Director of CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)

Chris Bain took over as Director of CAFOD in July 2003.

His work in international development began as a VSO volunteer and Field Officer in Fiji where he stayed on to be Director of a community housing Trust. He then returned to the UK in 1981 and worked for Christian Aid in education and fundraising. After completing an MBA, Chris joined Oxfam as special Campaigns Advisor before being appointed Head of Campaigns in 1992, leading the department responsible for Oxfam’s campaigns, education and regional fundraising. He rejoined VSO in 1996 becoming Head of International Programmes in 1999.

CAFOD’s role is to tackle poverty through human development and social justice. It works in partnership with local church and secular organisations in 70 countries in the South playing an active role in Caritas Internationalis. CAFOD currently has over 400 staff based in England & Wales and throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Its annual turnover is just over £55m.

Chris was elected President of CIDSE (the European and North American network of Catholic international development agencies) in January 2011.

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