Samantha has been a communications and media specialist for 28 years and has worked in international development communications since 2006 at IDS. She has a long history of working with international partners and donors as part of large research programme consortiums, mobilising and strengthening knowledge on issues including health systems, reproductive health and rights, nutrition, sanitation and child labour. 

As a member of the management and proposal writing team for many of these programmes, she had responsibility for developing and implementing communications strategies, knowledge exchange and mutual learning initiatives with a number of southern partner organisations, leading communication skills training courses and managing budgets. She is also an experienced website manager and editor and publications coordinator. 

She currently leads a team of 7 knowledge specialists working on research communications and knowledge management across disciplines, sectors and the Institute’s research and professional teams.  She lived and volunteered in Madagascar for two years and also lived and worked in Fiji from 2018 – 2020.