Remembering Val Curtis

Oxfam’s Global Humanitarian Team is paying tribute to Professor Val Curtis, a leading thinker in the fields of water, sanitation and hygiene.

Val worked across many fields and in different roles, first working with Oxfam in Luwero in Uganda in 1983, responding to humanitarian needs caused by the ongoing civil unrest in the country at the time. She is remembered fondly by both those that she worked with in humanitarian contexts, and by those within Oxfam who have been taught by her as students at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, or through her prodigious research and guidance contribution to the fields of behaviour change and WASH policy.

Val both directly and indirectly contributed to defining Oxfam’s humanitarian public health team and their work with crisis-affected populations worldwide. We remember her as an adventurous free spirit with prodigious talents who went on to develop her skills and knowledge used to great effect to influence and benefit many people around the world.

Colleagues past and present offer their sincere condolences to Val’s family, colleagues and friends.

With thanks to Jan Davis, Paul Sherlock, Pat Diskett, Cathy Gibb, Cathy Mears, Olwyn and Chris Mason and Anne Lloyd for sharing their memories of Val.