Cristina Pavón
Director-General,
Alianza por la Solidaridad (ActionAid España)
Holds a degree in Environmental Sciences from the Autonomous University of Madrid and a master’s degree in international development cooperation from Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid. After beginning her professional career in environmental management consulting within the private sector, she transitioned fully into the field of international cooperation. For the past two decades, she has dedicated herself to international humanitarian and development work across various countries, including on-the-ground efforts in East Timor, Tibet, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, among others, always in association with third-sector organizations.
From 2008 she has been working in Alianza por la Solidaridad, where she took on key roles within the humanitarian field. For six years, she served as a humanitarian program coordinator in headquarters, where she led the strategic direction, design, and monitoring of humanitarian projects and programs in countries such as Haiti, Colombia, Palestine, Syrian refugee crisis, the Philippines, and Nicaragua. Her work significantly focused on advancing the specific protection of women and girls against gender-based violence in humanitarian crises.
In 2019, she joined the leadership team of her organization, where, as Program Director, she spearheaded the development and implementation of a comprehensive political strategy that significantly enhanced the organization's influence and funding capabilities. Under her leadership, the organization successfully expanded its programs to new regions and adapted its strategies to address emerging global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. Her innovative approach to program design and her commitment to sustainable development have been recognized by various international bodies.
In 2021, she was appointed to the role of General Director of the Spanish member of ActionAid. In this position, she continues to lead the organization with a focus on feminist leadership while scaling impact, fostering partnerships, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of humanitarian efforts in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
Sessions