VSO Announces Dr Philip Goodwin As Chief Executive

Monday, 15th December, 2014: VSO, the international development organisation which works through volunteers, has appointed Dr Philip Goodwin as the new Chief Executive. Philip is currently Chief Executive at Tree Aid, an organisation that unlocks the potential of trees to tackle poverty and protect the environment in dryland Africa.

Mari Simonen, VSO International Board Chair said:
“VSO is delighted to have secured the talents of an experienced development expert such as Philip to lead us. Philip has significant experience of overseeing quality programmes, leading high performing teams and working in complex funding environments – the skills we were looking for in our new Chief Executive.”

Philip says: “It's been a great privilege to lead TREE AID through a period in which the organisation has doubled its impact, extended its reach and built a strong reputation for expertise, evidence and innovation. With the strong team it has in place, I'm confident it will continue to go from strength to strength. At the same time, I'm extremely honoured to take on the role of CEO at VSO. VSO is a highly respected organisation in the international development world with a long history of mobilising knowledge and unlocking potential to deliver transformational change around the world. I am looking forward to working with the global VSO team and its partners to help deliver its vision of a world free of poverty."

VSO is the world's leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. VSO's high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action, and change lives to make the world a fairer place for all. See www.vsointernational.org for more information.

Dr Philip Goodwin has been Chief Executive of TREE AID- an organisation that unlocks the potential of trees to tackle poverty and protect the environment in dryland Africa-since June 2010. Philip previously spent 11 years with the British Council where in his last role he was in charge of Global Programmes. He was Regional Director for the sub Saharan African operations based in Nairobi, Kenya as well as holding leadership positions for British Council in Belgium, Pakistan and Uganda. Before joining British Council, Philip was a researcher on poverty issues at the Overseas Development Institute and an International Service Volunteer based in Timbuktu, Mali.

Philip has a PhD and MSc in environmental policy and rural resource management and a degree in agricultural economics. He is co-author of the leadership book “From Hippos to Gazelles: How Leaders Create Leaders” with the leadership consultant Tony Page based on his experience of leading organisational change.