Désirée Walter
Désirée joined HQAI in 2017 and, as of June 2023 serves as the organisation's the Executive Director. She has a proven track record of engaging and connecting stakeholders in a solution-oriented and collaborative manner. Passionate about building creative bridges with HQAI’s diverse audiences, Désirée effectively communicates the value of independent auditing and fosters partnerships that advance HQAI's mission. Previously, she held the position of Deputy Director and led the Marketing and Communications Service.
Prior to joining HQAI, Désirée headed the communications department at CERAH (Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies) and held senior marketing and communication roles within several Swiss and European companies, where she assumed global responsibilities for both internal and external MarCom. She is a seasoned and people-centred leader, deeply committed to the professional growth of her team, and building success through empowerment, consultation, and shared purpose.
Since 2014 Désirée has co-led an association providing development support in Madagascar. Her voluntary work includes fundraising, advocacy, project management, and field collaboration with community leaders and the local population.
Désirée is a certified ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems Auditor. She is trained in ISO9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO/IEC17065 (Conformity assessment Requirements), ISO19011 (Lead auditor course), and regularly undergoes HQAI's internal auditor training.
She holds a Diploma in Translations with focus on Marketing and Business Administration from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Communication, Negotiation and Advocacy in Humanitarian Settings from the Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies.
For Désirée, every day is an opportunity to learn — she nurtures a mindset of continuous growth and curiosity.
Explaining nuts, bolts and benefits
My answer to that question is two-fold:
1) its people. HQAI is a small team of dedicated and hard-working people. We support each other and we take the time to follow up on how our colleagues are doing. HQAI is what I call a team.
2) its uniqueness. Independent quality assurance is a scary "thing" for many partners, but we do our job for the sake of vulnerable people, with our mission in mind to help improve the quality and accountability of aid, and with a true partnership approach. This attitude is different and it is one of the reasons I work for HQAI.
let's discuss
Interview International Geneva
Désirée demystifies HQAI's work and puts its global operations in perspective with International Geneva
Interview France Inter
Désirée a répondu à une interview radiophonique pour expliquer l’essentiel de notre métier d’auditeur humanitaire en 4 minutes.
Désirée's interview with the H2H Network
Désirée shares the benefits of being an H2H Network member, HQAI’s role in harmonising due diligence requirements across the humanitarian sector, challenges and opportunities around the Covid-19 pandemic, and HQAI's role in driving accountability and localisation.