Join our Researcher Futures Panel on 'Using your PhD for Social Good: Careers in NGOs and Beyond'

4 December 2025

The Doctoral College are hosting a Researcher Futures Panel focused on, 'Using Your PhD for Social Good: Careers in NGOs and Beyond' on Tuesday 9 December from 5.15-6.45pm. The session will feature professionals who have transitioned from academia to work in organisations focused on advocacy, development, education, and social change. 

The session will:

• Showcase career pathways in NGOs, charities, and mission-driven organisations that value research skills. 
• Inspire PGRs to think about how they can align their work with causes and communities they care about. 
• Provide insights into how to transition from academic research to roles in policy, program management, research advocacy, and evaluation. 
• Offer practical advice on recruitment processes, sector expectations, and networking in the social impact space.

Find out more about our speakers and their background in the descriptions below. 

Dr Louise Gathercole - Executive Director of the British Society for Plant Pathology 

Louise is the first Executive Director of the British Society for Plant Pathology, joining in 2025. She has a PhD in the genomics of British oak trees from QMUL and RBG Kew and spent three years during and after her PhD at Forest Research as the Lead for the Defra-funded Centre for Forest Protection. Prior to moving into science, she worked in museums and heritage, as a facilitator for a cancer charity and as a teacher. She also took some time out of her career to raise her three children. Louise's current role involves working closely with the BSPP board, staff team and partners to ensure the smooth running of the charity and provide the best experience for members.

 

Dr. Tiffany R. Holloman, FRSA - Co-founder and co-director of the Same Skies Think Tank / project manager for Brad-ATTIAN and YCEDE at the Centre for Inclusion and Diversity, University of Bradford 

Prominent scholar-practitioner specializing in equity, inclusion, and social justice. She serves as the project manager for Brad-ATTIAN and YCEDE at the Centre for Inclusion and Diversity, University of Bradford, and is co-founder and co-director of the Same Skies Think Tank in West Yorkshire.  

Originally from North Carolina, her research interests span race and education in the UK and US; the history of King James VI&I; and exploring contemporary issues of regional democracy and racial and social justice. Dr. Holloman has authored several scholarly articles and book chapters, co-edited two books—most recently COVID-19 and Racism: Counter-Stories of Colliding Pandemics | Policy Press Scholarship Online | Oxford Academic. As well as her project management and academic roles, she has worked as a lecturer and professional services leader and has served on steering groups for national initiatives aiming to improve equity in postgraduate research. Dr. Holloman’s voice is recognized as significant in the fields of equity and inclusion, and she is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 

Ngo Bibaa Lundi-Anne Omam (PhD) BIO – Humanitarian Health Leader  

Lundi-Anne Omam is a seasoned humanitarian health leader with over a decade of experience in designing, managing, and coordinating public health interventions in some of the world’s most challenging settings. With a Master’s degree in Global Health Systems theory and policy from Queen Mary University of London and a PhD in Public Health and Primary Care from the University of Cambridge, Lundi-Anne has developed expertise in program management, coordination, advocacy and access negotiations. 

Lund-Anne has led critical initiatives in post-conflict and conflict-affected regions, focusing on improving access to essential healthcare for vulnerable populations. Her leadership spans large-scale Rapid Response Mechanisms, mobile clinics, and distributions of food and non-food items in conflict-affected setting. 

She has worked closely with government ministries and international donors, including Positive Action for Children’s Fund, Global Fund, US PEPFAR, UNICEF, and WHO, as well as NGOs like Care International, Plan International and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. Lund-Anne also served as Vice President of the oversight committee for programs funded by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in Cameroon. She has also co-led the Health Cluster in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions, managing over 60 humanitarian health partners, and coordinated a global network of over 700+ global health professionals for Gender and Public Health Emergencies. 

Her career is dedicated to building strong, sustainable health systems in conflict-affected and resource-constrained areas, and she is committed to advancing health equity through collaborative partnerships and evidence-based solutions. 

Dr Elnaz Kashef - Director of Policy, Research and Impact at Futures for All - Visiting Research Fellow at iCeGS - Fellow at NICEC 

Elnaz leads the Policy, Research and Impact function, bringing extensive expertise in social mobility, careers education and youth transitions. She has advised government through consultations and sector initiatives, most recently helping to shape the national work experience guarantee. An accomplished researcher, she has authored over 50 publications, including influential ‘what works’ reports that inform both policy and practice. Elnaz combines academic rigour with practical leadership in the charitable sector, building policy and research functions from the ground up and driving evidence-based campaigns that have shaped thought leadership across the careers and skills landscape. Elnaz holds a PhD in Education from the University of Bath. Alongside this, Elnaz is a Fellow of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling and a Visiting Research Fellow at the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS), contributing to research and thought leadership in careers, education, and guidance.