Erika provides technical advice and leadership to SDDirect’s work on gender-based violence (GBV). She has over twenty years of experience of working to prevent and respond to violence in a range of contexts. Erika has produced research and learning products for UN agencies, bilateral donors, NGOs and development finance institutions.
She is Technical Director of the Ending Violence against Women and Children Helpdesk - a research and advice service for the UK government and part of the What Works to Prevent Violence programme. Prior to this, Erika led the Violence against Women and Girls Helpdesk for over seven years and provided research inputs to the What Works to Prevent Violence global research programme. She is also the author of global guidance and learning on preventing violence, including for UN Women, the World Health Organisation, UNESCO, FCDO and the Spotlight Initiative.
Erika has a PhD in geography from the University of London. Her thesis was on social capital in the Caribbean, which led to a two-year research project for the UK Department for International Development on social capital and violence in South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Outside of work, Erika is (slowly!) writing a book about a relative who was a famous bank robber. She enjoys barre and swimming.
