During the 1980s, Area Co-ordinators on the Oxford 'Desks' based on geographical regions were responsible for areas of the international programme. There were, for example, Area Co-ordinators for Africa South and Africa North. The Co-ordinators met regularly with the Overseas Division Director and other senior staff from the Overseas Division.

In 1991, Area Co-ordinators were replaced by Area Directors responsible for the whole of an area, for example, Africa. From March 1991, meetings are referred to as meetings of Overseas Directors, from May as meetings of Area Directors, and from August as meetings of the Senior Management Team. Senior staff from other departments within the Overseas, later International, Division, such as the Policy Department, also joined these meetings.