Dame Geraldine Maitland Aves, DBE (22 August 1898 – 23 June 1986) was a British civil servant, United Nations advisor on welfare, and social reformer.

[3] Care organisers were usually expected to hold a diploma in a social science, but Theodora Morton accepted her economics degree as a substitute.

[4][6] She worked on secondment for brief periods at both the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, as chief child care consultant in Europe, and the Home Office at the start of this role.

[3][5] Aves held various short-term positions in family and child welfare for the United Nations alongside her role in the Ministry for Health throughout her tenure there.

[3][7] The Volunteer Centre was established in January 1973, with future Labour MP Mike Thomas as director and Aves a founder member of its board of governors.