About UsOur Staff

Mary Oakes

I bring over 20 years’ experience in the charity sector, specialising in fundraising for international development. I began my career at Tearfund, helping to establish what is now a global major donor programme, and I’ve since led fundraising teams at Church Mission Society, World Vision UK, Habitat for Humanity, and Innovista International. My work has taken me across Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, raising resources for Christian mission as well as both humanitarian and development work. I have also been a board member for Embrace the Middle East for the last seven years. I joined Opportunity International UK in 2023 as Deputy CEO and became CEO in February 2025. Based in north Oxfordshire, I enjoy the outdoor life with my husband Michael, Springer Spaniel Poppy, and ex-racehorse Moo.

Shabnam Zamurd

Shabnam is an FCA, she previously worked for the Tussauds Group and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Chantrey Vellacott DFK in 2001.

Lydia Baffour Awuah

Lydia leads and manages the International programme team. She is responsible for the acquisition, management and evaluation of grants from institutional donors. She is also our Gender specialist, supporting the design of programmes to include women and gender awareness training within communities.

David Knights

David is Director of Fundraising & Communications. He is responsible for working with our generous supporters, helping to steward their gifts and use them where they can have greatest impact.

With a lifetime career in the charitable sector, David has used his communications and marketing skills to build the reputation of the organisations he has worked for and ensure their success.

Previously involved in microfinance, David has seen first-hand the way in which small interventions at the right time, together with advice, training and support, can have a life changing result.

Catherine Manser

As the Head of Philanthropy at Opportunity, I work closely with our generous donors and stakeholders, motivating and inspiring them to support our distinctive approach to financial inclusion.

Prior to joining OIUK, I moved from the public sector into the profit-for-purpose space where I was Client Director at a leading Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultancy. I am motivated by doing impactful work that makes a difference to the lives of those who are most disadvantaged.

Noah Ssempijja

Noah Ssempijja is our Refugee Programme Coordinator in Uganda. He is in charge of end to end management of the programme from field implementation, compliance, partnerships management, and monitoring, evaluation and learning. He is our focal personal for all refugee activities in Uganda.

Tamsin Scurfield

I have been living and working in sub-Saharan Africa since 2006. First with a grassroots community development organisation, then in the humanitarian sector during the Horn of Africa Famine Response in 2011, supporting the relief efforts of Somali refugees in Northern Kenya.

Since 2015 I have worked for Opportunity International as both an in-country and regional resource, based out of Uganda. My key role includes identifying business and new partnerships to enhance the impact and reach of Opportunity. In this role I have provided strategic advice and operational support for women, youth, the disability and refugee segment. 

I have led on OIUK's refugee strategy since a visit to Kiryandongo settlement in Western Uganda in early 2018, where I realised the potential for refugee financial inclusion and self-reliance. As of February 2024, I became the Head of Refugee Finance at OIUK, providing leadership to ensure the program delivers scalable and inclusive financial services to Refugees and host communities.

Rachel English

Rachel English manages agricultural programmes in Rwanda and Uganda. 

Brigitta Falcini-Dyson

Brigitta supports the communications and marketing of Opportunity International UK, working to raise brand awareness and promote our work through content creation, direct mailing, digital marketing, printed materials and PR.

Perihan Doganay

Perihan joined Opportunity in May 2017. She completed her Finance and Accounting degree in Canada in 2013 and has worked in a variety of finance related roles since. Perihan oversees our management accounts, alongside managing our database.