Sheelagh Stewart joined the Elders as Programmes Director in January 2021.  She trained as a lawyer originally and at the start of her career was called to the bar in Zimbabwe.  She was the Founder-Director of the Musasa Project the first NGO focused on violence against women in independent Africa. 

Immediately prior to joining the Elders she was the British Council lead on conflict and security.  She joins with experience as a UK senior civil servant, work in the UN on rule of law, security and governance.