The St Helena Research Institute is an affiliated centre of the Education, Skills & Employment Portfolio’s Lifelong Learning Sector. We operate through a Government trading account that allows the Institute to accept funding in the forms of: core funding; project funding; research and other fees and charges, donations and the operation of a charging system for our expertise. The Institute complies with SHG Financial and Procurement regulations. Our ambition is to become an independent organisation.
St Helena Research Council
The Research Council is the decision making body which approves applications for Research on St Helena, except where the authority is established in St Helena laws as set out in the Environmental Protection Ordinance (2016) and the Fisheries Bill (2021) or in cases referred to the Executive Council and in which cases offers a recommendation. The Research Council is established under the St Helena Research Policy (2019) and provides technical expertise in relation to research issues, implements the Policy in approving research applications, recommends key actions to the Education Advisory Board and other policy making bodies and manages research in St Helena.
The Research Institute works with the St Helena Research Council, to provide technical and administrative support to the research licensing system.
Chairperson: Ceri Morgan
Portfolio Director, Education, Skills & Employment
Vice Chair: Angela Benjamin
Head of Lifelong Learning, Education, Skills & Employment Portfolio
Secretary
Acting Coordinator, St Helena Research Institute
Sarah holds a BA Hons in Psychology and a Master’s in Managerial Psychology, with over 15 years of experience in human health and behavioral research. She is an expert in qualitative research and is deeply passionate about the health and behavioral aspects of adolescents and young adults (14-24 years). Currently, Sarah serves as a Research Support Officer at SHRI, where she supports the SHRC administratively and acts as the SHRC Secretary. Her work focuses on enhancing research efforts and ensuring smooth administrative processes within the committee.
Member: Helena Bennet
Director of the St Helena National Trust
Helena brings over 15 years of expertise in auditing, with a strong focus on strategic, financial, and risk management frameworks. Her passion for marine conservation, instilled from an early age, led her to play a pivotal role in developing St Helena’s heritage tourism sector. Collaborating with local stakeholders, she helped implement best practices in the industry. Currently, Helena drives the mission of the St Helena National Trust, championing the preservation of the island’s built, cultural, and natural heritage.
Member: Isabel Peters
Chief Environmental Officer, Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio.
Member: Damian Burns
Director of Economic Development (Financial and Infrastructure and Sustainable Development)
Damian is responsible for drafting and delivering the island’s Sustainable Economic Development Strategy, in line with the Ministerial vision.
Damian holds an MSc. in Political Economy of Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. His masters research examined the efficacy of Ethiopia’s industrialisation drive in the 90s and 00s. He previously worked as an analyst at the UK National Audit Office (NAO) in London.
Member: Selvi Jeyaseelan
Public Health Improvement Lead, Health and Social Care Portfolio
Non-voting member: Dr Paul Brickle
Chief Executive Officer, South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI)
St Helena Research Institute
Education, Skills & Employment Portfolio
Canarvon Court
Jamestown
St Helena Island
STHL 1ZZ
sarah.iguna@sainthelena.edu.sh
(+290) 22607
©St Helena Research Institute 2019 – 2025