Andrew Cook, Communications and Fundraising Director

Andrew also acts as WaterAid's Deputy Chief Executive and has worked in a variety of roles since joining WaterAid in 1997. He has been closely involved with the establishment of WaterAid's alliances and was the first Executive Director of WaterAid America from 2003-2006.

He holds a masters degree in Management Studies and a postgraduate diploma in Marketing.

Andrew is a member of the UK's Institute of Fundraising, Association of Fundraising Professionals (USA), advisor to the European Association of Planned Giving and is a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (UK).

Previous posts have included fundraising and communications roles at the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Charities Aid Foundation.

Nick Edmans, Head of Communications

Nick has worked in communications management roles for more than 12 years, with Abbey National and subsequently with the Pensions Regulator.

He now has responsibility for WaterAid's communications services, website and media relations.

Nick read English at Cambridge University and now lives in Hove and with his wife and two children aged 10 and 12.

Henry Northover, Head of Policy

Henry has worked on international development policy issues for 20 years.  His posts have included working in the UK parliament as researcher and speech-writer for front bench spokespersons on Africa and international development, and as a television researcher. 

Prior to joining WaterAid, Henry was CAFOD's senior policy analyst, specialising in development finance issues. His role included managing economic advocacy programmes in Africa.

Henry originated the 'human development approach to debt sustainability' that became a core policy of the Jubilee 2000 campaign and was adopted by the AU, NEPAD and the UN.

At WaterAid, Henry leads the Policy Team and specialises in Governance.

Tom Palakudiyil, Asia Regional Manager

Tom joined WaterAid in November 2005 as Asia Regional Manager. Prior to this, Tom worked for Christian Aid for eight years; the last two years' as Regional Manager for South Asia (2003-05) and before that as India Country Director.

Tom has considerable experience in managing development projects in South Asia and coordinating major emergency responses (including the Orissa cyclone, Gujarat earthquake, Bangladesh floods in 2003, and the Asian Tsunami).

Tom has a PhD in Development Economics and was a Lecturer in Economics and Rural Development Management in India from 1989-1992.

Mike Wade, Head of Central Fundraising

People talk about 'Compassion Fatigue'. Not Mike. With 20 years' fundraising experience, including senior roles at Oxfam and Mind, Mike is a passionate believer that people still want to change the world as much as ever.

As Head of Central Fundraising for WaterAid, Mike sees his challenge as demonstrating to the public that their support of WaterAid's work to help people access safe water, sanitation and hygiene education really can help tackle poverty.

In previous roles, Mike helped broaden the range of support for UK charities when he introduced the UK's first ever mailing asking for £2 per month, and was instrumental in negotiations to set up the current Gift Aid scheme. He is a member of the Institute of Fundraising and sits on their Policy Advisory Board.

Sarah Whiting, Development Manager, South of England and Wales

Sarah has worked in fundraising management roles for the past ten years and holds a Masters in Charity Marketing and Fundraising from London University.
 
Sarah joined WaterAid in March 2006 and has responsibility for WaterAid's key relationships with the water industry in the South of England and Wales.
 
Sarah has a keen interest in international development and in previous roles has lead trips of core supporters to countries as diverse as Romania, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Ukraine.

This year Sarah took 12 WaterAid supporters on a tour of WaterAid's projects in India.