Our Team

Cara has a hard-working and experienced permanent staff to deliver its complex and sensitive programmes. 

The delivery of Cara’s work is overseen by the Chief Executive, with the support of the Deputy Chief Executive, Team Leaders, Programme Officers and Assistants.

Matt Foster
Chief Executive
Matt began his career at the Universities of Northern England Consortium for International Activities; then worked as Director of Strategy at VSO, Regional Director for South-East Asia and Country Director for Cambodia; as Director of the International Development Office for the Open University; and most recently as Chief Impact and Development Officer for Forum for the Future.  He has substantial experience of strategic leadership, programme design, and income generation, and a strong commitment to Cara’s mission in supporting academics at risk across the world.

Zeid Al Bayaty
Deputy Chief Executive & Fellowship Programme Manager
Zeid joined Cara in 2011 and worked in positions of increasing responsibility before becoming Deputy Director in 2018.

Laura Puiggalí
Fellowship Programme Deputy Manager (on Maternity Leave, returning Summer 2025)

Narmin Ali
Team Leader, New Fellows

Sara Bermudez
Team Leader, Enquiries

Lucia Simms
Team Leader, Active Fellows and Programme Manager, InspirEurope+

Jennifer Donnellan
Senior Fellowship Programme Officer, New Fellows

Alex Purser
Senior Fellowship Programme Officer, Enquiries

Tim Riches
Senior Fellowship Programme Officer, Active Fellows

Linh Dieu Tran
Senior Fellowship Programme Officer, Finances

Karolina Bilik
Fellowship Programme Officer

Ellie Jordan
Fellowship Programme Officer

Madalena Massena
Fellowship Programme Officer

Jess McFadden
Fellowship Programme Officer

Fabio Miccoli
Fellowship Programme Assistant

Eleanor Austin
Fellowship Programme Assistant

Audra Morris
Fellowship Programme Assistant

Tessa Bell
Cara Scotland Manager (based in Edinburgh)

Kate Robertson
Middle East/Syria Programme Adviser
Kate joined Cara as Deputy Director in 2006, and developed and ran Cara’s first regional programme, for Iraq, from 2006-2012. The Iraq Research Fellowship Programme, which she developed as part of this, led to what is now the global Fellowship Programme. She stepped down as a staff member in July 2015 but continued to work with Cara, from home and in a consultancy role, to develop ideas for Cara’s regionally-based Syria Programme, which ran from 2016-2024 with some follow-on work continuing into 2025.