Charmaine Hedding

Charmaine Hedding is the President of Shai Fund and oversees their global operations, strategy, and partnerships. She has worked for two decades in development management for the non-profit sector, with a particular focus on the protection of persecuted minorities in the Middle East and Africa, while advocating for freedom of religion and belief. 

Charmaine has served on the ground responding to foreign disasters and humanitarian aid projects. She has designed and implemented emergency relief and development programs for the protection of people at risk in complex emergencies, war, and conflict. Coming originally from the business sector she focuses on help that strengthens these communities to rebuild their future with dignity.

Charmaine has trained and consulted for government agencies, local authorities, international non-governmental organizations, community, and faith-based organizations. She speaks at universities, international conferences and forums about her work and experience with religious minorities, complex emergencies, and disaster relief. 

She is often called upon to speak out on issues in the media, and her work has been featured in The Washington Times, World Magazine, and DecisionMagazine among many others.

Charmaine has a Master of Social Science in Development Management.