Samuel Tilahun is currently the Field Operations Director. He is a dedicated international development and relief professional with over twenty-two years of experience in various capacities. Since 2002, Samuel has been with World Vision Ethiopia, which he initially joined following an eight-year tenure at the Ministry of Agriculture as a Zonal Planning and Programming Specialist and District Agriculture Office Head.

During his time with World Vision, Samuel has held several key positions, including Director of Humanitarian Emergency Affairs (HEA), Grants Operations Manager, Kombolcha Program Office Assistant Director, and Area Program Manager in various locations. His leadership in the Humanitarian Emergency Team has been instrumental in mitigating the impact of numerous humanitarian crises in Ethiopia since 2018, such as the Gedio Guji IDP crisis and the Tigray Crisis. Samuel's efforts in managing humanitarian responses have been widely recognized by partners, with World Vision Ethiopia being a key actor in providing aid to millions across the country.

Samuel has also significantly contributed to building a culture of transformational development through the TEECAP (Transformational Economic Empowerment and Community Advancement Program) initiative and led the Leadership Advisory & Review Team (LART), advising World Vision Ethiopia's leadership on various policies to meet strategic objectives. In his current role, he oversees nine program hubs across Ethiopia, implementing multi-sectoral, integrated development, and emergency response programs in challenging contexts.

Samuel holds a Master’s Degree in Development Studies and a BSc in Agricultural Economics. He also has a graduate certificate in Humanitarian Leadership from Deakin University, Australia. Married to Munit for 26 years, Samuel is a father of two children, a son and a daughter.