55. The NGO Staff Wellbeing Network

Embodying change: Transforming power, culture and well-being in aid organisations

In this episode of Embodying Change, host Melissa Pitotti is joined by Jody Gunn-Russell and Camille Lemouchoux, two trailblazers in humanitarian staff well-being. Together, they recount the inspiring story of the NGO Staff Wellbeing Network, from its inception to its evolution into a vibrant community of practice. The conversation dives into the challenges of fostering well-being in the humanitarian sector, the systemic changes needed, and the collective efforts required to support staff across diverse cultural and organizational contexts.

Guest bios:

• Jody Gunn-Russell: Founder of the NGO Staff Wellbeing Network, Jody has over a decade of experience in humanitarian HR. She now works in the care sector, exploring innovative approaches to staff well-being while raising her young family.
• Camille Lemouchoux: A professional coach and trainer with over 25 years in the humanitarian sector, Camille specializes in leadership development and well-being. She is spearheading efforts to create a Francophone version of the NGO Staff Wellbeing Network.

Key takeaways:

1. The importance of peer support: Sharing practices and resources helps alleviate the loneliness felt by many in the humanitarian field.
2. System change is necessary: Organizational cultures need to prioritize staff well-being as a core value, not an afterthought.
3. Inclusion and diversity: Future efforts should focus on engaging local NGOs and creating multilingual, culturally sensitive spaces
4. Wellbeing as a leadership responsibility: Leaders can adopt a coaching mindset, focusing on asking the right questions rather than having all the answers.
5. Advocacy with donors: Advocating for donor funding to include well-being costs can make well-being initiatives more sustainable.

Resources to explore:

The NGO Staff Well-being Network for professionals who care to share resources, ideas and strategies to improve NGO staff wellbeing meets quarterly online. Fill out this form to express interest in joining.

The Graduate Course in Humanitarian Leadership and Crisis Leadership Program by the Center for Humanitarian Leadership

Other episodes of the Embodying Change podcast

• Episode 53. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with with Torrey Peace on Spotify
• Episode 27. Everyone needs a safe space to flourish with Oge Chukwudozie on Spotify
• Episode 22. The data tells a story with Dr. Liza Jachens on Spotify

The Perspective Coaching Collective - tailored leadership and well-being training and coaching solutions for humanitarian organizations: https://www.linkedin.com/company/collectif-perspectives-coaching/