Lesley-Anne Knight

Recent Speaker

Secretary General Caritas Internationalis

September 15, 2009

"Address to the National Press Club"

Poverty and injustice have many causes. The 162 Caritas national members believe they can do more to combat them by combining their resources.

National members come under the umbrella of Caritas Internationalis, with its headquarters in the Vatican City, and representatives at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, Rome, and Paris. 

Caritas Internationalis channels the resources of its members:

Whether it’s providing food, shelter, water or medicine, we ensure rapid response, professionalism and coordination in emergency programming and disaster preparedness,

Whether it’s tackling the HIV pandemic or the consequences of climate change, we share knowledge to help the most marginalised become protagonists of their own development,

Whether it’s training communities in peace building or bringing divided peoples together, we seek to end conflict non-violently, promoting one humanity through inter-faith dialogue

Whether it’s speaking out on economic injustice or migration, we empower poor people and communities to challenge unjust international policies, practises and attitudes.

Lesley-Anne Knight is the Chief Executive Officer with responsibility for the management of Caritas Internationalis and delivery of the strategic plan.

Lesley-Anne Knight was appointed Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis during the 2007 General Assembly.  A British citizen, born in Zimbabwe, Ms Knight, 51, has more than 25 years of experience in international development.

Before coming to Caritas Internationalis, Ms Knight was International Director of CAFOD (Caritas England and Wales), where she was responsible for a staff of more than 200 people working in over 60 countries. She previously served as CAFOD’s Programme Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean and Head of Programme and Partner Support.

In addition to her experience with CAFOD, Ms Knight worked in Guatemala and Mexico during the 1980s for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and OXFAM, and in 1999 was Emergencies Director of the UK-based charity HelpAge International, where she was responsible for humanitarian and emergency relief programmes in northern Iraq, Kosovo/Macedonia, Mozambique, and India.

She has lived and worked in eight countries in Africa, Latin America, and Europe and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German. She holds a degree in English, French, Logic and Metaphysics and post-graduate qualifications in Business Management.

www.caritas.org.au