Martha Keays has worked with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement for over three decades in various capacities, including managing complex emergencies and large-scale operations in Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Martha began her career with the American Red Cross as a volunteer. She went on to manage cross-border programmes in partnership with the Mexican Red Cross before joining the IFRC in 1993 as the regional disaster management delegate in Nairobi. After heading the IFRC Regional Delegations in Guatemala and Fiji, she served as Senior Advisor to the IFRC Secretary General in Geneva before returning to the American Red Cross as their Regional Representative in East Africa.

Martha has also previously worked as US Peace Corps Country Director in Guatemala, Kenya and Colombia, as well as heading a US-funded development cooperation programme in El Salvador.