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Balwant joined Oxfam GB as Trustee in November 2022. He has more than 30 years of experience leading philanthropic, development and humanitarian organisations and initiatives. He has worked in more than 25 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and Central America, and the former Soviet Union, and lived in Singapore, the UK, Vietnam, North Iraq, Russia, Sweden, the US, India, Ireland and Switzerland.

His expertise includes leadership and organisational development, strategy, governance, diversity, impact and programmes for health, HIV/AIDS, education, human rights and humanitarian response. Originally trained as a physician, he holds an MBA with top honours and a postgraduate diploma in health services management.

Most recently, Balwant was the Executive Director of Sphere which establishes, promotes and reviews humanitarian standards for disasters and crises. Before that, he was CEO of Kusuma Trust UK, a philanthropic foundation, for eight years. Earlier roles include Global Director of an innovative maternal and child health initiative across Africa and Asia funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Regional Director for South & Central Asia with Save the Children and Executive Director of Doctors of the World in New York.

Balwant continues to advise, facilitate and mentor on leadership, international development, humanitarian programmes, philanthropy, governance and diversity. He is passionate about social justice, volunteers with various organisations and loves cooking, photography and travel.