Kirsty Mc Neill
About Kirsty Mc Neill
Kirsty McNeill serves as the Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children, where she has worked since 2016. She has held various leadership roles in advocacy and policy, including founding ThembaHQ and managing significant campaigns such as Stop AIDS and Make Poverty History.
Work at Save the Children
Kirsty McNeill has served as the Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns at Save the Children since 2016. In this role, she oversees the organization's policy initiatives and advocacy efforts, focusing on improving the lives of children globally. Prior to this position, she worked as the Campaigns Director for Save the Children from 2015 to 2016. Her leadership in various campaigns has significantly contributed to the organization's mission.
Education and Expertise
Kirsty McNeill studied at Balliol College, Oxford University, where she earned a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, graduating with a 2:1 from 1997 to 2000. She furthered her education by completing the Emerging Leaders Programme at the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and the Art of Leadership course at the Rockwood Leadership Institute. Her academic background supports her expertise in policy and advocacy.
Background
Before joining Save the Children, Kirsty McNeill held various significant roles, including serving as a special advisor at 10 Downing Street from 2007 to 2010. She founded ThembaHQ and provided advisory services to senior leadership in leading charities. Additionally, she led the policy and influencing work for DATA, an advocacy organization founded by Bono and Bob Geldof, across multiple European countries and EU institutions.
Achievements
Kirsty McNeill has played a pivotal role in several high-profile campaigns. She managed the Stop AIDS Campaign, securing a commitment to universal access to AIDS treatment from the 2005 G8. She chaired a sector-wide campaign to maintain the cross-party commitment to the 0.7% aid target and contributed to the Make Poverty History campaign, where she served on the board and authored the coalition's flagship policy report. Her leadership in the 'Remember Rohingya' campaign earned her team the 2019 Bond Advocacy Award.
Public Commentary and Leadership Roles
Kirsty McNeill is an active public commentator on issues related to power, politics, and policy. Her writings have been featured in prominent publications such as the Telegraph, Observer, and New Statesman. She serves as a non-executive director on the boards of several organizations, including the Holocaust Educational Trust and the Coalition for Global Prosperity. Additionally, she is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations.