Heather Gilberds is CIMA’s Associate Director and Editor where she is responsible for driving CIMA’s strategy and managing CIMA’s publications program. In this role, she ensures overall alignment of CIMA’s publication portfolio with its mission and research agenda, and fosters relationships with research organizations, universities, think tanks, policy institutes, governments and news institutions.

With 13 years of experience in global media development, Heather specializes in the role of media to foster democratic processes, improve governance, and support development and aid effectiveness agendas. Her expertise includes strategic planning, research, media policy and evaluation of media development initiatives. Heather is in the final stages of a PhD in Communication at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada where her research analyzes the role of media to broker trust between citizens, civil society and the state during the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

Prior to CIMA, Heather worked with a wide variety of organizations as a researcher and practitioner, including Carleton University, Internews, Freedom House, Search for Common Ground and Farm Radio International. She has published on issues related to community radio, press freedom, independent media during crisis, donor funding to the media, and the influence of new technologies on information ecosystems in developing countries and transitioning democracies.