Olivia Leonard
About Olivia Leonard
Olivia Leonard is a Research & Project Assistant at ODI in London, England, with a background in disaster response and policy research. She has contributed to various projects related to migrant key workers and COVID-19 and has held multiple roles in organizations focused on humanitarian efforts.
Work at ODI
Olivia Leonard has been employed at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) as a Research & Project Assistant since 2020. In this role, she supports the Director of Programme in business development to expand the programme portfolio. She acts as Project Manager for the Human Mobility Initiative, overseeing a portfolio of four programmes valued at £500,000. Additionally, she coordinates technical exchanges and political meetings as part of the Mayors Dialogue on Growth & Solidarity, significantly increasing active inter-city exchanges from one to seven.
Previous Experience
Before joining ODI, Olivia Leonard held various roles in the humanitarian sector. She worked at RE:ACT Disaster Response as Information and M&E Coordinator for eight months in 2018-2019, where she provided research support for policy briefs and data visualization projects related to migrant key workers and COVID-19. In 2020, she served as Coordinator of Volunteers and later as Regional Operations Chief at Team Rubicon UK, both roles based in Wiltshire. Earlier, she interned at ACE AFRICA in Tanzania for one month in 2017.
Education and Expertise
Olivia Leonard holds a Master's degree in Disasters, Adaptation and Development from King's College London, which she completed from 2019 to 2020. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Oxford, studying from 2015 to 2018. Her educational background equips her with a strong foundation in disaster response and development, enhancing her capabilities in research and project management within her current role.
Achievements in Project Management
In her capacity at ODI, Olivia Leonard has demonstrated significant project management skills. She has acted as Project Manager for the Human Mobility Initiative, managing a portfolio of programmes valued at £500,000. Her coordination of the Mayors Dialogue on Growth & Solidarity has led to a notable increase in active inter-city exchanges, showcasing her ability to facilitate collaboration and dialogue among cities.