Our team

Dr. Ashley Nemiro (she/her), PhD has worked as a global mental health professional in humanitarian settings since 2011 following a career as a licensed family and school-based therapist and refugee resettlement program coordinator. Ashley focuses on multi-sectoral mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programming to ensure children and families have access to prevention, management and care services. She received her doctorate from North Carolina State University in counseling and psychology with a specialization in supervision. During her doctoral studies, she spent three years travelling to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to conduct her dissertation research, run a non-profit alongside Congolese women, and support Panzi hospitals mental health program. Alongside her duties as acting director, Ashley provides technical support to the education in emergencies portfolio. 

Deepali Pavagadhi (she/her), MSc is a mental health researcher with extensive experience in qualitative and quantitative research in low- and middle-income contexts, including India, Vietnam, and Nigeria. At the Collaborative, she is currently leading a research study that seeks to understand the well-being of children with disabilities. She is also supporting the development and evaluation of a global child and family MHPSS course for frontline workers in humanitarian settings. She has a M.Sc. in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health from King’s College London and is passionate about strengthening evidence and action on social determinants of mental health.

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Karlo Dukic, MSc, has more than three years of experience at the intersection of humanitarian and development programming in development consultancy, INGO, and the public and private sectors. Karlo has worked on several assignments in Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Yemen, Nepal, Denmark, and Croatia focusing on livelihoods, food security, nutrition, education, and MHPSS. Karlo holds BA in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Dag Hammarskjöld University College in Zagreb and an MSc in Global Development from the University of Copenhagen. Karlo is currently supporting the development of the child and family global course for community workers in emergency settings, as well asthe  joint Ukraine response in child and family MHPSS for national and international agencies. 

Kate Harris, MSc is a project management generalist with a bachelor’s degree in law and psychology, and a master’s degree in global studies (migration). Kate has provided project support across the legal, humanitarian, and educational sectors in Australia, Mexico, Sweden, and Denmark, as well as spending some time as a teacher at an International School in Peru and volunteering with refugee programmes. Kate is motivated to ensure programmes are run efficiently so that MHPSS technical staff can dedicate their expertise to promote mental health and wellbeing for children and families. In her current role, Kate oversees The MHPSS Collaborative’s portfolio and budgets, guides the project & operations team, and manages the Danida and UNICEF strategic partnership agreements. 

Louise Juul Hansen (she/her), MA is an advocacy and communications specialist with a master’s degree in media studies from the University of Copenhagen. Louise has worked with advocacy and communication in the field of MHPSS supporting both communication, advocacy and development of training material, handbooks and guidelines for more than 10 years. She has a special expertise in dissemination and communication of EU funded research projects.  

At the MHPSS, Louise advises on advocacy and communications for The Collaborative and its projects. She leads the communications and dissemination work for the REFUGE-ED project.

Marie Dahl, MA is a humanitarian professional with 13 years of experience in the humanitarian sector, with a core focus on children and youth‘s rights to protection, education, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Marie’s academic background includes a BA in International Social Work and a MA in International Humanitarian Action. Marie brings field experience from across Asia, the Middle East and Africa on humanitarian response, interagency coordination, capacity building, strategy and advocacy.  

Marie is the director of The MHPSS Collaborative on maternity leave from summer 2022 to summer 2023. 

Dr. Victor Ugo, MD is the founder of Nigeria’s and one of Africa’s biggest youth-led and user-led youth mental health network, Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI). With an MSc in Global Mental Health from Kings College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Victor has been at the forefront of elevating the global discourse on youth mental health and is passionate about conversations regarding meaningful engagement and participation of children and young people at all levels of programming, research and advocacy in mental health. 

At The MHPSS Collaborative, Victor leads the youth engagement portfolio. 

Catherine Wambui (she/her) MSc, holds a BA in Social Work from University College Absalon and a MA in Global Studies and International Development from Roskilde University in Denmark. Catherine has worked with vulnerable, disabled, and fragile children, youth, families, and refugees throughout her career in the public and private sector. She has supported national and international health strategies, emergency responses, development policies, programs, and projects. Furthermore, she has volunteered in humanitarian activities and conducted qualitative and quantitative fieldwork research in various international agencies and national human rights organizations. Her passion for human rights and community inclusion has motivated her to support and empower stigmatized and marginalized children, youth, individuals, and communities. Catherine aims to bring more awareness and advocacy on mental health, immigration, children, and youth empowerment in the field of international development.

At The MHPSS Collaboratives, Catherine has the role as the Programmes Officer who is responsible for the administrative project management. To name a few of her tasks, she supports project development and portfolios while controlling time and budget management with a close collaboration with the team.