Tanya Buynovskaya
Director of Operations
Tanya joined HealthProm in 2003. She spent her early career working in education and educational policy for a number of non-profit organisations in Krasnoyarsk, as well as the voluntary sector in London after moving to the UK. Since 2008, she has been leading HealthProm’s child disability and inclusive education programmes in Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus and managing a number of EC-funded projects in these countries. Since 2014, Tanya has been working with Russian NGO Tsentr Sotrunichestvo in Krasnoyarsk to develop and implement a number of inclusive education projects in Siberia. She previously led HealthProm’s project 'Siberian Initiative for Inclusion' supported by the European Commission and the British & Foreign School Society. Tanya became HealthProm’s Director of Operations in April 2015. She holds a BA in Education.
Gina Sanchez
Fundraising and Communications Officer
Gina joined HealthProm as the Fundraising and Communications Officer in September 2023. She has a BA in International Relations from Stanford University and an MSc in Gender, Peace and Security from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is excited to help support HealthProm’s programming by enhancing to its organizational development and outreach. She is passionate about contributing to the advancement of gender/racial equity and human rights which makes HealthProm the perfect place to explore her passions. Originally from New Mexico, Gina also enjoys spicy food and sunshine.
Chinara Isherwood
Finance Manager
Originally from Kyrgyzstan, Chinara joined HealthProm in 2019. Since 2007, she has been working in a finance capacity within the commercial sector. She has held previous positions at the accountancy firm M J Bushell and Co, Darco Consulting and 4 Degrees C as an Accountant Supervisor. She holds a BA in Finance and Banking and Russian Language and Literature, and is currently pursuing further accounting qualifications.
Diana Mark
Ukrainian Refugees Project Coordinator
Originally from Ukraine, Diana joined HealthProm in 2021. Before becoming our coordinator for our Ukraine Open Doors project, Diana volunteered with us for over a year. Holding an MBA in Marketing and Advertisement, she was an online marketing professional for most of her career, gaining experience in setting up internet eCommerce strategies for European Markets. Working with HealthProm, Diana hopes to provide the necessary support to those arriving in the UK from Ukraine and ensure all of their needs are met.
Benafsha Yaqubi
Afghan Project Coordinator
Benafsha, hailing from Afghanistan, joined the HealthProm team in October 2022. She came to the United Kingdom in August of 2021 to pursue a postgraduate degree in Transitional Justice and Conflict. She has a law background and has always been passionate about making a difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals. In the past, she has rendered her services to refugees. At HealthProm, she is currently leading the ‘Gateway to Education for Afghan Refugee Children’ project aimed at facilitating social integration and ensuring access to quality education for Afghan refugee children.
Consultants
Dr Stewart Britten
Afghanistan Project Adviser
Stewart is the adviser for our project in Afghanistan. A child Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist by training, he has extensive experience in Uzbekistan, Russia and Afghanistan working to improve maternal and child health and reduce institutionalisation of at-risk infants and young children.
Ahmed Masood Amer
Afghan Project Manager
Ahmed joined HealthProm in 2019. He is a program management specialist with over eighteen years of experience managing and implementing development and humanitarian assistance projects in Afghanistan. From 2005 to 2016, he served as a programme specialist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Afghanistan, where he was in charge of UNDP’s programme for support to democratic governance and peace building. He has extensive expertise in project financial management and reporting, as well as project planning, governance, monitoring and evaluation and risk management. An Afghan national, he holds a Master's degree in International Business Law from the University of Liverpool and a second Master's in Project Management from Preston University.
Jonathan Watkins
Tajikistan Project Manager
Jonathan is a registered Social Worker in the UK. He works internationally for HealthProm to support families, communities, governments and professionals to improve opportunities for children with additional needs. He is also a consultant for UNICEF, working to strengthen international child protection practice. In the UK, Jonathan provides professional training to social workers and is also an independent expert witness in the courts system. Jonathan holds a Certificate of Qualification in Social Work, an MA in Applied Social Studies from Brunel University, and an MSc in Violence, Conflict and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Maia Phutkaradze
Senior Finance Adviser
Maia joined HealthProm in 2011. Originally from Georgia, she has worked in a finance capacity in both the charity and commercial sectors. She has 10 years of experience in the NGO sector specifically, including in international development. She has held previous senior positions at the Democratic Progress Institute, the Haringey Association of Voluntary and Community Organisations and the St. Mark's Hospital Foundation. She is a fully qualified member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Lesley Beath
Consultant Occupational Therapist
Lesley is an HPC (Health Professions Council) registered Occupational Therapist with over 30 years experience in Scotland, UK. Her passion is supporting children and families in special needs social care with a focus on Autism and Sensory issues. She has a wealth of experience creating and delivering bespoke training for families and staff to support children to realise their potential. Lesley has produced several booklets for families and carers of children with disabilities on sensory issues and practical life skills. These booklets have been nationally and internationally recognised. She also developed an award-winning environmental app to support children with physical or learning disabilities. In recent years she has supported Healthprom as an Occupational Therapy consultant for staff, carers and families in Tajikistan and Georgia. She has also supported international study tours to allow partners to benefit from a Scottish model of developing and delivering services for children and their families.
Lena Salomon
Ukrainian Project Assisstant
Originally from Ukraine, Lena started to learn English with our teacher Natalia Kuzmina at HealthProm.
After war in Ukraine has started, Lena volunteered with Ukrainian Project Open Doors for 4 months. In October 2022 she joined our team as Ukrainian Project`s Assistant. Lena holds BA in Economy and currently pursuing further accounting qualifications.