Shyamila Hettiarachchi

Area of Expertise:

• Capacity Building, Training, Advocacy
• Communications, Media, Knowledge Management, Editor
• Private Sector, Social Enterprise, Corporate Social Responsibility
• Social, Education, Gender, Youth, Child
• Trade, Finance, Economics, Cooperation, Global

Professional Experience:

My track record demonstrates 25+ years of achievements spanning resource mobilization, strategic communications, advocacy, program coordination, and socio-economic development.
I pride myself in having the skill to forge lasting stakeholder relationships while acting as a thought leader in gender equity and women’s empowerment. By employing rigorous analysis and creative problem-solving, I provide strategic guidance throughout international organizations, ensuring that results exceed expectations.
With my strong background in social entrepreneur and women entrepreneur development and youth empowerment, I believe I have the skill set and experience to work in the areas of economic empowerment and sustainable development.
I am also advocate relentlessly for child protection and I am a published researcher.
Having lived in a VUCA environment and transited into peace times, I have first hand experience of working within an economy that needed to rebuild after a 30+ year civil war. Throughout my career I have demonstrated a commitment to fostering economic growth and resilience in communities across Sri Lanka. I have also authored and delivered a training model for youth development. This model used in UNHCR and USAID funded projects for post-war youth development as a featured agenda item in post war socio-economic development in Sri Lanka.
I have spearheaded initiatives that promoted entrepreneurship and livelihood development amongst economically marginalised communities, resulting in tangible improvements in income generation and socio-economic wellbeing.
I possess a solid understanding of community-based development and have the knowledge and experience to advise on the creation of business avenues that will enable lasting livelihood imporvement. I believe my approach to analysing and understanding each unique community prior to proposing possible solutions, is instrumental in designing and implementing impactful interventions aimed at enabling sustainable livelihoods for economic recovery.
I look forward to bringing my perspective to your team.