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Meet The Speakers

Cabinet Secretary of Health, Kenya
Dr Debra Mulongo Barasa
Dr Barasa is the Cabinet Secretary of Health in the current Cabinet of Kenya. She has over 15 years’ field experience as a senior officer with progression to an internal medicine physician and technical advisor having worked in health institutions at national, referral, private and community based levels.
Prior to becoming Cabinet Secretary of Health, she was an infectious diseases consultant at the World Health Organization, based in Nairobi.

Permanent Secretary, Zambia
Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi
Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi is a distinguished oncologist, healthcare administrator, and policymaker in Zambia. He currently serves as the Permanent Secretary for Technical Services at the Ministry of Health of Zambia, where he plays a key role in overseeing national health programs, policy implementation, and technical service delivery across the healthcare sector.
As Permanent Secretary, Dr. Lishimpi has been instrumental in strengthening Zambia’s health system, ensuring the effective delivery of essential health services, and addressing public health challenges such as maternal, child health, cancer control, infectious disease management, and emerging health threats. He has led policy development, resource mobilization, and health infrastructure expansion, contributing significantly to the advancement of universal health coverage in Zambia.

Malawi Minister of Health
Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda MP
Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP is a seasoned politician who is serving as Member of Parliament for Kasungu South East Constituency for a second term. She is currently the Minister of Health.
Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda MP is also a proficient manager who has worked in several reputable organisations like Ministry of Health as a Biochemist from 1991 to 1993, and Malawi Pharmacies Ltd as Pharmacist Manager 1996 to 2001. She also served as board member of Pharmacy Medicine and Poisons Board 2004 to 2006, Board Member City Pharmacies LTD 2001 to 2020. Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda is also a trained Inspector in World Health Organization Current Good Manufacturing Practices. Hon Chiponda is also a Board Member of Kamuzu International Academy since 2013, Organising Secretary for ruling Malawi Congress Party and she is also Ardent Farmer.
She holds a Bachelor of Science, majors Biology and Chemistry, graduated in 1991 from Chancellor College and Bachelor in Pharmacy graduated in 1996 from University of Western Cape, Cape Town in South Africa.

Minister of State for Health and Social, Nigeria
Dr. Iziaq Salako
Dr Salako is a Public Health Physician with a Masters degree in public health, a health activist, politician, environmentalist, public analyst & community mobilizer. He is on the final stage of a PhD. programme in Public Health specializing in Health Policy and Management.
He has worked in many institutions and sat on the board of several companies, including Klasik Healthtech and Pharma Nigeria Ltd and NextLevel Health and Care Ltd. He is a member of the advisory board of Quality Management Development Institute.
In 2020, he was appointed as the Chairman, Ogun Hospitals Management Board, where he made his mark through renovation of selected general hospitals, equipment updates, staff recruitment, human capacity development and the introduction of quarterly HMB bulletin.
He was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in August 2023 as the Minister of State for Environment, becoming the first minister from Ogun West Senatorial District since the inception of the current democratic dispensation in 1999.
He was the Chair of the Ministerial Alliance for Ambition on Nature Finance, an alliance launched at COP28 in Dubai with a current membership of 12 countries. He was also the joint Chair of the Alliance Against Overexploitation, a member of the steering committee of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a global intergovernmental group of more than 115 countries and also a National Champion for Climate Change and Health.
Dr. Iziaq Salako is the current Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, a position he assumed in October, 2024.

Global Health Correspondent
Tulip Mazumdar
Tulip Mazumdar is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster with over two decades of reporting experience.
As the BBC’s first Global Health Correspondent, she has reported from the frontlines of major disease outbreaks, leading international coverage of the West Africa Ebola epidemic. She has closely tracked the rise of emerging viruses, reporting on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome from Saudi Arabia, the Zika outbreak in the Americas, and the global response to Covid-19. Her investigations have examined the origins of the pandemic, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, and ways to improve maternal health worldwide.
Tulip’s work shines a light on underreported health issues, with a particular focus on women’s health and community-led, low-cost solutions. She has covered female genital mutilation in the UK and Africa and has played an important role in opening up international conversations on baby loss.

Director of Health Workforce, WHO
Jim Campbell
Jim Campbell is the Director of the Health Workforce Department at the World Health Organization in Geneva. He oversees the development and implementation of global public goods, evidence and tools to inform investment in the education, employment and retention of the health and care workforce in pursuit of global health security, universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. His portfolio includes measuring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and care workforce, implementation of WHO’s Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030, and support to countries within the Working for Health action plan to implement the recommendations of the UN High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth. He coordinates the Global Health Workforce Network engaging member states and all relevant partners in WHO’s work, with special focus on the contributions, rights and roles of women and youth in the health and care sector. He has published extensively, is a member of the Editorial Board of the Human Resources for Health Journal and provides advisory inputs to multi-sectoral programmes on COVID-19 recovery, social spending, education and employment.

COO and Deputy CEO, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Lisa Kelly
Lisa is Chief Operating Officer and executive lead for the NUH-Jimma Health Partnership Link with the University Hospital in southern Ethiopia. Lisa also holds the Emergency Planning Officer (EPO) role.
Lisa graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in Geography before joining the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme in 2008, in the East Midlands region. She completed her Masters in Health & Public Leadership from Birmingham’s HSMC in 2011 and has carried out a variety of operational management roles – predominantly in the acute hospital sector.
Lisa is passionate about improving access to quality healthcare globally, having written her dissertation on the NHS’ role in engaging in global health. Lisa has also supported the development of leadership skills in Zambia, Rwanda and Somaliland and undertaken a secondment working with the Tropical Health Education Trust.
Outside of work, Lisa enjoys travel, paddle-boarding, playing netball and occasionally treads the boards on stage.

Ghanaian Health Promotion / Communication Expert, Midwife, Nurse
Dr Jemima Dennis-Antwi
Dr. Dennis-Antwi is a multi-skilled Ghanaian Health Promotion/Communication Expert, Midwife and Nurse with over 33 years cumulative experience locally and globally; having managed collaborative projects and programmes through public service, development work and independent consultancies in maternal and newborn health/midwifery, nursing, health systems strengthening, health systems administration and research. She has held various leadership positions in collaborative and consultancy roles.
Starting in 1989 as a Nursing Officer at the clinical milieu of Ridge Hospital-Accra. she was seconded to the Health Education Unit of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly in 1991 as the first Ghanaian to continue the development of the Kumasi Health Education Unit culminating into a formidable national entity called the National Health Learning Materials Centre of the Ministry of Health. With a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing with Psychology-Legon-GH; Master’s qualification from University of Edinburgh-UK (1991), she pursued her PhD studies at De Montfort University-Leicester-UK(2003-2008) and branched into international development work serving with organisations such as Partnerships for Transforming Health Systems-Nigeria; American College of Nurse-Midwives-USA; Population Council-Ghana as well as working as a technical resource person, collaborator or consultant to myriad international organisations nationally and globally including the UN (UNFPA Ghana, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Libya, ESARO) WHO-Geneva, UNICEF, UN WOMEN), Sick-Kids-Canada, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, World Vision-Ghana, Catholic Relief Services, BASICS-GH-USAID, Jhpiego-GH etc. Overall, she has had professional exposure to over 42 countries worldwide and is a global technical speaker.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Dr Isioma Okolo
Dr. Isioma Okolo is a UK-trained Nigerian Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, a Harvard graduate, and a passionate global health advocate committed to addressing healthcare inequalities both within and between countries. With over 13 years of comprehensive expertise spanning clinical care, research, medical education, public health, and global health policy, she has a proven record of leadership and strategic planning aimed at improving global health systems.
Having worked across four continents—Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East—Dr. Okolo’s experience bridges low-, middle-, and high-income settings. She has successfully led initiatives to improve health outcomes in resource-limited environments, combining her expertise in clinical practice with cutting-edge research and a deep understanding of the complexities of global health disparities. Her extensive international exposure makes her a driving force in building more equitable healthcare systems worldwide.
As a trustee of Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET), Dr. Okolo continues her mission to champion global health equity, leveraging her unique insights and expertise to develop impactful solutions that address healthcare access, delivery, and quality for underserved populations.

Technical Director, Health Systems Strengthening
Margaret Caffrey
Margaret joined Global Health Partnerships (Formerly THET) in 2023. She is a highly experienced health workforce (HWF) and health systems (HS) specialist, with over 20 years’ experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of HWF and HS programmes, and related research across Africa and Asia. She has provided technical leadership and assistance in health systems strengthening, and health workforce policy, planning, management and development, working in partnership with global and country stakeholders, including government ministries and agencies, health education providers, health workers, civil society and communities, and donors and development partners. She has led and facilitated reviews and evaluations of health systems and health workforce policies, programmes and interventions, using mixed methods research approaches and evaluation methodologies.
She also has expertise in the design and delivery of health workforce and health systems capacity development interventions, particularly in the areas of HWF governance and leadership. At GHP, in her role as Technical Director, Health Systems Strengthening, Margaret provides technical leadership for the Global Health Workforce Programme and other GHP programmes.

Chief Pharmaceutical Officer's Global Health Fellow
Edwin Panford-Quainoo
Edwin Panford-Quainoo has substantial management experience and has worked across community, hospital and industry sectors. He is a Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Global Health Fellow who has worked as a pharmacist in Australia, Ghana as well as the UK. Edwin holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy, Master of Public Health and is currently undertaking his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Global Health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, where he is also part of the teaching staff on the MSc Global Health Programme.
He has been part of the Faculty of Public Health (UK) and Ghana Public Health Association CwPAMS partnership since its inception in 2019.

Deputy Director for Health Security, UK DHSC
Penny Walker-Robertson
Penny Walker-Robertson is the Deputy Director for Global Health Security at the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Penny has spent her career in global heath and global health security as a health adviser and diplomat for the UK government at both the Department for International Development (DFID - now Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office), DHSC and the UK Health Security Agency. She has experience in outbreak response; working with DFID on the Ebola response, with the DHSC setting up the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team and as Deputy Director in the C19 response. She worked closely with Dame Sally Davies from 2015 to set up the £265m Fleming Fund, to tackle AMR globally. In 2019 she was deployed as Head of Health and Education for DFID Sierra Leone, and technical adviser delivering the £150 million Saving Lives programme focused on improving maternal and child health. She has an executive fellowship in global health leadership from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and is currently a Cambridge University Policy Fellow exploring the use of AI in donor coordination models for macro themes, such as AMR, in LMICs.

Uganda Minister of Health
Hon. Dr Jane Aceng
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero is the Minister of Health Uganda. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine (MBChB), MMED (Pediatrics), Masters in Public Health and Diploma in Health System Strengthening.
She is a Pediatrician Expert and currently at the level of senior consultant pediatrics. She is also a Public Health Expert.

WHO Expert Advisory Group Member
Dr Titilola Banjoko
Titilola Banjoko is a healthcare professional by background working as an Executive Director in the National Health Service. She has over 23 years professional experience working with key strategic stakeholders engaged in Africa’s development. She has taken up numerous advocacy and advisory roles on the issue of capacity building in Africa and she is an actively engaged member of the African Diaspora.
She is a regular commentator and analyst on African related news and events and serves on the council of the Royal African Society, Chair Board of Trustees, Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD), Chair Board of Trustees, International Rescue Committee UK (IRC-UK) and a Fellow of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative.

Acting President, Royal College of Physicians
Dr Mumtaz Patel
Dr Mumtaz Patel is currently performing the duties of RCP president and will chair meetings of Council until an election can be held. She is also acting as chair of the Board of Trustees until a new lay chair is appointed.
Dr Mumtaz Patel is a consultant nephrologist based in Manchester, who brings a range of experience and skills to the role.
She is currently postgraduate associate dean for NHS England, is a director for conduct and progress at the School of Medicine at the University of Liverpool and has recently completed her three year term as RCP global vice president. Mumtaz has also worked as an RCP regional adviser for training, and clinical lead for quality management for the JRCPTB.
As RCP global vice president, she developed the global strategy, which has made a significant impact on our membership growth over the past two years, increased diversity and established strong networks. She also launched a global women leaders programme, which empowers female physicians to advance into leadership roles.

Public Health Specialist
Dorcas Gwata
Dorcas is a front line mental health nurse in the NHS and Diaspora Global Health Consultant with Global Health Partnerships, (formally THET) she has extensive experience in working in global health partnerships with focus on Africa and Asia. Dorcas has worked with young people and families affected by gang culture in London, a project that extrapolates research lessons from low income countries to high income countries, she has worked on the Zimbabwean Friendship Bench Project and she has extensive experience working in East Africa and Asia.
Her ability to live in and for different cultural realities allows Dorcas to import new innovative knowledge also in the UK were mental and physical health issues display similar challenges such as economic constraints and vulnerable population, with focus on gender violence, mental health, and trauma.

Founder and CEO of Zimbabwe Life Project
Lucia Vambe
Lucia Vambe is the founder and CEO of the Zimbabwe Life Project, a charity dedicated to improving mental health care in Zimbabwe. She is also a highly experienced NHS mental health nurse, currently working in the education team at East London Foundation Trust (ELFT).
Trained in the UK, Lucia has worked in the NHS for over 20 years, gaining extensive experience in mental health care and education. She holds various academic qualifications in both nursing and education. As part of her role at ELFT, she is closely linked with the University of Bedfordshire, where she delivers specific nurse training topics to students, including Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs).
Beyond her work in the UK, Lucia is deeply involved in advancing global health, particularly in Zimbabwe. Through the Zimbabwe Life Project, she works voluntarily to strengthen mental health services by providing training, resources, and support to healthcare professionals. Passionate about improving mental health services in both the UK and Zimbabwe, Lucia is committed to raising awareness, providing training, and ensuring better access to quality mental health support.
Beyond her professional life, Lucia is married and a proud mother of two adult children.

Chief Executive Officer, BHRUT
Matthew Trainer
Matthew is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BHRUT and joined our Trust in August 2021. He was the Health Services Journal CEO of the year for 2024, recognising the progress BHRUT has made under his leadership. The Trust delivered the most improved A&E performance in England in 2023/24 and left ‘special measures’ in May 2024.
Before joining us, Matthew worked for three years as CEO of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, which provides a wide range of mental health and community health care in south east London and parts of Kent.
In 2016, he worked for King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where he was managing director of the Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley. Matthew has also held senior positions at NHS England, the Care Quality Commission, and the MS Society.

MBBS, FCP(SA), FCP (ECSA), MMED (Internal Medicine), FRCP (London)
Dr Tamara Phiri
Dr Tamara Phiri is a consultant and specialist physician at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and senior clinical lecturer at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi.
She is Registrar of the East Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians overseeing operations of the college and specialist physician training in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
She is the immediate past president of the Malawi College of Physicians. She is a visiting lecturer at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital Dusseldorf, and Bernard Institute for Tropical Medicine in Germany, and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. She holds appointments as external examiner for the University of Botswana and the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe.
In addition to peer reviewed journal publications, she is a contributor to various national guidelines and is co-editor for multiple editions of The Clinical Handbook – a popular handbook for medical students and junior doctors in Malawi.
She has been recognized by Stanford University of School of Medicine as one of Stanford University’s Global African Scholars. Through this award, she holds a visiting instructor role at Stanford University and is a recipient of a grant enabling her to carry out research for quality improvement in Malawi.
The president of Malawi – Dr Lazarus Chakwera - awarded her a Presidential Award for excellence and outstanding service in the Malawian health sector.

Chief Executive Officer, Global Health Partnerships (Formerly THET)
Ben Simms
Ben has been CEO of the Global Health Partnerships (Formerly THET) since 2015. He has 30 years’ experience of working internationally, with an emphasis on global health and disability work. He has worked extensively across Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia during this time, harnessing expertise from across the UK health community, in the NHS and in specialist medical charities such as Sue Ryder and Sense, to benefit the development of health and social care in low and middle-income countries. For the last fifteen years he has been in leadership roles, building a strong track-record in advocacy and programme innovation, and working closely with UK Government departments and UN agencies. His knowledge of the INGO sector is further informed by periods chairing BOND Working Groups and taking active roles in health networks such as STOPAIDS, the network he directed from 2010 to 2015. Ben has led an active voluntary life in the UK throughout this time, serving as a Councillor and acting as a Trustee of several charities. He became a Fellow of the RSA in 2019 and is a member of the BBC Charity Appeals Advisory Committee. Ben has an MSc in Development Management from the Open University and an MA in History from Edinburgh University.
Ben leads an organisation that is pioneering a health partnership approach to the training of health workers across 30 countries in Africa and Asia. Health partnerships harness the skills of staff from the UK National Health Service in ways which bring mutual benefit to all involved, a vision of co-development that speaks to the new era of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Director of Programmes
Richard Skone James
Richard joined Global Health Partnerships (Formerly THET) in November 2014 as Grants Officer. He has a Masters degree in International Development from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to working with THET, he spent two years in Nairobi initiating a refugee education programme, and he previously worked in fundraising and communications for London-based NGOs.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Louise McGrath
Louise is an experienced manager of international development programmes and organisations with specific thematic expertise in health and social development and on policy influence. Louise has geographic experience across Africa, Asia and Latin America and spent 12 years living and working in Brazil.
During her professional career working for a range of international health and development organisations, including NGOs and research institutes, Louise has developed a strong track-record in partnerships, programme design and management, capacity development and the generation and use of evidence to inform policy making and practice.
Originally trained as a nurse, Louise has a BSc in Philosophy and Sociology and an MSc in Environmental and Development Education.

Diaspora Engagement Advisor
Moses Wasswa Mulimira
Moses is on a secondment from NHS England where he has been working as a global health Project Manager.
During his professional career, Moses has worked in mental health services with East London NHS Foundation Trust where he is currently volunteering as vice chairperson of East London NHS – Butabika ( Uganda) international health link . Moses has co-founded the Uganda Diaspora Health Foundation and UK East African Health Summit with strategic aim empowering the diaspora voice in global health .
Moses has a BSc in Health Psychology, Masters in Public Health (Addictions) from Kings’ College London and a Post Graduate in Health Research from Oxford University . At Global Health Partnerships (Formerly THET), in his role as Diaspora Engagement Advisor, Moses leads on Experts in our Midst / Voices diaspora programmes and the wider diaspora engagement activities .

Associate Director, Workforce Strategy and Planning, West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
Jonathan Brown
Jonathan is passionate about Global workforce development and the opportunities for population health and wellbeing brought about by collaborating for mutual benefits. In his current role he leads the Global Partnerships team and is striving to support the West Yorkshire health system to be a good global citizen through its global partnerships.. .
(He has worked within the NHS for 20 years undertaking various strategic workforce roles, including Chief Operating Officer for the Global Engagement Directorate in Health Education England. Since then, Jonathan has taken learning from his National role and applied it in the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System. He is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.)

Associate Director, Workforce Strategy and Planning, West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
Tara Tancred
Tara Tancred is a consultant Senior Lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She has a PhD in public health and is a social scientist with more than 15 years of research experience. Her expertise is in implementation research and appreciating how improved quality of care and people-centredness can be routinely operationalised. She has a particular interest in capacity strengthening of the health and care workforce.
Tara Tancred is a consultant Senior Lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She has a PhD in public health and is a social scientist with more than 15 years of research experience. Her expertise is in implementation research and appreciating how improved quality of care and people-centredness can be routinely operationalised. She has a particular interest in capacity strengthening of the health and care workforce.

Chair and Trustee
Dame Donna Kinnear
Donna is the Chair of Runnymede Trust, Trustee of the Burdett Trust for Nursing. She is a Non-Executive Director at East London Foundation Trust and The Royal Free Hospitals London. She advises on health policy and health issues to a number of organisations, including Global Health Partnerships and private health related organisations. She was a former Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) during Covid19, advocating for the profession. She has extensive NHS Experience with Director responsibilities for delivering strategy, formulating policy and promoting good health and care practice both across the UK and internationally. She has worked in many aspects of healthcare provision as a clinical leader, teacher, commissioner and deliverer of operational services.
Donna served as nurse/child health assessor to the Victoria Climbié Inquiry and advised the Prime Minister’s Commission on the future of Nursing and Midwifery in 2010. She has sat on Better Births Improving Outcomes of Maternity Services in England in 2016. She was made a DBE in 2008 for services to nursing.

Doctor, politician and Chairperson Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance (PF-AMR
Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume
Hon. Dr. Charles Ayume, is a Ugandan medical doctor and politician. He is a member of the Ugandan Parliament representing Koboko Municipality. He is Currently the Chairperson of the Committee of Health of Parliament of Uganda. The Health committee plays a key role in promoting health and health equity through representative, legislative and oversight roles, including budget oversight.
Dr Ayume is a strong health advocate and has called for action across sectors and society to mitigate the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during his recent global health policy engagement in UK and in Uganda.

Director Public Private Partnership/Diaspora in the Federal Ministry of Health Abuja.
Dr Nwakaego Chukwukaodinaka MBBS, MPH, FMCPath
She has worked in the Public Health Sphere for over 18years. She has worked in different departments where she held some leadership roles and also been involved in the activities of Global Health Partnership in Nigeria.
She was the immediate past Head of Health System Strengthening where she championed the production and launch of the Health workforce migration policy for the country. She was also the Chairperson of the National Oversight Mechanism overseeing the 14 grants awarded to Nigerian health partnership to boost and improve Health workforce capacity in country following the massive exodus noticed in the recent past years.
She has also lead the HIV Prevention, Treatment care and support components of the HIV /Hepatitis program in the country where she pioneered the Differentiate HIV Service delivery which has exploded with intergration of HIV management into other health care delivery like NCDs, mental health etc.
She was part of the team the developed the supply chain management system for the AIDS, TB and Malaria programs.
She is also a fellow in Pathology majoring in Heamatology. She also holds an MPH from University of South Africa, Pretoria.
She loves to explore new grounds having travelling as a hobby.

Research Associate at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Motto Nganda
Motto Nganda is a Research Associate at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He is a Medical Doctor with a master’s in International Public Health with 8 years’ experience using implementation research approaches to work with communities and health systems to co-produce context-specific and sustainable solutions/strategies to strengthen health systems, health workforce and people-centred approaches to health service and healthcare delivery.

Paediatrician
Sara Ibrahim ABDELGALIL
(MBBS, MRCPCH, FRCPCH, MtropPaed, DTCH)
Sara is a Sudanese British paediatrician working as the lead for paediatric allergy in Norfolk. She completed her high specialty training in general paediatrics and immunology, allergy, infectious diseases. She is a fellow at the royal college of paediatrics and child health.
Sara completed her master's degree in tropical paediatrics and child health with distinction and prize from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She worked with refugees’ families in UK, street children in Brazil, and orphanages in Sudan.
Born and raised in Sudan, Sara obtained her MBBS from the University of Khartoum with distinction and Lord Kitchener’s prize.
Sara is an active member of the medical diaspora in UK, contributed to supporting medical education in conflict zones in Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan. She was the president of Sudan Doctors’ Union - UK during the Covid-19 pandemic and established the transnational Sudanese medical diaspora coalition.
Sara volunteered in the technical working group in Africa CDC as member of the African diaspora team support during Covid-19 pandemic. She is registered as a diaspora engagement expert by the EU diaspora forum.
In 2023, following the eruption of the war in Sudan, Sara led a successful coordination unit for humanitarian response, the Sudan crisis coordination unit. This unit demonstrated localisation in action and was nationally recognised in UK.
Sara is a founder and member of several diaspora organisations and initiatives in UK and transnationally. e.g. GPO, SWP UK, BSAPCH, SDfHR, SPAN.
Currently, Sara is active in few projects:
Academy of medical education during conflicts, supporting undergraduate and postgraduate learning in emergency care to enhance the humanitarian response to local communities, displaced populations, and refugees.
Telemedicine clinic, via meta platform, to improve health access to free virtual clinics,
Sara is working with colleagues to support diaspora organisations in UK to achieve recognition and obtain funds for projects in different parts of Sudan in areas of health, protection, wash and food security.