George Turkington CBE

Biography

George Turkington CBE was appointed as interim Director General Country Programmes in June 2019. Prior to this he was the Director for West and Southern Africa following his role as Head of DFID Ethiopia. George has worked in overseas development for over 35 years. He previously held posts at the British Embassy in Nepal, the Africa Greater Horn & Conflict Department, the South East Asia Development Division, DFID’s Information & Civil Society Department, the UK Mission to the United Nations in New York, and the United Nations & Commonwealth Department.

George was Head of DFID Uganda from 2008-2009, and Head of DfID Pakistan from 2009-2013. During this time, he led DFID’s response to the monsoons and flooding that devastated large swathes of the country in July 2010, destroying crops, homes and infrastructure. DFID’s response included health care, providing clean water and sanitation, rebuilding schools, and providing shelter such as flood-resistant homes.

George received a CBE in the 2014 New Year Honours for leading the UK Government’s humanitarian work in Pakistan during this time. He subsequently became head of DFID’s Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department, leading the UK’s response to Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines as well as serving as Director of the Ebola Crisis Response.