Freddie Mackereth

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Save the Children UK

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

I have worked in the humanitarian and development sector for over 7 years. I started working for a small NGO called Human Relief Foundation before moving into my current role as a Portfolio Manager at SCUK. I have worked on a range of humanitarian responses during this time, including Iraq (post-ISIS), Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan and Bangladesh. I was deployed to Save the Children’s International humanitarian response team supporting our Gaza response from October – December 2023 at the outbreak of the assault on Gaza. My current role is to manage the portfolio of programmes funded by SCUK in Palestine, I work with a variety of donors including the DEC, FCDO, ECW and a range of UN agencies including UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I always wanted to work in a environment that would allow me to travel and see the world. I have always been interested in international relations and working in this sector allows me to engage in this in a much more personal way. The best part of working in this sector is the feeling of playing my part to help people through some of the toughest times they’re experiencing.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

The opportunity to undertake a work experience module – first hand experience is invaluable to standing out and finding a roles in this sector.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

I loved living in Exeter, which is a bright and friendly city.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

The course was the perfect fit for me in terms of my planned career steps.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

An academic understanding of the humanitarian world is invaluable when working in the sector. The sector is very self-reflective and understanding where we have been is an essential part of shaping where we are going.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Don’t give up. It can feel like a struggle to find a paid role in the sector, but keep persevering and build networks. The humanitarian world is actually relatively small. The same names pop up all the time so it’s good to start finding ways to engage with people already in the sector.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to continue working for Save the Children UK. From my perspective there is no better NGO in terms of our ability to have impact and reach.