Experienced leader in youth development programs.
Maria Birgen is a programme and project management professional with over 15 years of experience in youth development, programme management, and institutional partnerships across Kenya and the United Kingdom. She currently serves as Deputy Director – Programmes and Projects Coordination at The President’s Award – Kenya, where she leads the coordination and delivery of programmes that empower young people to develop skills, leadership, and resilience while contributing to community and national development.
Maria provides strategic leadership in programme planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, working closely with government agencies, educational institutions, and development partners to strengthen programme quality and expand youth participation. She also champions innovation in programme management, including the adoption of digital platforms that enhance monitoring, reporting, and participant engagement.
Her professional experience includes senior roles in programme and project management with New Kenya Cooperative Creameries, Huawei Technologies, and the Ministry of Health (seconded to the Council of Governors). She also gained early career experience in customer service, programme coordination and communications in Birmingham, London, and Coventry.
Maria holds an MSc in Project Management and an MA in Media and Communications from Birmingham City University, and a BA in International Relations from the United States International University – Africa. She has also completed executive leadership programmes at the Kenya School of Government and Strathmore Business School.
