Biographies

Kate Allen - Director

Director of Amnesty International UK since 2001 Kate Allen has been the prominent champion of Amnesty International's campaigns, which demand respect for women's human rights, stronger restrictions on the arms trade and the release of all prisoners of conscience, and for an end to  torture and the death penalty. 

Kate regularly appears on national radio and television news programmes, including BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sky News and the BBC News channel, and in the letters and comment pages of national newspapers and websites. 

As the head of Amnesty International's UK Section, Kate engages in high-level lobbying with senior government figures and is a member of the Foreign Secretary's advisory group on human rights. Each year she also gives evidence on behalf of Amnesty to the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Select Committee. 

Kate also travels internationally on behalf of Amnesty, joining a research mission to   Egypt soon after the revolution in 2011. She has also recently visited Afghanistan and previously Kenya, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Rwanda and Nepal, meeting those working to defending human rights and those whose rights have been abused, as well as government representatives.  

Kate's role as head of the UK Section of Amnesty - with 224,000 supporters the third largest of the 52 national sections - involves her regularly attending local group meetings, regional and national conferences and other supporter events.

Professional background

Kate was previously at the Refugee Council, where she was Deputy Chief Executive and amongst other responsibilities headed the UK emergency evacuation programmes from Bosnia and Kosovo, and chaired the Asylum Rights Campaign. In 1998/99 Kate was seconded to the Home Office where she worked on the 1999 Asylum and Immigration Act.

Education

Kate's interest in international issues and politics developed while at secondary school. She became a keen debater and attended her first demonstration at the age of 16. 

Kate was among the first year intake for women at Brasenose College, Oxford, where she studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE). She was made an Honorary Fellow of the college in 2006.

Personal

When she's not campaigning for human rights Kate is interested in the arts, particularly the visual arts, and is also a film addict. She lives in Brighton where she is a member of the Board of Brighton University and commutes to London.

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Mike Blakemore

Mike Blakemore - Media Director
Tel: +44 (0)20 7033 1546

As media director, Mike has an overview of all our press office's work, and should be the first port of call for UK journalists requiring information about the organisation as a whole. 

This includes enquiries about any of the activities and events Amnesty undertakes to strengthen and maintain Amnesty's profile and reputation in the UK. 

Mike also takes the leading role within the Media Unit on the prestigious annual Media Awards, and is the key contact for journalists interested in this event.

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Neil Durkin

Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7033 1547

Neil handles all UK media enquiries relating to North America, Middle East (except Iran), North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan.

Neil also deals with enquiries on Security with Human Rights, the death penalty, Women's human rights, and music.

 

Eulette Ewart

Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7033 1552

Eulette handles UK media enquiries on Amnesty's work in countries across Africa, Iran, Turkey, Arms trade, Poverty and Human Rights (maternal health, forced evictions, and corporate accountability). She also works on individuals at risk - particularly Amnesty's annual Greetings Card and Write for Rights Campaigns - plus festivals and comedy.

 

Harriet Garland

Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7033 1549

Harriet leads on Asia (except Afghanistan), UK (except Security with Human Rights), Refugees and Asylum, Festivals and comedy including Edinburgh and Amnesty TV.

 

 

Niall Couper

Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7033 6414

Niall works on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Niall handles all UK media enquiries Europe (except UK, Russia), Turkey Latin America, Caribbean, LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Intersex), Youth and Education, Corporates (non-Poverty & Human Rights) and Sport.

 

Naomi Westland

Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7033 1548

Naomi job-shares with Niall. She works on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Naomi is the lead contact for enquiries relating to Europe (except UK, Russia), Turkey, Latin America, Caribbean, LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Intersex), youth and education, corporates (businesses and human rights), and sport.

 

Isabella D'Emilio

Media Unit Assistant
Tel: +44 (0)20 7033 1543

Isabella works on consumer magazines research, media monitoring and evaluation, volunteer management and training, news and events pages on the web, listing notices and Urgent Actions for student media.