Hester Clark is the humanitarian advocacy lead at HelpAge International, where she oversees the organisation’s global advocacy efforts to strengthen political commitment, accountability and action to uphold older people’s rights and meet their needs in humanitarian crises. Between 2022 and 2024, Hester served as co-chair of the Bond Humanitarian Working Group, where she facilitated discussions on humanitarian policy, programming and funding, and supported the engagement with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Prior to joining HelpAge, Hester worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Middle East, East Africa and Europe, focused on refugee protection and the prevention of statelessness. She holds an MA in Law and a BA in Archaeology and Prehistory, both from the University of Sheffield, and a Professional Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool.
Posts
The humanitarian system and older people: reversing continued neglect
By 2050, one in five people will be over 60, with 80% living in low- and middle-income countries. Yet the humanitarian system remains largely unprepared to anticipate and meet older people’s needs, uphold their rights or support their contributions.
Shortfalls in data exclude older people from humanitarian responses
Hester Clark on why focussing on gathering more and better data is a practical step towards mainstreaming the inclusion of older people in humanitarian responses, while also challenging wider issues indirectly.