Kendi M’Marete 

Head of Disability Inclusion Policy and DWAT Team Leader in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Kendi M’Marete attended boarding school, high school, and university in Kenya, qualifying in Community Development, Projects Planning and Management. For 17 years she worked in the NGO, iNGO and public sectors in various parts of Kenya, including the infamous Dadaab Refugee Camp with UNHCR, the slums of Nairobi and rural Kenya where she empowered local women and girls on human rights, helped set up SMEs for poverty eradication and established projects to support disadvantaged and disabled children and young people.

She moved to Cambridge over 10 years ago where she worked with various disability inclusion charities whilst pursuing Inclusive Education research-based studies towards her International Development qualification at Cambridge University’s Madingley Hall.

Her career has predominantly centred on the International Development and charity sectors with a focus on Disability Inclusion, Education and Socio-Economic Development. Kendi is currently the Head of Disability Inclusion Policy and DWAT Team Leader in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

She recently graduated with a postgraduate qualification in Public Policy Analysis from King’s College London’s International School for Government.

During her career in the Civil Service, Kendi has worked on labour market issues, private pension policy and international labour policy through tripartite engagements at the ILO with the aim of improving global labour standards; including elimination of indecent work, child labour, modern slavery/forced labour, and promotion of workplace equality and safety working practices.

She mentors young people in and outside the Civil Service, and enjoys reading, travelling and hiking.