Maria has a PhD in Disability and Global Health and more than 30 years’ experience working in the international development sector.

Maria started her career working overseas in Indonesia in education, and then later working in Ecuador on various health promotion programmes. Over the last 20 years Maria has combined working in the INGO sector with an academic role (including 12 years at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability).

Maria has conducted consultancies with a very wide range of agencies, her work has generally focussed on children and young people with disabilities. An experienced trainer and mentor, Maria has been a lead author and contributor on a range of training materials for young people, children with disabilities and caregivers; with a particular emphasis on using participatory approaches, including the Ubuntu training materials and input into WHO caregiver training guidelines. Maria has also facilitated several learning communities for different organisations, including facilitation over a three-year period of a global community on sports for development for disability inclusion.

Maria has robust research skills, with a particular interest in the use of participatory research approaches. She also has a wide range of publications in peer reviewed journals, as well as policy briefs and other material tailored for different audiences.