Media Officer

Elliott joined The Elders in March 2012, following two years at a government and public relations consultancy specialising in international development policy. Prior to that, he had worked at the London School of Economics and interned at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia.

Elliott holds a BA in Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, an MSc in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics, and an evening masters' course in political reporting from City University's journalism school. Elliott grew up in France but, after several years in North London, is becoming confused by his increasing fondness of injera and Arsenal Football Club.

Senior Policy Officer

Penélope joined The Elders in January 2012. Between 2009 and 2011 she worked for the Swedish Foreign Service as Deputy Head of Mission of the Swedish Embassy to Syria and Lebanon. She has also worked for the EU delegation in Jordan and for a NGO in Lebanon providing support to Palestinian refugees. In Tanzania, she was a consultant for UNDP and UNHCR and has together with her family started a small-scale project in support of the health care sector in one of the country’s most disadvantaged regions. Penélope has a Masters in Political Science and speaks Swedish, English, Spanish, some French, and is struggling to learn Arabic – her long-term aspiration. She loves outdoor activities and adventure, has a soft spot for animals and admires all the brave people out there fighting for their rights.

Office Coordinator

Prior to joining The Elders Louise completed an MA in Human Rights at the School of Advanced Study in conjunction with an internship at HelpAge International. She also has a BA in Religions and Theology from The University of Manchester. She is cofounder and board member of Linking Bridges, a women’s community group aimed at empowering women and encouraging diversity. Louise is also a volunteer Family Learning in Prisons tutor, offering support during children’s visits to prisons. She loves to travel, is taking swing dance classes and always looks on the bright side of life.

Assistant to the Policy Team

Prior to joining The Elders in September 2011, Manou worked with several non-profit organisations including the Ligue des droits de l’Homme, the EastWest Institute and most recently Oxfam in the Netherlands as Support Officer to the Regional Manager of the Middle East and Maghreb. She has a BA in History with Development Studies from the University of Sussex and a Masters in Political Science from the Sorbonne University. Manou speaks English, French, Dutch and Spanish and is addicted to cheese and dreamy music. She can also sing and dance but stage fright prevented her from becoming a popstar.

Media Manager

Sylvain joined the Elders in September 2011 after 15 years in international journalism. He travelled throughout the world as a reporter for Radio France Internationale. He covered the conflict in Darfur, immigration in Libya, elections in Nigeria, the military coup in Honduras, climate change in Copenhagen and the 2008 presidential campaign in the United States. Most recently, he was the UK correspondent for online newspaper Rue89. He also worked as a press officer for the United Nations in New York and the French Institute of South Africa in Johannesburg.

Sylvain holds an MA from Science Po-Paris and from the Centre de formation des journalistes. He also studied Sustainable Development at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Sylvain has a passion for African cinema and a weakness for pecan pie.

Policy and Advocacy Director

Andrew Whitley joined The Elders in January 2011.

Executive Events Manager

Tom joined the Elders in February 2010. Before that he spent the past decade working all over the world as an orchestra manager, first with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, then in the UK with Britten Sinfonia, which took him to South America, Latin America, and all over Europe. Prior to that he production managed large scale rock-n-roll concerts, worked as a geologists’ assistant in outback Australia, played in a C-grade Australian band, and completed a degree in Journalism and Creative Writing. Now he is no longer in the music industry he is looking forward to ‘jumping the fence’ and actually attending concerts as a punter rather than as a manager. Tom is a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism, married to a wonderful London gal, and has two beautiful daughters who are the apple of his eye.

Operations Director

Before joining The Elders in April 2011, Penny looked after advocacy, communications and government relations for the Bill &

Senior Policy Officer

Henry joined The Elders in September 2008. From 2002 to 2007 he was International Coordinator of the Publish What You Pay coalition which helps citizens of developing countries hold their governments accountable for revenues from the oil, gas and mining industries (and he even wrote a book about it).Henry has a degree in International Studies from Flinders University in South Australia where he also served as Student Union President. He is fanatical about politics, sport, cinema, travel and speaks French and Spanish. Among his favourite movies of all time are 2001: A Space Odyssey, Groundhog Day and The Silence of the Lambs.

Senior Policy Officer

Rosemary Nuamah Williams joined The Elders in March 2009. Prior to this, Rosemary was Policy Adviser and Speechwriter to the executive head of the United Nations Development Programme in New York, providing policy and strategic advice, drafting and finalising speeches and published statements, and managing arrangements for official overseas missions. From 1998 to 2002, Rosemary worked as an international policy officer responsible for policy research, policy development and liaison with the UK Government. She has also served as a ministerial speechwriter for the UK Government. Rosemary has a Masters in International Relations with a focus on conflict and a BA in British Politics, both from the University of Nottingham. Rosemary enjoys Latin and ballroom dancing, Pilates, tennis and to balance things out, good chocolate.