Leah Odongo
Leah Odongo has over 19 years of experience in the humanitarian and development sector. Currently serving as the Head of Effectiveness at CBM Australia, Leah is a visionary leader known for her innovative approaches to enhancing impact and efficiency in aid programs. Her extensive cross-cultural leadership experience spans both Australia and international field operations, where she has been instrumental in fostering inter-team and cross-team collaboration. Leah's career is marked by significant contributions to various organizations, including her role as Deputy Executive Director at Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS), and Program Manager at Lutheran World Federation (LWF– World Service) where she led the Programs teams and oversaw overseas partnerships and programs.
With a strong background in legal and human rights work, Leah also served at the Kenya National Commission on Human Right and spent several years working in refugee camps in the East and Horn of Africa. Her academic credentials include a Master of Business Administration from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Mysore, India. Leah is an active contributor to Advisory Groups and Boards and has served as a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)’s Code of Conduct Committee. Her commitment to promoting human rights and enhancing quality and compliance in development and humanitarian work, coupled with her strategic vision, makes her a valuable resource in discussions on efficient, effective, and accountable aid.
I have been a member of the General Assembly since May 2025
I firmly believe in the transformative power of quality humanitarian and development support to improve lives, and I am deeply committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and impact—values that lie at the heart of HQAI's mission.
HQAI stands out for its human-centric approach, placing people and at-risk communities at the core of all that it does to ensure best practices and accountability through humanitarian response.