NATALIE SAMARASINGHE
Head of Policy & Communications

Tel: 020 7766 3451
E-mail: samarasinghe (at) una.org.uk
Fax: 020 7930 5893

Role: Natalie is Head of Policy & Communications at UNA-UK. In this capacity she:

• leads UNA-UK's advocacy and outreach work in support of its policy objectives in human rights, sustainable development, UN institutions and gender
• edits and manages the production of UNA-UK's print, multimedia and online resources, including the Association's website and magazine New World
• facilitates the campaigning and educational activities of UNA-UK's three main supporter groups
• coordinates the activities of UNA-UK's youth wing, UNYSA
• organises events to raise awareness of the UN and its core messages
• is the main contact point for media, campaign and education enquiries

Natalie serves on UNA-UK's policy committee and also provides ad hoc support to the UNA-UK Board of Directors, UNA Trus and Conference Procedure Committee.

Biography: Natalie joined UNA-UK in 2006 as Executive Assistant to the Executive Director. From January 2008 she served concurrently as Human Rights Coordinator, before being appointed Head of Communications in 2009 and Head of Policy and Communications in 2010.

Prior to joining UNA-UK, Natalie worked in administrative roles in the public, private and education sectors, including for Oxfordshire Social & Health Care and the University of Oxford. She also concurrently worked as a freelance journalist, writing for international, national and local media.

Hailing from Austria and Sri Lanka, Natalie has campaigned on human rights issues in those countries. She has an MSc in human rights from the London School of Economics and a BA in modern history from the University of Oxford. Natalie is fluent in German and has a working knowledge of French.