Désirée Walter
Désirée joined HQAI in 2017. As of June 2023 she took on the role of the Executive Director of HQAI. Désirée has a proven track record of engaging and connecting stakeholders in a solution-oriented manner. She is passionate about building creative bridges to HQAI’s numerous audiences, explaining the benefits of independent auditing and incentivising partnerships that contribute to HQAI's mission. Previously she managed the role of the Deputy Director and led the MarCom Service.
Prior to joining the HQAI team Désirée led the communication department of CERAH (Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies) and held Senior Communication and Marketing positions for different Swiss and European companies, assuming global responsibilities for internal and external marketing and communication. She is a seasoned leader, thoroughly interested in the growth of her team and successfully building on empowerment and consultation. Since 2014 Désirée is co-leader of an association providing development support in Madagascar. Her voluntary activity includes fundraising, advocacy, project management and field work with community leaders and the local population.
Désirée is a certified ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems Auditor. She is also trained in ISO9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO/IEC17065 (Conformity assessment Requirements), ISO19011 (Lead auditor course), and completed HQAI's internal auditor training.
Désirée holds a Diploma in Translations with focus on Marketing and Business Administration from the university of Heidelberg, Germany, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Studies in “Communication, Negotiation and Advocacy in Humanitarian Settings” from the Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies.
For Désirée no day passes without learning and she trains her mind on continual growth.
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.