MEET THE TEAM
Ben Leatham
Ben is a strategist and trainer with experience leading local, national, and international projects for mental health charities, including a global wellbeing initiative and Covid student response. He teaches politics to young people and prioritises community-level, lasting change.
Ben is currently based in Hong Kong
Learning & Strategy Consultant
Ilse Meijer
Ilse has a background in cultural anthropology and philosophy, with experience in fundraising and impact consultancy for NGOs and universities. She is also a researcher, writer, and visual storyteller. At Connected Development, she combines research and communications.
Ilse is based in Sao Paolo, Brazil
Research & Communications Consultant
​Muhammed Naeem
Naeem is an FCCA with over 10 years’ experience providing accountancy, financial management, and UK tax services. He supports organisations from micro-businesses to e-commerce brands with compliance, bookkeeping, and strategic insight to build strong financial foundations.
Naeem is based in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Finance Officer
Pamela Zamora
Pamela Zamora works at the intersection of business and technology, with experience across telecommunications, streaming, and IoT. Alongside freelance creative work, she volunteers with community organisations and values connection, adaptability, and learning through travel.
Pamela is based in Mexico City, Mexico
Network Coordinator
Rebecca Lin
Rebecca is a British–Taiwanese international development practitioner supporting community-driven organisations across the UK and Asia. As Programme Coordinator at Connected Development, she works in fundraising, youth mentorship, and programme delivery, using creative approaches to amplify marginalised youth voices.
Rebecca is currently based Taiwan
Programme Coordinator
William Harnden
William has over 17 years’ experience in international development, including roles as a charity CEO, NGO project manager, and UN training officer. He founded Connected Development in 2019 following extensive fieldwork across Southeast Asia and more than 20 countries worldwide.
William currently lives in the UK
Managing Director
Ben Leatham
Learning & Strategy Consultant
Ben is an experienced strategist and trainer. He has led diverse projects and campaigns for mental health charities at local, national, and international levels, including the development of a global business-led wellbeing initiative and managing a major Covid response program aimed at supporting students.
In addition to his consultancy work, Ben teaches politics to young people, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship that bridges education and development. He believes strongly in the power of community-level change and prioritizes initiatives that create a lasting impact.
Ben is currently based in Hong Kong.
Ilse Meijer
Research & Communications Consultant
Ilse has an academic background in cultural anthropology and philosophy, with years of experience in fundraising and impact consultancy for NGOs and universities. For the last two years, she has been living in Peru, Guatemala and Brazil, where she has worked on various projects.
Besides her work with Connected Development, she is a researcher and visual storyteller with experience in documentary- and filmmaking, and a writer. At Connected Development she enthusiastically combines these interests and skills in her role as Research and Communications Consultant.
Ilse is based in Sao Paolo, Brazil
Muhammed Naeem
Finance Officer
Naeem is an FCCA (Fellow of Chartered Certified Accountants) with over 10 years of experience delivering reliable accountancy, financial management, and UK tax services. Since 2014, he has supported businesses ranging from micro-companies to e-commerce brands with accurate bookkeeping, compliance, and strategic financial insights.
He keeps pace with UK tax and accounting changes and uses evolving accounting tools to support entrepreneurs and growing organisations in building strong financial foundations, especially where good bookkeeping makes a visible difference.
Naeem is based in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Pamela Zamora
Network Coordinator
Pamela Zamora is a dynamic professional whose career spans the intersection of business and technology, complemented by a strong creative and practical skillset as a freelancer. Her industry experience has developed across the telecommunications, streaming, and Internet of Things (IoT) sectors. Throughout her professional journey, she has consistently dedicated time to volunteering with organizations to support community causes.
Pamela is a keen national and international traveller, always seeking new experiences and willing to help people she meets along the way.
Pamela Zamora is based in Mexico City, Mexico.
Rebecca Lin
Programme Coordinator
Rebecca is a British–Taiwanese international development practitioner with experience supporting community-driven organisations across the UK and Asia. She has worked in fundraising, youth mentorship, and communications in Thailand, Taiwan, and the UK. Since joining Connected Development in 2021 as an intern, she now serves as Programme Coordinator, delivering a range of programmes.
Alongside this, Rebecca amplifies marginalised youth voices and promotes equitable access to education and international opportunities through creative, participatory approaches. She is based in Taipei, Taiwan, and splits her time between Chiang Mai, Thailand, and London, UK.
Rebecca is currently based Taiwan.
William Harnden
Managing Director
William has worked within the international development sector for the past 17 years. Formerly the CEO of a UK charity, Project Development Manager at an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), and Training Officer for a United Nations (UN) agency, he has undertaken several long-term international postings in Southeast Asia.
William founded Connected Development in Mae Sot in 2019, having worked in close partnership with community driven organisations and international donors along the Thai-Myanmar border for several years. His field experience now spans over 20 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas.
William currently lives in the UK.