Olivia J Wilkinson

I am a research consultant and strategic advisor. My research focuses on the humanitarian and development sectors. I am interested in the values shaping these sectors and often look at these topics through the lens of religious engagement.  I work in an interdisciplinary style that has brought me knowledge and experience with a wide range of topics, from social and behaviour change communications to gender studies, refugee response, global health, child rights, and climate change. 

I am currently a Senior Fellow at the Georgetown University Global Health Institute, working on the Georgetown-Lancet Commission on Faith, Trust, and Health. Over the past twelve years or so, I have collaborated with many international multilateral and bilateral organizations, NGOs, university partners, and foundations (for example, UNICEF, UNHCR, WBG, WHO, UNFPA, GIZ, USAID, World Vision, Islamic Relief, ACT Alliance, Oxfam, RedR, Tearfund, Institute of Development Studies, Harvard Divinity School, Leeds University, University College London, Gates Foundation, Hilton Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, Templeton Religions Trust).  I have collaborated with national and local organizations, such as E-CARE and Duyog Marawi in the Philippines, among others. I was previously Director of Research for the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities for seven years. 

I have a PhD and Master's in humanitarian action from Trinity College Dublin and Université catholique de Louvain, respectively. My undergraduate degree in Theology and Religious Studies is from the University of Cambridge. I have had visiting affiliations with the University of the Philippines Diliman and Columbia University.