Bernice Sarpong
Plumpton,NSW
Summary
I am a passionate and skilled professional with 15 years of experience in program management, design, monitoring, and evaluation. I have worked in diverse settings, including rural-remote indigenous communities in Australia and international development. My leadership abilities shine through in managing teams from various cultural backgrounds, emphasising transformative, inclusive, and values-driven approaches. I specialise in public health and excel at developing behaviour change strategies for communicable and non-communicable diseases. My extensive background includes handling humanitarian preparedness, response, and rehabilitation in fragile-conflict states and low-middle-income contexts across the Pacific, South-east Asia, and Africa. One of my key strengths lies in brokering complex multi-stakeholder partnerships honed in high-stress and culturally diverse environments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Technical Lead - Health
WaterAid Australia
08.2021 - Current
- Lead WaterAid’s portfolio of health projects, advocacy, and technical advice in Southeast Asia and Pacific
- This includes technical support to Country Program teams and developing tools and approaches to support effective and quality health-focused program delivery.
- Responsible for leading regional WASH in Healthcare Facilities Strategy and supporting the design of new health programming initiatives, including approaches to building new evidence
- Leverage WaterAid’s regional and global networks and expertise, alongside other WaterAid Australia and regional colleagues, to integrate health considerations into business plans
- Represent WaterAid externally to the Australian government and regional health-related agencies, research institutions and other key stakeholders
- Support grant management, program operations, and learning and development processes as required.
Humanitarian Program Coordinator/Global Humanitarian Lead
Caritas Australia
11.2019 - 07.2021
- Secured DFAT funding for Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) programs in Bangladesh (5.5M) and Timor Leste (1.2M)
- Managed a portfolio of 12 country partners across Asia and Africa during Covid-19 crisis
- Agency Focal Point for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Working Group with Caritas partners from USA, Ireland and UK
- Co-lead the Humanitarian Reference Group
- Co-chair of CAN DO Localisation Working Group
- Supported rapid activation and emergency appeals for a score of countries across Asia and Africa during Covid-19 pandemic.
Senior Projects Officer – Open Heart Intl.
ADRA Australia
07.2017 - 10.2019
- Pioneered the development practice framework for Open Heart International (OHI) and coordinated programming across countries in the Pacific, Asia and Africa
- Secured DFAT funding for OHI in Philippines, Tonga and Nepal through private donors and the Australian Non-government organisations Cooperation Program (ANCP)
- Contributed to ADRA Connections Volunteer Program strategy and online portal development
- Member of the ADRA International Health Technical Learning Lab
- Co-authored Australian Council for International Development Paper on Volunteering in the aid sector.
Health Promotion Coordinator
Campbelltown City Council
04.2014 - 07.2016
- Selected for the Campbelltown City Council Leadership Program in 2015 and developed Council’s first Community Calendar for distribution to households
- Coordinated Council’s major community health initiatives – Campbelltown City Challenge Walk, Fisher’s Ghost Fun Run, and partnership with NSW Sport for Bike Week events
- Secured funding from corporate organisations such as Marsden’s Law Group, Athlete’s Foot - Macarthur, and NSW Health, TAFE SWSi and Western Sydney University (Macarthur Campus).
Health Promotion Officer
Central Northwest Queensland Medicare Local
02.2013 - 04.2014
- Led community health promotion initiatives such as Healthy Lunch Breaks in the local schools, community garden, and the youth music and dance festival
- Established the inaugural Normanton Aboriginal Youth Council and organised a visit to Sydney for a Peer Youth Forum and leadership event
- Seconded to Longreach office to support a mental health and resilience project for drought-affected communities in rural-remote towns.
Deputy Country Director
Medair
01.2013 - 12.2013
- Managed the development and implementation of program and support functions to facilitate the operation of the country strategy worth USD 4.8 million
- Leader in external representation, legal compliance, grant management, programmed coordination, and team leadership
- Secured humanitarian and rehabilitation programming funding from multilateral donors such as USAID (OFDA), UKAID, and SwissAid.
Migration Health Associate
International Organisation For Migration
07.2009 - 08.2010
- Developed proposals for migrant health issues in the Greater-Mekong region (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam)
- Facilitated community consultations to design information education communication and behaviour change communication resources for migrant communities
- Participated in various UN meetings and ASEAN conferences to advocate for the health and wellbeing of migrants in the region.
Education
Training & Assessment -
Investigation Training
Sydney, Australia01.2007
Master of International Public Health -
University of Sydney
Sydney, Australia05.2005
Bachelor of Science -
University of Canberra
Canberra, Australia06.2001
Skills
- International Public Health Management
- Project Management and leadership
- WASH & Health
- Humanitarian development nexus
- Health Policy development
- One Health
- Communicable and non-communicable diseases
- Neglected Tropical Diseases
- Group Facilitation
- Cross-cultural competency
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Negotiation and public diplomacy
- Mentorship and coaching
- Teamwork and Collaboration
Accomplishments
- 2019 to current: Board Director and Vice Chair of African Enterprise Australia
- 2021: RedR Australia - Child Protection in Humanitarian Action
- 2020: Humanitarian Leadership Academy, Australia – Safeguarding Essentials
- 2015: Australia Institute of Management – Leadership Training
- 2011: Shape Your World (Kenya) – Leadership Training
Publications
- Https://www.waterforwomenfund.org/en/news/quality-accessible-and-safe-healthcare-lessons-on-strengthening-wash-in-healthcare-facilities.aspx
- Https://washfutures.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/C4_Bernice-Sarpong_audio.pdf
- Https://www.wateraid.org/au/articles/half-of-health-care-facilities-globally-lack-basic-hygiene-services-says-who-unicef
- Https://washfutures.com/pacific-focussed-oral-presentations-improving-hygiene-practices-in-a-climate-stressed-and-covid19-world/
References
Available upon request
Volunteer Experience
- Board Director-African Enterprise Australia & NZ 2019-present
- Ironman Group 2021
- Oxfam Trailwalker 2017
- Spartan Race 2016
Timeline
Technical Lead - Health
WaterAid Australia
08.2021 - Current
Humanitarian Program Coordinator/Global Humanitarian Lead
Caritas Australia
11.2019 - 07.2021
Senior Projects Officer – Open Heart Intl.
ADRA Australia
07.2017 - 10.2019
Health Promotion Coordinator
Campbelltown City Council
04.2014 - 07.2016
Health Promotion Officer
Central Northwest Queensland Medicare Local
02.2013 - 04.2014
Deputy Country Director
Medair
01.2013 - 12.2013
Migration Health Associate
International Organisation For Migration
07.2009 - 08.2010
Training & Assessment -
Investigation Training
Master of International Public Health -
University of Sydney
Bachelor of Science -
University of Canberra
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