2010: Dedicated to global aid

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Kerline Usher, Master of Development Practice

Kerline Usher

In the months following her 2010 UQ graduation, Kerline Usher found herself in Port-au-Prince, Haiti – the place she first called home.

She was back again to work with the Haitian people to help them rebuild after the devastating earthquake.

Canadian-born, Ms Usher has seen more of the world than most others in her 25 years. She spent the first year of her life in Haiti, where her parents worked in the Foreign Service for the Canadian government.

While growing up she attended multiple international schools in the Philippines, Turkey and Switzerland.

Keen to put in place what she was learning in her development practice degree, Ms Usher travelled to Vanuatu during her masters (pictured), where she volunteered with an AusAid community project.

Upon her return to Haiti, Ms Usher worked as the assistant to the office of the Chief of Mission with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

For three months she conducted research to support program development and liaised with internal departments to gather IOM project data, which was then published and shared with external stakeholders.

Ms Usher said the position provided her with a broad view of operations from within an international organisation.

She also spent time organising field visits for donor representatives, IOM visitors and Haitian Government officials.

“The work gave me an on-the-ground view of how United Nations agencies attempt to work together to provide humanitarian aid and assist in promoting sustainable development in a country faced with an incredible amount of hardship,” Ms Usher said.

“IOM was one of the main implementing agencies in Port-au-Prince, working to provide shelter, health and protection services to address the immediate humanitarian needs, as well as focusing on longer term agricultural and economic development programs.”

She was particularly inspired by the resilience of the Haitian people, and came to respect their resourcefulness and persistence in the face of adversity.

Now back in Canada, she is working to help fund future endeavours in development.

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