The SDF Team have a very high professional ethos and implement quality control procedures on all work. The company undertakes very diverse work to ensure a deep understanding of all levels of policy, programming, and practical day-to-day management. The examples of work undertaken have been shown by sector and most have an aspect of cross-sector integration. Small and large projects are given the same high level of service.

Sustainable Development Executive Director
Dorothy’s understanding of leadership and teamwork was initially developed through her experience in Sri Lanka when she moved there in 1986 and took a 5 year consultancy position with a non Government organisation, Sarvodaya Economic enterprises. Contracted as Project Manager to design, generate financing for, and field-test the pilot area. Her role focused on community empowerment, micro-credit, employment generation and enterprise development programs. She continued as a consultant on the management team for national expansion into over 100 communities and was responsible for strategic management of expansion plans. Dorothy also designed a parallel appropriate training and technology program, which is now also a continuing nation wide program.

In 1990 Dorothy moved to Hong Kong and undertook a 2-year consultancy with Herbert Kees International Ltd as Management and Personnel Consultant for their Hong Kong and Indonesian offices. This position involved sub-office establishment, institution of management systems, recruitment and training of staff, and strategic planning for the local offices. 1992 to 1995 Dorothy was contracted as International Consultant (short term) for USAID, CARE International, UNHCR and I.F.A.D. on various participatory community development, governance, small-medium business, rehabilitation, agricultural development and micro-credit programs in the Asia Region. She also carried out small-scale research and evaluations for these agencies, linked to private sector and socio-economic development.

Due to Dorothy’s past record, the Sri Lanka Government/Asian Development Bank contracted her as Team Leader for Rural Community Rehabilitation in areas affected by civil unrest. During 1995 this included four months field research on impact evaluation of the first phase of the program and design of the second phase. Another contract undertaken was a position with the Sri Lanka Government/Care International/U.N. Micro enterprise program for refugees. As Team Leader and Technical Consultant for several projects in program design, evaluation and policy input in resettlement and re-establishment of local communities in conflict areas throughout both the Singhalese and Tamil precincts.

Contracted during 1997 as Small Enterprise Development Consultant for the national expansion program with the Indonesia Government/IFAD (small enterprise, micro-credit and employment development programme), Dorothy’s passion for researching and resourcefulness was utilised to achieve results way beyond the ordinary.

Dorothy acted as Small Enterprise and Microcredit Specialist in identification and appraisal missions during 1996 for a Joint project focusing on Grameen Bank Replication through the Peoples Finance and Credit Corporation for the Philippines Government/Asian Development Bank/ International Fund for Agricultural Development Microfinance Project.

During 1997/98 Dorothy was also contracted for two three-year projects for the Philippines Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development. These were the Western and Northern Mindanao Economic Development Projects. Dorothy was the Training Specialist in inception and formulation missions working with rebel returnee groups and resettlement of communities affected by the conflict in Western Mindanao, and indigenous communities in Northern Mindanao.

While undertaking the above five contracts, Dorothy also worked with the Sri Lanka Government/World Bank/German Government in a study on under-employment of marginal farmers in the non-plantation agricultural sector. Her role was International Advisor for study design, implementation and analysis. She also had a five-year contract with the Agrarian Reform Communities Development Project. This was the Philippines Government/World Bank development project for community development, governance, enterprise and community infrastructure development for 100 communities nation-wide. Her role as Project Advisor on Community Development and technical assistance components was undertaken from inception to completion. This entailed undertaking six monthly supervision missions for the five years of the project. She designed and piloted a community development process, which is now being replicated within other projects, and in other governance projects.

In 2001 Dorothy was contracted by the Nepal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Project Preparation Mission for North and North Western Nepal. She was the Micro-enterprise Development Consultant on integrated projects with strong emphasis on social justice and strategies for community inclusion.

Dorothy has recently travelled to Rome (Feb 2003) to work with a team of representatives from around the world to work on an impact performance monitoring process for development projects.

During March/April 2003 Dorothy was in Indonesia contracted as Institutional/Decentralisation Specialist for IFAD Country Strategy Programme Evaluation including design and facilitation of project and participant self-assessment processes as a partnership input to the evaluation. Included involvement in global pilot and symposium on a new participatory evaluation framework for IFAD. She has also been working with TAFE Global in the Philippines on the Training Plan for National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP). (October-December 2003).