Our team
*The views and opinions expressed by authors on this site do not necessarily represent those of the organisations they work for.
Brendan Rigby (follow @bjrigby, email brendan@whydev.org)
Director and Co-founder
Brendan is a education specialist with six years of experience working as a teacher, researcher and programme officer. Most recently, Brendan was an Education Officer with UNICEF in Tamale, Ghana. This year, he is a doctoral candidate at the University of Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education. You can also check out whyeducate, which explores education and development, a photo essay on NFL jerseys in Ghana and a photo a day in Beijing at ‘beijingraphy‘.
@wmyeoh, email weh@whydev.org)
Business Development Manager and Co-founder
Weh is a disability development worker currently based in Cambodia. He is a professionally trained physiotherapist who has completed a MA in Development Studies at the University of NSW. He has a diverse background, having spent years travelling through remote parts of Asia, volunteering in an orphanage and adult shelter for people with disabilities in Vietnam, interning in India, and studying Mandarin in Beijing. He has previous experience in the NGO sector both in Australia and internationally in China, through Handicap International.
Allison Smith (follow @asmithb, email allison@whydev.org)
Editor-in-Chief
Allison is a communications professional in the Canadian non-profit sector, with experience in media relations, communications planning and branding. She has a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management, has worked in the Parliament of Canada, and most recently worked for United Way Centraide Canada. You can check out her creative writing on her blog at www.allisonjanesmith.com.
Daniel Drake (follow @danieldrake, email daniel@whydev.org)
Web Developer
Daniel is a recent graduate of Pacific Lutheran University with a major in Communication and concentration in Journalism. He worked through college in TV, print and online media, and then moved to Seattle to take on an internship with the World Affairs Council where he handled press relations, videography and social media. Daniel taught himself web development in high school and has more than five years experience creating websites and online tools. He currently serves as an intern with Global Washington in Seattle.
Laurie Phillips (email laurie@whydev.org)
Editor
Laurie is a development worker currently based in Beijing, where he works as a technical consultant with ILO anti-trafficking projects. Laurie has also worked in public health and good governance development projects in China with the ILO and UNDP, and has a background in protection-related work in Australia. He has a Masters in International Relations, specialising in post-conflict studies.
Founding members.
Brendan Rigby, Weh Yeoh, Ellie Wong, Stuart Meney, Sam Porter, Rachel Szekely, Ross Wortham and Sally Crawshaw
Logo design.
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