Clarissa Poulson

I have recently been appointed Director for Evaluation, Policy Analysis and Learning, which is not where I thought I would end up when I was offered a temporary maternity cover role at Triple Line after my Masters at SOAS back in 2011.

At that time, I already had a career in the civil service under my belt and wanted to return to the complex, global challenges of sustainable development that had so fascinated me as an undergraduate. Thanks to a serendipitous conversation, I got that opportunity at Triple Line. I’ve learned so much since then, not just from managing funds that support inspiring CSO grant-holders but also by working with Government from the outside and seeing how programmes can be strengthened by good monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Beyond the fascinating subject matter, I get to work with a refreshingly diverse group of extremely able and supportive colleagues. Engaging with a team to really understand what a client needs, develop solutions and deliver a top quality piece of work that ultimately benefits people living in poverty is deeply satisfying. And ever the Geographer, I love working in places like Uganda, Myanmar and Nepal - and checking out new places on Google Maps! Triple Line has come a long way from the 12-strong company I joined, but it remains true to its values and is an exciting place to be.