Meet the team

Based in London, our small but dedicated staff team works to mobilise UK support, lobby Parliament, and ensure our frontline teams have the resources they need to keep defenders safe.

Charmain Mohamed | Director | She joined PBI UK in 2026, bringing over two decades of experience at the heart of the international human rights system. Her experience spans the UN, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Norwegian Refugee Coun

Charmain Mohamed | Director | She joined PBI UK in 2026, bringing over two decades of experience at the heart of the international human rights system. Her experience spans the UN, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and The Elders; working across some of the world's most complex humanitarian and human rights crises, from East Timor, Sri Lanka and Palestine to the Syria response. Charmain holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law and also spends time volunteering locally in north London with a refugee welcome group. | Contact: charmain@peacebrigades.org.uk

Christina Challis | Advocacy Manager | She joined PBI UK in 2023. A seasoned activist, her career spans the OHCHR, Front Line Defenders, and the UN Association of Spain (ANUE). A seasoned activist, she has campaigned for asylum seeker rights, marria

Christina Challis | Advocacy Manager | She joined PBI UK in 2023. A seasoned activist, her career spans the OHCHR, Front Line Defenders, and the UN Association of Spain (ANUE). A seasoned activist, she has campaigned for asylum seeker rights, marriage equality and decriminalisation of abortion. She studied international law and human rights in both Ireland and Finland. She is fluent in English, Spanish and German. Christina leverages her UN and civil society expertise to champion global human rights and support defenders at risk. | Contact: advocacy@peacebrigades.org.uk

Chris Poole | Finance Manager | He joined the team in 2019. Chris has worked in the finance world since 2009, training as a public sector auditor with the Audit Commission and Grant Thornton, then moving into the non-profit sector in 2015 with roles

Chris Poole | Finance Manager | He joined the team in 2019. Chris has worked in the finance world since 2009, training as a public sector auditor with the Audit Commission and Grant Thornton, then moving into the non-profit sector in 2015 with roles at the MS Society and at Consortium for Street Children. Before training in finance he was a UK secondary school teacher for five years. He is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant and manages PBI's accounts. | Contact: finance@peacebrigades.org.uk

Lorna Ní Shúilleabháin | Partnerships and Policy Officer | She joined in 2025 following spending a year as a field volunteer with PBI in Guatemala. Formerly a Database Officer at Front Line Defenders, she combines a master’s in human rights law with

Lorna Ní Shúilleabháin | Partnerships and Policy Officer | She joined in 2025 following spending a year as a field volunteer with PBI in Guatemala. Formerly a Database Officer at Front Line Defenders, she combines a master’s in human rights law with statistical expertise to protect activists. | Contact: lorna@peacebrigades.org.uk

Ariana Zemaryalai | Partnerships and Advocacy Officer | She joined in 2025, bringing strategic expertise from Young Lives vs Cancer and Womankind Worldwide. She holds a BA in French and Politics. She is multilingual, focusing her work on gender just

Ariana Zemaryalai | Partnerships and Advocacy Officer | She joined in 2025, bringing strategic expertise from Young Lives vs Cancer and Womankind Worldwide. She holds a BA in French and Politics. She is multilingual, focusing her work on gender justice and international human rights. | Contact: ariana@peacebrigades.org.uk

Vishnee Sauntoo | Senior Communications Consultant | She joined in 2025, bringing over 20 years of expertise. A former Director of Communications at C40 Cities, she has led award-winning global campaigns for Save the Children and the British Heart Fo

Vishnee Sauntoo | Senior Communications Consultant | She joined in 2025, bringing over 20 years of expertise. A former Director of Communications at C40 Cities, she has led award-winning global campaigns for Save the Children and the British Heart Foundation. As the founder of VS Comms, Vishnee now leverages her expertise in climate and humanitarian narratives to amplify PBI’s mission. | Contact: vishnee@peacebrigades.org.uk