MATTHEW JENKINS

My Background: 

I have recruited and managed a range multicultural teams in the humanitarian, developmental, peacekeeping, electoral, and security sectors working for international organizations and NGOs in Europe, the Middle East, West Africa, the Balkans as well as Central and North America.

I have also delivered training and career counselling to postgraduate students from the University of Turin, the Webster University, UNICRI and the Austrian Study Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

At UNDP, IOM and IFES I advised Government Officials from Sierra Leone, Iraq and Kosovo on the timely, accurate and transparent delivery of election results. This involved the recruitment, training and mentoring of hundreds of national and international staff.

Prior to that I spent nine years with the OSCE Missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and with UNTAES supporting regional and municipal elections commissions undertake and implement of electoral activities which included the recruitment and training of thousands of staff. I also managed the first truly multi-ethnic election results centres in both Sarajevo and Pristina. 

During my two and a half years with UNPROFOR I was assigned to the UN Safe Haven of Bihac, with responsibility for supporting UN Peacekeepers and Military Observer, recruiting essential support staff and negotiating the provision of service contracts. Deployed to Gornji Vakuf, I provided UN administrative and operational support the NATO Rapid Reaction Force as it prepared to break the siege of Sarajevo.

With the British Army, I undertook two operational tours to Northern Ireland, with a highlight being tasked with commanding the high visibility “green” close security cordon, for the visit of H.R.H. Diana Princess of Wales to central Belfast. Another interesting experience was spending time in a Mexican jail – but perhaps the less said about that the better!