Finbarr Sweeney

Career path

Finbarr is Head of Office for the German Red Cross in Myanmar, leading humanitarian operations in a complex and high‑risk environment. His role spans movement coordination, technical support on school‑based disaster risk reduction, and preparing for and responding to the many hazards affecting communities across the country. 

He also oversees contingency planning, business continuity and anticipatory action initiatives, helping strengthen the national society’s ability to respond effectively to emerging risks.

The MSc’s focus on operational disaster risk and resilience provided a strong academic foundation for this work, supporting his ability to rationalise and structure responses to the challenges faced by humanitarian organisations in volatile contexts.

Life at UCL

Finbarr was able to apply his knowledge and skills from previous field experience to his MSc thesis, which focused on business continuity in relation to humanitarian organisations. The course’s applied focus on disaster response strengthened his strategic understanding of resilience systems, supporting his progression into senior humanitarian leadership.