The MJF Global team bring together years of experience in international development, foster care, social work, operations, communications, and research.
We have the privilege of investing the resources assembled from across our Martin James Foundation, a network of non-profit organisations pioneering and implementing quality family-based alternative care in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. We share resources and funding generated throughout the Foundation to contribute to efforts supporting children and families around the world.
Ailsa Laxton
Director of Global Programmes
Ailsa is an experienced humanitarian and development professional having worked in Liberia, Jordan and as part of the Syria regional response.
Over the past 15 years, she has coordinated multiple teams, including for UNICEF and various not-for-profit organisations, delivering programmes that focus on addressing the needs of children and families affected by conflict or crisis. Ailsa’s approach focuses on facilitating context-specific responses that build on cultural and social strengths to create meaningful and lasting change.
Ailsa Laxton
Director of Global Programmes
Ailsa is an experienced humanitarian and development professional having worked in Liberia, Jordan and as part of the Syria regional response.
Over the past 15 years, she has coordinated multiple teams, including for UNICEF and various not-for-profit organisations, delivering programmes that focus on addressing the needs of children and families affected by conflict or crisis. Ailsa’s approach focuses on facilitating context-specific responses that build on cultural and social strengths to create meaningful and lasting change.
Louise Cox
Head of Programmes
Louise is a social worker with over twenty years of experience working with children and young people. She has worked in both the UK and Uganda, focusing on the development and implementation of community child protection, gatekeeping systems, and alternative family-based care.
Louise believes that hearing and acting on the voices of people with lived experience is vital to progress and develop practice and trauma-informed responses. She welcomes collaboration and sharing ideas and resources to promote change and ensure positive outcomes for all children and young people.
Kara Kamari
Head of Communications and Advocacy
Kara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Human Rights and has over a decade of experience in communications, working with not-for-profit organisations in Canada, Rwanda, and the UK.
Her work has focused on education, gender equality, and mental health, always guided by a deep respect for the voices and experiences of the communities she serves. Kara is also trained as a lay counsellor and has worked as a support worker in youth mentoring and social enterprise programmes.
Kara Kamari
Head of Communications and Advocacy
Kara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Human Rights and has over a decade of experience in communications, working with not-for-profit organisations in Canada, Rwanda, and the UK.
Her work has focused on education, gender equality, and mental health, always guided by a deep respect for the voices and experiences of the communities she serves. Kara is also trained as a lay counsellor and has worked as a support worker in youth mentoring and social enterprise programmes.
Julie Walton
Head of Research and Learning
Julie has worked for over 15 years advocating for vulnerable young people and families. She holds an MA in Social Enterprise from American University, focused on international policy for orphaned and vulnerable children.
This included the opportunity to consult with the World Bank on their programmes supporting community-driven sustainable development models. Before joining MJF, she provided strategic leadership and communication support to a grassroots child protection organisation impacting children in Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Mexico, and the Philippines. Julie also co-authored the “Reimagine Orphan Care” advocacy series.
Our Partners
Together, we can end the unnecessary separation of children from their families.