Staff

Anusha Naicker is EMpower's Regional Programme Director for Africa. She leads the integration of the organisation’s core youth engagement frameworks to achieve transformative outcomes, ensuring that young people remain at the heart of all initiatives. With extensive expertise in grant making and programme design, Anusha steers the development and execution of robust work plans and country-specific strategies, while managing budgets that maximise regional impact. Her leadership is marked by the cultivation of high-level partnerships that promote organisational learning and position the organisation as a global thought leader in youth development. Through strategic guidance and targeted partner engagement, Anusha ensures implementation excellence and continually enhances the reach and effectiveness of programming across Africa.

Her professional journey and prior tenures spans both the NGO/INGO and private sectors, where she has held strategic roles that demonstrate her commitment to social development and multi-sectoral collaboration. Her work with national and international entities has led to the successful launch of initiatives focused on youth and women’s empowerment, particularly in underserved rural communities.

She holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management Development from the University of Salford in the United Kingdom. 

Outside of her professional role, Anusha is deeply passionate about mentoring young people and exploring diverse cultures through travel. She is a strong advocate for wellness and mindfulness as foundations for effective leadership, drawing strength from a grounded personal spirituality. Her reflective approach to life and leadership is complemented by the joy she finds in spending quality time with family and nurturing meaningful connections.