Brussels, 06/12/2018 – After five years as Director, Seamus Jeffreson is moving on from CONCORD, the European Confederation of Development NGOs. From January 2019, Tanya Cox will take over and become the new Director of the Confederation.
Tanya Cox and Seamus Jeffreson
Tanya Cox brings to the position over 22 years of experience, 14 of which are in international cooperation and human rights. She previously worked as the Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager in the EU office of Plan International and prior to that was with Save the Children and Human Rights Watch. Tanya has been an active member of CONCORD since 2008, most particularly leading the work on sustainable development for many years. She will bring on board her experience in management and communication, as well as her considerable expertise in policy & advocacy. Tanya speaks English and French and holds dual British and Belgian nationality.
Commenting on her new role, Tanya says:
I’m very excited to be taking up this position at such an interesting time for the EU. Civil society has a hugely important role to play to make sure that the EU delivers on its commitments to achieve sustainable development, to support partner countries in their efforts to reduce poverty and inequality and to ensure dialogue and partnership. I look forward to working with all CONCORD’s members, partners and allies to ensure a strong voice for civil society.
Tanya Cox replaces the outgoing director, Seamus Jeffreson, who successfully managed the organisation since 2013. During his mandate, CONCORD achieved to advocate for a European Year for Development in 2015, the confederation contributed meaningfully to key policy processes on various topics like migration, gender or budget, maintained such good relations with institutions in a turbulent time for civil society in Europe, while implementing a new strategy restructuring the way of working of the membership.
CONCORD President, Johannes Trimmel, complements:
Under Seamus’ leadership CONCORD remained the civil society voice for international development over the last years. We have joined hands with many others to develop a positive vision for Europe. I want to thank Seamus for his passion, dedication and action within and beyond our membership to work for a Europe that cares for people, in the European Union and globally. With Tanya we get an excellent successor who will build on the work being done to advocate for a fair Europe that promotes social justice, ends poverty and fights inequalities.