry of Defense, the Institute for Security Governance (ISG), Defense Security Cooperation University, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, US Department of Defense, the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the British Embassy Sarajevo.
Photo: CESDEN, Spain
UN and Multilateral Organizations
Photo: United Nations Regional Service Center - Entebbe, Uganda
Multilateral collaboration experience includes: INTERPOL, NATO-CMDR Center of Excellence (CoE)-Bulgaria, OSCE-Uzbekistan, UNODA, UNDOC, UNITAR, UNDPO, and UNDP-SEESAC.
Development Companies
Photo: TAG International, TAG Lines Podcast
Development company collaboration experience includes: ARK International, DAI, Proximity International and TAG International.
"Heather was a Gender and Security Advisor for the Elsie Initiative [for DCAF]. She served as the bridge between the MOWIP assessment and the development of Canadian technical assistance and training (TAT) for the Zambia Police Service. The project aimed at reducing barriers for uniformed women in peace operations. Heather is a goal achiever. Her facilitation skills are marvellous, and she adapts easily to any given environment. In terms of deadlines, she doesn't negotiate; work is on time and professional. She is an asset to any institution. This was my experience with Heather in Zambia."
Lillian Lombe Kamukoshi, (Ret.) Commissioner of Police - Administration, Zambia Police Service
