Jess Crombie is a researcher, scholar and content director working as a Senior Lecturer at UAL, and as a consultant for the development and humanitarian sector. Her clients include the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Red Cross, Save the Children and the UN World Food Programme (WFP). 

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In both academic and practical contexts, Jess utilises two decades as a senior leader in the charity sector to: explore the ethical complexities in storytelling, find practical ways to navigate this responsibly, and test innovative fundraising and communication approaches. 

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With her research, Jess is searching for potential power shifts in both process and portrayal. She investigates the explicit and indirect consequences of nonprofit storytelling, typically by seeking out the opinions and ideas of contributors – people who’ve shared their stories for INGO comms.

Rachel has worked in the international solidarity sector for fourteen years, in a broad range of contexts and cultures. She spearheaded the ethical storytelling agenda at Nairobi-based public health NGO Amref Health Africa, collaborating with Jess Crombie on the pioneering research project ‘Who Owns the Story?’, which has influenced policy and practice across the INGO sector.

Rachel now splits her time between her role as Global Marketing Communications Manager for Amref, and her consulting work with charity and INGO clients. She co-chairs Bond’s Ethical Storytelling working group and regularly speaks and writes on the topic. She is committed to helping individuals and organisations find the courage and confidence to evolve.

Dr Suzanne Temwa Gondwe Harris is an academic, researcher, and consultant who specialises in media, race, coloniality, and international development. Through her work she aims to advance indigenous, critical race and postcolonial perspectives and methodologies.

Dr Harris has over 12 years working experience in media and human rights across Central and Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, focusing specifically on training young journalists and activists on freedom of expression, ethical image-making and campaigning.

As a consultant, Dr Harris has been working with (I)NGOs to rethink and realign
their use of images, language and stories to ensure they are more ethical and equitable. Recent clients include Save the Children, the Centre for Global Development and World Vision.

Emma is a writer, producer and interviewer with 16 years' experience, whose work centres the rights and voices of people affected by injustice. Her stories have led campaigns, press and broadcast media coverage, films and exhibitions, including while she was Stories Lead at Comic Relief and Senior Stories Producer at Save the Children UK. Her projects include the now-famous Liberian midwife, Alice, and RE-ROOTED – an exhibition and collaborative storytelling moment for Refugee Week. 

Emma has advised small and large charities on their storytelling practices and produced content on four continents. She loves bringing her experience to creative storytelling projects that change attitudes and inspire action – and helping organisations develop a more ethical and sustainable approach to content.

Kate has over 15 years’ experience working across the UK and internationally to design, manage and facilitate an ambitious portfolio of participatory photography, and visual communications and advocacy programmes with under-represented communities.

Working within the academic, humanitarian and non­-profit sector, Kate has extensive experience of supporting organisations working with participatory and strategic visual arts and media to improve their approaches to ethical communications and content gathering. She has provided consultancy support and produced content for leading organisations including, Frontline Aids, Christian Aid, the Wellcome Trust, British Red Cross, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Kate has designed and delivered over 40 participatory and collaborative photography and storytelling programmes in partnership with INGOs and  institutions globally and from 2015 - 2022, worked as Senior Projects Manager at PhotoVoice.