Izumi joined Unitaid in 2022 as team assistant of External Relations and Communications Team. She supports the director and team colleagues with administrative and operational tasks. Izumi has professional experiences in clinical psychology and in journalism, among others. She is fluent in English, French and Japanese.
Before joining Unitaid, she served at the WHO Health Emergency Programme and worked on the coordination and monitoring of the WHO collaborating centres.

Melanie is a communications specialist with more than 25 years’ experience in the global health, humanitarian and journalism sectors. Melanie is from Canada and holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree and an MSc in Public Policy and Management. Melanie joined Unitaid in 2023.

Cintia is a public health professional with over 10 years of experience in governments, multilateral technical agencies, non-governmental organizations and multiple international forums. She has post graduate qualifications in international cooperation ad public health and has a particular interest in political mobilization, access to health and social justice. Previous to working at Unitaid, Cintia worked at the Global Fund, the Global TB Caucus (a political network of TB advocacy) and the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

Hassene is from Tunisia and holds Bachelors’ degree  in Information Technology Management.

Before joining Unitaid, he served as an IT Support Specialist and Deputy Team Leader within the BOS/WHO proximity support.

Before joining UNITAID, Amélie has mainly worked on resource mobilization, and partnership management for international NGOs and for the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, both at HQ and field level (Iraq, Afghanistan, and Tanzania).

Originally from France, she holds a master's degree in European Studies and International Relations from the Institut d'Études Politiques de Strasbourg (Sciences Po Strasbourg) and a master's degree in Political Sciences from the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS Lyon).

Marina was advisor to the French ambassador for AIDS and communicable diseases at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs before joining Unitaid in 2016. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs and master’s degrees in development & social change, and European public management. A native of France, Marina is experienced in advocacy, partnership-building, public relations and public health.

Kerstin builds and strengthens partnerships by focusing on political mobilization towards rights-based development: Her expertise in stakeholder relations, advocacy and new public management is based on 20+ years of working for multilaterals, NGOS, business and government in HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, vaccines, gender equality, emergency response and climate.

Most recently at WHO Headquarter, she coordinated the assessment of the WHO investment round. Before that, she mobilized in 7 years USD 2.8 billion for Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, led a multinational team in a climate- and health-prevention project in Western Kenya and supported a South African start-up health NGO. German by nationality, she holds three Masters degrees (among them one in Public Policy, focusing on Political Economy, United Nations Reform and Global Health).

Oksana, originally from Ukraine, joined Unitaid in 2013, after positions with UNAIDS and UNOPS.  Her experience is in programme management, advocacy, partnership-building and governance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in management and a postgraduate diploma in project management.

Matthew is a British national. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing and a Business Administration Degree. ​

He specializes in mobilizing resources from donor governments and major foundations to advance health, human rights, and justice. Matthew joins Unitaid after having held strategic positions at the International Development Law Organization, Italy and the International Planned Parenthood Federation, UK.​​

Beatriz is from Brazil and holds Post Graduation in International Relations, a master’s degree in public health and pursuing PhD in Social Science.
Beatriz has been working in the global health field for more than 10 years. Before joining Unitaid, she served as an International Advisor at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), International Relations Officer at the South American Institute of Government in Health (ISAGS-UNASUR), and as an International Consultant at Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Momcilo draws on his background as a cognitive psychologist to engage and expand Unitaid’s digital audience. “I’m always thinking about how people perceive and process visual information," says Momcilo, who creates and curates communications materials for Unitaid’s website and social media. Before joining Unitaid in 2011, Momcilo worked in communications at international organisations including UNHCR, WHO and UNAIDS, in the private sector with Hewlett-Packard spinoff Agilent Technologies, and as a teacher at the University of Geneva, showing students how to create and publish digital content. Momcilo, a dual citizen of Serbia and Switzerland, holds a master’s degree in psychology.

Maxime is a Canadian communication professional who specializes in digital marketing, multimedia, and strategic communication. He is adept at building and implementing strategies to improve brand awareness, online presence, and audience engagement. Prior to joining Unitaid, Maxime held communication roles with UNICEF, the UN Environment Programme, NGO BirdLife International, media conglomerate Next Digital, to name but a few.

Mārtiņš, originally from Latvia, has more than 20 years' experience working with UN organizations, specializing in public health issues. Before joining Unitaid in 2016, Mārtiņš worked as adviser on strategy, policy and governance at the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. He studied international economic relations and international law at the Institute of International Affairs in Riga and the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva.

Judith has over 20 years experieince in programme maagement, partnerships and resource mobilization. Before joining Unitaid in 2016, Judith served as senior adviser, external relations at UNAIDS, programme adviser on women and girls at UNAIDS, and programme officer, health at UNICEF. Judith has a background in public health, During the pandemic, she worked with the Access to Covid Tools Accelerator (ACT Accelerator) based at WHO to help coordinate donor engagement across global health agencies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Univeristy of Pennsylvania and a master’s in business and public policy from Yale University.  She is from the United States.

Kyle joined the Unitaid communications team in 2023. He spent the previous five years working as a communications officer for the UN World Food Program in Washington DC and Geneva with a field assignment in Moldova. Kyle has also worked in communications and project management in Lao PDR, Myanmar and South Africa. He is from Buffalo, New York and holds a Master in International Relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Mami is from Japan and holds Bachelors’ and Post Graduate degrees  in Geography.

Before joining Unitaid, she served as a Programme Specialist in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Syria and was responsible for resource mobilization, partnership development, donor relations, communications, and advocacy for UNDP Syria. Before that, she worked with UNDP’s HIV and Health Team in New York where she was actively involved in strengthening institutional relationships with the Government of Japan and the GHIT Fund.

Irina has worked extensively in international development organizations, specializing in finance, business services, risk and compliance.  She has held posts at a spectrum of United Nations agencies, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In 2009, she joined Unitaid. "I've become very passionate about what Unitaid does. It's a very interesting mandate, and important for humanity," Irina says. "What matters to me is contributing to make life better for everyone." Irina is from Armenia, holds an MBA from the IE Business School in Madrid, is a chartered certified accountant (ACCA), and holds a university degree in English language and history.

Mailys came to Unitaid in 2017 with a background in project finance, including a post at the UK Green Investment Bank in London, which seeks to accelerate the country’s transition to a greener economy. As a project finance senior associate, her role was to make investment decisions on renewable infrastructure projects involving offshore wind, energy from waste, waste recycling, biomass and energy efficiency. At Unitaid, her role is to ensure that grant money is used efficiently, and in line with agreements.

She is French, holds a master’s degree in finance, and speaks English, French and German.

David has an extensive background in financial management, accounting, organizational development and analysis. He served as a director at the United Nations in New York and at the Global Fund before joining Unitaid in 2015. David is from Ireland, and holds a master's degree in engineering and an ACA certificate.

Alex Debrun has 20 years’ experience in international public sector and non-profit organizations and is currently acting Team Lead Grant Finance. He holds a master’s degree in business administration and development. He joined Unitaid in 2018, coming from the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) in Sweden, where he served as budget and grant compliance manager. Alex has worked in two French nongovernmental organizations and has field experience in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. He speaks English, Spanish and French.

Jemmy Dopas is a finance professional with over twenty years of experience in grants finance, accounting, corporate finance, administration, and procurement. Prior to join Unitaid in December 2016, his professional journey includes roles with UNDP Indonesia and more than a decade with World Vision International. His working experience span across the Countries in East Africa, South Asia and Pacific region. As Grant Finance Manager, Jemmy provide technical support to the project teams and Unitaid grants implementers on financial, budgetary, risk management and audit matters. Jemmy hold a Master of Science (MSc.) degree with major in Corporate Finance, and a Bachelor Degree with major in Accounting.

Ivan is the mainstay of Unitaid´s IT department. He joined Unitaid in 2008 from the World Health Organization. Ivan is from France and holds  a Baccalauréat Technologique.

Thomas joined Unitaid in 2015, after working in quality management for Bosch and Stop TB Partnership. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in audit and finance controlling. Thomas has dual French and Swiss nationality.

Elin is an accomplished Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) with a master’s degree in Accounting and Banking. His career spans across private sectors such as professional services and high-frequency trading, as well as international organizations including the European Free Trade Association and the World Health Organization before joining UNITAID in 2024. Elin's expertise lies in accounting, financial management, and reporting.

Afifi is from Kuala Lumpur and before joining Unitaid, he served 8 years in the WHO Global Service Centre, leading the Procurement Contract Processing unit. He graduated in Quantity Surveying (Construction Contract Management) and had worked in the construction industry in both private and public sectors and registered with the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia. He also holds certifications from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS UK).

Sophie joined Unitaid in 2016, after holding administrative assistant posts at UNAIDS and the World Health Organization. Sophie is a native of France and holds a BTS compatibilité-gestion.

Richard Mijumbi, a seasoned procurement professional and MCIPS-certified expert, brings over two decades of global experience to Unitaid. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in International Business (Applied Finance and Management), Richard has honed his procurement expertise across both non-profit and private sectors in Europe and the U.S. His passion lies in driving ethical and efficient procurement strategies that create lasting impact. At Unitaid, Richard is committed to optimizing procurement processes to ensure the best value for resources, while upholding transparency and aligning with the mission of improving global health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.

Monica is a Human Resources Professional with experience in International Human Resource Management across the Asian, African and European regions. Before joining Unitaid, she worked in Ethiopia as HR for a business and management consultancy, and as an HR Intern for a multi national company in India. She holds a Master of Science in International Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, English Literature and Journalism.

Kothi came to Unitaid in 2008 from the World Health Organization, with a background in administration and human resources management. Kothi is from India, holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, numerical analysis & statistics and a master’s in political studies.

Mirchaye joined Unitaid in 2022 with over 15 years of experience in accounting, finance and business management in the USA and sub-Saharan Africa.  She worked both in the private and public sectors with roles in audit, investment management, grant management, including a lead role in the financial management of multiple HIV, TB, Malaria and COVID-19 grants from the Global Fund.

She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Master’s degree in Accountancy and Taxation from the University of Houston.

Mirchaye is fluent in English, French, Amharic and has basic knowledge of Spanish.

Originally from Colombia, Jorge is a financial management professional with 15+ years of progressive experience in international development with a focus on global health. He has expertise in financial grant management and FPA (Financial Planning & Analysis), including vast HQ and field exposure through work with organizations and partners in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. He comes to Unitaid after an 8-year period in DNDi where he was leading the finance grant management function. Jorge holds an MBA with a bachelor's degree in Finance, he is a strong user of Excel and Jet Reports (Microsoft Dynamics NAV), and he is fluent in English and Spanish with an advanced working level of French and Portuguese.

Julien has many years' experience in audit, risk management, CSR and project finance, including more than five years with a global health private venture. Julien has also worked as corporate finance project manager and interim head of finance at a public-private joint venture for the Piriou Group. Julien is French and holds a master's degree in finance.

A British national of Indian origin, Ganesh has expertise in designing Trust Funds, strategic partnerships, grant management, compliance, risk management and change management in INGO’s & Multilateral system humanitarian and development programmes. Ganesh has held positions at UN-MPTF, CARE USA, IRC, Christian Aid, and Oxfam. He has worked in  South Asia, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Africa, UK & USA. Ganesh holds a Executive Masters in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from HEC, Paris, and a postgraduate degree in business administration.

Radana  joined Unitaid in 2014, bringing a background in financial analysis and accounting. Radana has worked as a financial accountant in several private companies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international economics and a master's degree in finance. She is originally from Russia.

Liane Shakhsheer has joined us as an HR Officer within the HR team.

Liane holds an MBA in Business Administration and has joined us from ILO HQ, where she worked in the HR Operations Team as a Human Resources Officer. Before that, she worked as an Administration Assistant for the European Public Law Organization. Liane is from Canada and Jordan and speaks English, Arabic, and conversational French.

Kamayani is an Indian national. Before joining Unitaid, she served for more than 12 years at the WHO South East Asia Region, India. She has also worked as HR Focal Person with ADG BOS, WHO, HQ.

She is a Post Graduate in Business Management (Human Resources and Operations), holds a PG Diploma in Labour Law and Masters Degree in Sociology.

Baran Tunc has joined us as an HR Officer within the HR team.

Baran has joined us from WHO HQ-Budapest, where he worked in the Global Sourcing and Recruitment team as Associate HR Officer. Before that, he worked as an Operations Associate/Recruiter for United Nations Volunteers.

Baran is from Turkey and speaks Kurdish, Turkish, English and Greek.

Monique has an extensive background in accounting, auditing, financial analysis and reporting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and is a Certified Chartered Accountant. Monique was director of management reporting at the University of British Columbia in her native Canada, and worked at the World Health Organization before joining Unitaid in 2012.

Matthieu has a background in accounting, auditing, and financial analysis and reporting. Before joining Unitaid in 2016, Matthieu worked as an associate finance officer and programme officer at the Global Fund. He holds master’s degrees in management and administration.

Kristen has worked for law firms, NGOs and international organisations. Before joining Unitaid in 2014, she was a legal advisor for Médecins Sans Frontières. Kristen holds bachelor’s degrees in business and laws, is admitted to practice as a lawyer in New South Wales, Australia, and passed the Paris Bar Exam. Kristen is from Australia and joined Unitaid to follow her passion for promoting public health in low-income countries.

A British national, Sonia qualified as a UK solicitor in 1994 and has spent more than 20 years providing legal, regulatory and policy advice in the private and public sectors.  Sonia joined Unitaid from the private sector in 2009.  She holds a master’s degree in jurisprudence and an LLM in European law.

Nataliya is Ukrainian and French who brings to Unitaid the experience from various organisations acting in the interest of public health such as DNDi, MPP, FIND Diagnostics and from private sector. She holds an LLM in International law.

Aroosha is a lawyer with several years of experience working in the private sector and in international organizations providing legal advice on diverse matters. Most recently, she worked at the World Health Organization before joining Unitaid in 2022. Aroosha is from Canada and holds degrees in psychology, civil law, common law, and international crime and justice.

Oana works in project support. Before joining Unitaid, she worked as a field trials manager in disease vector control. Oana, a native of Romania, holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and is enrolled in clinical trials post-graduate studies at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Laure has been working with Unitaid since 2021 as program consultant, providing support in the area of operational planning and grant management. During her 13 year career in private and public sector, most recently at WHO/IARC, she developed vast experience in project financing and partnership management. She is also personally involved in the field of public health.

Originally from France, she holds a master’s degree in management from EDHEC Business School and a specialization in Development, engineering, and international cooperation from Sciences-Po.

Matthew joined Unitaid in 2021 to oversee a portfolio of malaria grants, with over 20 years’ of experience working in development settings including more than 15 years advising and managing public, private and Civil Society projects in the Sub-Saharan African health sector. Before Unitaid, Matthew managed a series of Global Fund grants on HIV, TB, malaria and COVID-19  at the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia, where he was seconded from GIZ.  He holds post-graduate qualifications in both International Development and Health Economics.

Katherine Blumer is a program manager at Unitaid where she currently oversees Unitaid’s portfolio of Intellectual Property grants.  Previously she managed Unitaid’s Antiretroviral Optimization portfolio. Having worked in global health for over 20 years has held positions with the United Nations Environment Programme, UNAIDS, the Center for Global Development, the World Health Organization and the Health Metrics Network. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications, a master’s degree in organizational management and a master’s degree in public health.

Anna is from Australia and holds Masters’ degrees  in International Development.

Anna has more than 15 years of experience working in public health, most recently on the WHO hosted Access to COVID-19-Accelerator Hub, managing the ACT-A Facilitation Council. Prior to this, she was the Project Manager for the WHO Vector Control Advisory Group. The first 10 years of her career at WHO were with the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework Secretariat.

Aisha is a global public health professional with over 10 years of experience working at national, regional and global levels on RMNCH and health systems programmes. Her expertise spans across grant and programme management, implementation, alliance coordination and Monitoring & Evaluation. She has experience working with governments, the private sector and civil society organizations to design and deliver high-quality innovative interventions.

She holds a BSc in Pharmacology and an MSc in Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management. Prior to joining she was with the Clinton Health Access Initiative and more recently as an independent consultant working for organizations like BMGF, Gavi and the Global Fund on multiple projects.

Smiljka oversees Unitaid’s portfolio of HIV molecular diagnostic and cervical cancer grants. She has extensive experience in programme management and HIV prevention, treatment and care. Originally from Serbia, Smiljka holds master’s degrees in pharmacy and public health.

Maria Donatelli is a human rights expert and project manager with seventeen years of experience in the development and humanitarian fields. Before joining Unitaid, she was senior manager at Coalition PLUS, an international network of community organizations fighting HIV, AIDS and hepatitis. In this role, she managed a Unitaid funded project aiming at increasing awareness about Hepatitis C among key populations and advocating for better access, at community level, to testing and treatment in terms of prices and service delivery.

As a member of the developed countries NGO delegation to the Global Fund Board, she worked for equitable access to resources aimed at the elimination of the three pandemics and the mobilization of resources from donor countries, during the reconstitution of the Fund in 2022.

Before joining Coalition PLUS, she was the Director of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. She has also held positions at Oxfam International, supporting members' advocacy campaigns of the network at the United Nations in New York.

Maria, originally from Italy, holds a master's degree in human rights and conflict management from the Sant’Anna School of advanced studies, a diploma in migrant health from Université Sorbonne Paris Nord and a degree in political science from the University of Florence.

Akko joined Unitaid in 2017, building on extensive management experience in humanitarian and development settings in Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Niger, Uganda, South Sudan and Zimbabwe. During a decade with Médecins Sans Frontières, he managed programmes and teams that provided quality healthcare during and in the aftermath of armed conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics. He has also held posts at Population Services International in Angola, and as Geneva-based liaison to the Global Fund. Originally from the Netherlands, Akko holds a master’s degree in economics, and a master’s degree in public health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Rachel joined Unitaid’s Program Division in 2019 and has worked extensively across the portfolio of investments on cervical cancer, long-acting technologies, intellectual property and malaria. Prior to joining Unitaid, she supported the development of normative policies and tools for HIV and HCV at the World Health Organization with a focus on key populations. Rachel holds a degree in international relations from Mary Baldwin College and an MSc in epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Danielle joined Unitaid in 2013, after working as a project coordinator with Médecins Sans Frontières in Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Niger, South Africa and Haiti. Danielle is from Ireland and holds a master’s degree in global health.

Thomas combines experience in program and project management with expertise in global development, global health, human rights, and anti-corruption. Before joining Unitaid in 2019, Thomas worked as a consultant to the World Health Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, and the European Commission, and as managing director of Transparency International Austria. Originally from Germany, Thomas holds a master’s degree with honors from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, combining business administration with intercultural relations and foreign languages. He speaks English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.

Anna joined Unitaid in 2019, bringing more than a decade’s experience that includes posts in the Unitaid Nations system and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Her background is in programme management, interagency processes and cooperation, and monitoring and evaluation. She holds a master’s degree in international studies from the University of Uppsala in Sweden and a bachelor’s degree in development and economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

Kate is a seasoned strategic leader and operational manager, bringing 23 years of experience delivering health and social development interventions in diverse, multi-country and multi-cultural settings. Prior to joining Unitaid in 2015, Kate worked for Population Services International, where she supported country teams implementing large-scale HIV, TB and malaria programmes across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Kate also spent several years working for the British Red Cross in the UK, managing volunteer networks and overseeing community-led emergency response, recovery, and resilience-strengthening services. Kate’s management style draws upon academic training in development anthropology, and is anchored by her field experience and fundamental passion for equitable and impactful social change.

Katy joined Unitaid in 2023. She is a public health and development specialist with over 17 years of experience serving at the local, country and global level and in high resource, low income and conflict settings. She has extensive experience managing partnerships specifically for the New York City Department of Health, the World Food Programme and the World Health Organization. Her skills include programme management, research, policy development and strategic stakeholder engagement. Katy is Canadian and holds a Master’s of International Development and Management, a Master’s of Medical Science in International Health and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing.

Charlotte is from Sweden. She holds a PhD in international health and a bachelor’s degree in technology and biology. Charlotte has almost 20 years' experience in international health, including research, consulting, and programme management and oversight. She has worked for several international organisations, including the Global Fund. Charlotte joined Unitaid in 2018.

Faith is a Medical Devices Engineer with experience across various roles in the medical devices and diagnostics value chain, from research and development to commercialization and product introduction.

Before she joined Unitaid, she served as a Technical Team Lead at GIZ supporting the SADC Secretariat in enhancing local production of antiretrovirals by addressing market failures and providing comprehensive support to firms across the entire value chain. She holds a Master of Engineering in Medical Electronics and Instrumentation, a Master of Research in Graphene Technology, and a Master of Science in Medical Devices Process Validation and Regulatory Affairs.

With 20 years of experience in international development, Robert has an accomplished track record in leadership and senior management positions establishing and implementing strategies that have delivered significant impact and return on investment. Robert currently leads the Program Division at Unitaid, responsible for planning, developing and implementing a complex portfolio of health product innovation investments valued at US$ 1.3 billion. Before joining Unitaid in 2012, he served as Head of Operations and Vaccine Deployment for the World Health Organization’s H1N1 Pandemic Response and as Chief Operating Officer of the Global TB Drug Facility. Robert is a dual Kenyan-Canadian citizen and holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s in international development

Yamuna Mundade has over 20 years experience in public health and infectious disease control. Prior to moving to Unitaid in 2012, she worked at the World Health Organization where she was posted as Medical officer in countries such as East Timor, Papua New Guinea and the Western pacific Regional office. Currently she works on grant management and program delivery of grants in HIV and Malaria. Yamuna is a medical graduate and clinician from India and has degrees in Public Health and Epidemiology from the University of Queensland and in Experimental Therapeutics from the University of Oxford.

Eva brings 20 years of public health experience with WHO, Sida, and Unitaid. She currently leads Unitaid’s initiative on inclusive, demand-driven partnerships. Previously, she coordinated Unitaid’s health innovation portfolios on malaria and tuberculosis. Eva also supported WHO in building political momentum on antimicrobial resistance through a UN Interagency Coordination Group. As a Health Advisor at Sida in Zambia, she managed health development cooperation efforts and worked to improve reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health. From 1998 to 2014, she contributed to WHO’s tuberculosis programme across the former Soviet Union, Myanmar, and WHO Headquarters. Originally from Sweden, Eva holds MSc degrees in Molecular Biology and in Health, Development, and Environment.

Luca has 20-plus years of professional experience in both private and public international organizations with a strong emphasis on results delivery. Luca has spent most of his career working internationally, based both in the Global South and in Geneva, with a wide variety of partners. His professional skills and expertise include in-depth understanding of operations, project and program management, dealing firsthand with complex negotiations between multiple stakeholder groups and providing leadership on program implementation, project planning, donor contracting and capacity development. Before joining Unitaid, Luca served for 13 years at the Global Fund as a regional manager, where he conceived and designed the Differentiation for Impact strategy, a framework that guides Global Fund operations in tailoring investments and processes to specific characteristics of a country.

Ademola joined Unitaid in 2017, coming from Clinton Health Access Initiative, where he was an access programs manager in his native Nigeria. Ademola is a pharmacist, holds an MBA degree, and has a background in supply chain management, with a focus on HIV and viral hepatitis. Before taking his job with Unitaid, Amedola was already aware of what a positive impact the organisation’s projects were having, particularly in helping children living with HIV. “I was a pharmacist at an ARV (antiretroviral) clinic where I experienced first-hand the introduction of paediatric dispersible ARVs.”

Before joining Unitaid, Evaezi worked in an NGO in Nigeria where she supported gender-based  initiatives and supported capacity-building projects for women in rural communities surrounding Abuja. While in France, she worked with the Métropole de Lyon and with the association Dialogues en humanité, and as a consultant with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). Evaezi has also previously worked in WHO, the Global Protection Cluster at the UNHCR and in IOM (CCCM Cluster).

Evaezi is a Nigerian national and holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations from Covenant University, Nigeria and two Master’s which she completed at the University of Lyon, France: one in Ethics, Ecology and Sustainable Development and the other one in Territory Management and Local Development with a specialization in Rural Development.

Dessie Tarlton joined Unitaid in 2017 with extensive experience in development project and grant management across Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. Previously, she held key roles at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Habitat for Humanity International, and UNDP, and began her career in strategic consulting and private equity in London and Moscow. As Technical Manager, Access, Dessie provides analytical and technical support to inform Unitaid’s approach and execution of sustainable strategies to increase and accelerate equitable access to health products. Dessie holds an International Organizations MBA from the University of Geneva and a bachelor’s in health and development economics from the University of Bath.

Romane, from France, has a background in programme management. She joined Unitaid in 2013, after working as a project manager at DMI Associates, a consulting firm that specialises in public policies and economic development. Romane holds a master’s degree in management from EDHEC Business School, and a master’s in economics from the University of St Andrews.

Mariam joined Unitaid in 2021.  She started her career doing gene sequencing in an HIV lab then pivoted to managing public health projects. After a few years managing a diverse portfolio of projects for an NGO in Mali, she worked on program quality improvement for TB projects at the Global Fund and grant management at Gavi.  Her current portfolio at Unitaid includes TB diagnostics and TB treatment grants.

Mariam holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a master’s degree in public health from The University of Arizona.  She is from Mali.

Dr. Yohannes has an extensive background in medical parasitology, epidemiology and public health. He has worked at the Ministry of Health in his native Ethiopia, and at the World Health Organization. In 2010 he joined Unitaid where his focus is malaria control. Dr. Yohannes holds master’s degrees in medical parasitology and public health and a PhD in health studies.

Denitza currently leads the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning team at Unitaid. Her professional experience includes over 15 years in global health and economic development at country, regional and headquarters levels in Latin America, the United States and Europe. During this time, Denitza has held diverse roles, spanning strategy, program management, research and monitoring and evaluation. She is a strong advocate for continuous learning and evidence-driven decision making to advance the health and rights of all people, and especially women and girls. Originally from Bulgaria, Denitza holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s in Public Affairs with a focus on international development and health policy.

Vincent has worked in strategy consulting and healthcare for more than 11 years. He was a principal at Boston Consulting Group before joining Unitaid. He coordinates Unitaid's COVID-19 diagnostics engagement as part of the ACT-A partnership. He holds a master’s and PhD in quantum physics.

Caroline joined Unitaid in 2016 after 6 years with the WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s human resources, where she was in charge of recruiting, onboarding and managing field assignments for international consultants. Before joining the WHO, she was a cardio-technician at the Clinique des Grangettes Cardiology Center in Geneva. A Swiss national, she is a graduate of the Swiss Health and Social Care Centre.

Tijana came to Unitaid in 2017 from the United Nations Development Programme, where as an analyst she assessed the impact of Global Fund grants. Her background also includes two years in Tanzania, where she was advisor to a program on prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission. Partway through her time there, she was hospitalized with P. falciparum malaria, which left her with a first-hand appreciation of fast access to diagnostics and treatment. “I kept thinking, imagine having to deal with this without running water, without electricity, without access to healthcare. Not to mention that a lot of the people who get malaria are pregnant women or kids under five, people who are already vulnerable.” On Unitaid’s results team, Tijana evaluates the impact of grant projects. “When people think of impact assessment and evaluation, they think it’s just numbers, but it’s so much more,” Tijana said. “You really need a good understanding of what your program is trying to achieve so you can choose the right measures of success.” Tijana holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Health from Charité University in Berlin. She was born in Serbia and immigrated to Toronto as a child.

Hassene is from Tunisia and holds Bachelors’ degree  in Information Technology Management.

Before joining Unitaid, he served as an IT Support Specialist and Deputy Team Leader within the BOS/WHO proximity support.

Lara is from Italy and holds Bachelors’ Degree in Economics from Bocconi University, a dual MSc in International Affairs and Law from London School of Economics and Peking University, and Master of Public Health from London School Of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Before joining Unitaid, she served as a Technical Officer at WHO HQ, first in the Process Efficiency Unit and then in the Primary Health Care Programme supporting the policy and partnership work. Prior to this, she worked with CHAI, initially in Rwanda to support HCV Elimination, and then as Regional Manager for Southern Africa to support AHD scale-up.

Tanya is public health specialist with more than 20 years of experience in global health and development. Before joining Unitaid in 2019, she worked for Abt Associates, where she led M&E for a large, multi-sector investment to support the Government of Timor-Leste. Prior to that, she served as an M&E advisor at Save the Children where she designed and implemented M&E systems and led operational research to support maternal, newborn and child health programs. Originally from Canada, Tanya holds a BSc in Applied Health Sciences and a MSc in epidemiology.

With 17 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation (M&E), including 12 years in senior technical roles, Gamu is a seasoned expert in the field. Before joining Unitaid in 2023, she served as M&E Manager at FIND, where she played a key role in establishing M&E systems. Her expertise spans multiple sectors, including health, education, advocacy, and youth-led programs, with a focus on developing and strengthening M&E systems.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Gamu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and two Master’s degrees—one in Sociology and Social Anthropology, and another in Monitoring and Evaluation from Stellenbosch University. Passionate about global health and international development, she is committed to ensuring that interventions in low- and middle-income countries are tailored to local contexts to deliver the most effective solutions.

Gauri’s background is in economics, health statistics and programme evaluation. She came to Unitaid in 2015 from the Gavi Alliance, where she was a senior programme manager. Gauri, originally from India, holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, master’s degrees in economics and international economics, and a PhD in international economics. In her spare time, Gauri enjoys reading historical fiction, crime fiction and histories of ancient objects.

Ross has over 15 years’ experience in using evidence to inform strategic decision-making, having previously worked as an economist for the UK Government (DWP, Department of Health and DFID), and the International Labour Office (ILO). At Unitaid, Ross leads the Impact team, with responsibility for the overall performance management of Unitaid. His role extends into cultivating and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders including Unitaid Executive Board delegations and other global health partners. He holds degrees in Economics from Heriot-Watt University (MA (Hons)) and The University of Edinburgh (MSc.), and an MBA from Warwick Business School.

Stéphanie has more than 10 years’ experience working in public health in both the private and public sectors. Before joining Unitaid in 2019, Stéphanie worked at the World Health Organization with the Expanded Programme on Immunization, focusing on improving access to vaccines in middle-income countries. She has also worked for several NGOs in the field and headquarters, including MSF Access Campaign, and in the private sector for McKinsey & Company.  Stephanie holds a Master of Science in Management from Grenoble Business School and a postgraduate diploma in public health from the University of Manchester.

Nargiza specialises in monitoring and evaluation, data management, analysis and research. Before joining Unitaid in 2016, she worked as a monitoring and evaluation specialist at the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development and as an evaluation consultant for UN agencies. Nargiza holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and public administration and a master’s in political science.

Ombeni Mwerinde is an experienced Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) professional with over 20 years of expertise in public health, epidemiology, and data management. He joined Unitaid in 2016, following his role as an Associate Public Health and M&E Specialist at the Global Fund. Prior to that, Ombeni served in the country office of UNFPA in Tanzania.
Ombeni holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a master’s degree in Epidemiology. His dedication to enhancing public health outcomes drives his commitment to his work, as he finds profound meaning and fulfillment in contributing to the health and well-being of communities.

Priyanka joined Unitaid in 2020, bringing a background in strategy and policy development, analytics and programme management. She joined us from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, where she worked on Immunization Financing Sustainability and Vaccine Innovation Prioritization Strategy. She has worked previously in the UN system, IT and strategy consultancies.

Priyanka has an engineering degree in Information Technology from Rajasthan University, India and a Masters in Development Practices from Sciences Po, Paris (France). She is from India.

Seun is a dual citizen of Antigua and Barbuda and Nigeria. He’s a Public Health Specialist with over two decades experience implementing programs across Africa, Asia and the Caribbeans.

Seun has a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, a post graduate diploma in logistics and supply chain management, a master’s in public health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and a PhD in public health from the University of Nicaragua. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health and member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Prior to joining Unitaid, He spent 10 years at Clinton Health Access Initiative Inc. and most recently was Global Director, Maternal and Neonatal Health based in Zambia. Previously, He served as Assistant Professor, Public Health at Texila American University Zambia and also worked/consulted for a number of  organizations including WHO, UN Women, UNICEF, African Union, OSF, ICAP-Columbia University/CIHP and Axios Foundation/Akesis amongst others.

Kelsey joined Unitaid in 2020 after spending six years working for PATH in the Technology, Analytics, and Market Innovations Division. Kelsey has expertise in diagnostic development and introduction and led public health and user research on new products for maternal and child health, malaria, and HIV. Before that, she worked in Senegal for Tostan, an NGO focused on community development and human rights education. Kelsey holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies and a master’s in public health from the University of Washington.

Caroline joined Unitaid in 2016 after 6 years with the WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s human resources, where she was in charge of recruiting, onboarding and managing field assignments for international consultants. Before joining the WHO, she was a cardio-technician at the Clinique des Grangettes Cardiology Center in Geneva. A Swiss national, she is a graduate of the Swiss Health and Social Care Centre.

Prior to joining Unitaid in 2021, Anne-Isabelle worked as a Program Associate at Grand Challenges Canada where she managed seed and transition-to-scale investments in health innovations for low- and middle-income countries, specializing in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Originally from Vancouver Island, Canada, Anne-Isabelle has field experience in East Africa and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Global Development and Economics.

Hassene is from Tunisia and holds Bachelors’ degree  in Information Technology Management.

Before joining Unitaid, he served as an IT Support Specialist and Deputy Team Leader within the BOS/WHO proximity support.

Anisa joined Unitaid in 2019 from the World Health Organization Department of HIV/AIDS and Global Hepatitis, where she worked on developing normative policies and implementation tools for HIV and HCV treatment and diagnostics. Before that, she was director of the Laboratory Services Team at the Clinton Health Access Initiative, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Anisa holds a bachelor's degree in environmental health and toxicology from the University of Washington, and a master's degree in major programme management from the University of Oxford. She is from the United States.

With over 20 years of experience, Janet has a demonstrated track record in health leadership and strategy development. She is currently the Director of Strategy at Unitaid, leading investment planning and strategic design and implementation of health product investments. Before joining Unitaid in 2012, Janet held roles in global health, private-sector pharmaceutical industry, and pricing, access and strategy consulting. She has also been a guest lecturer on market shaping, new product introduction, and market access. Janet has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a master’s in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge.

Dale joined Unitaid in 2019, coming from the New South Wales Ministry of Health, where he worked in the blood-borne virus unit, predominantly on the rapid rollout of PrEP for HIV prevention. Dale’s background also includes primary health services development and research across Southeast Asia, and neglected and tropical disease policy analysis in the non-governmental sector. Dale holds a double bachelor's degree in international studies and development studies, and a master's in public health.

Jan has joined the Strategy Team as Senior Technical Manager for malaria and women’s and children’s health. 

Jan is a German national who trained on entomology and public health in the UK, followed by over a decade of working in advisory and management roles in Asia and Africa. He subsequently worked as the Senior Technial Advisor for malaria at the Global Fund. Throughout his career, he led or supported the evaluation of innovative public health interventions and delivery approaches, followed by scaling-up those that demonstrated impact.

In his most recent role, he served as the Head of Vector Control & Insecticide Resistance in the Global Malaria Programme of WHO. He focused on reducing WHO barriers to market access, including substantial involvement in the reform of the vector control evaluation process and in developing guidelines and operational guidance for malaria vector control.

Edith has 15 years experience working at Unitaid and WHO in various departments, coordinating administrative projects, supporting directors and teams, and managing databases. As an administrative specialist, Edith is resilient, proactive, and solution-oriented, embracing on-the-job learning, needed skills in the unpredictable and fast paced work environment.
Edith holds a graduate and several postgraduate qualifications: a Postgraduate degree in Linguistics (Discourse Analysis) and a diploma in continuing education from the University of Geneva; a diploma in international environmental law from UNITAR; and an MSc in Management (workplace conflict management) from the University of Liverpool. Edith is fluent in English and French.

Kenny Onasanya is a pharmacist, degree-qualified and professionally certified procurement and supply chain management expert with over 20 years’ experience (5 years in pharma industry; 15+years in development sector). Kenny holds a master’s degree in Procurement and supply chain management (with distinction) from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK, and a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria and Certification in Health and Humanitarian Supply Chain from Georgia Tech Georgia, Atlanta, USA.
Prior to joining Unitaid in 2020, has worked in many countries including Netherlands, Rwanda and Nigeria. He is a certified member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT UK), Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP, Canada) and Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS UK).

Carmen brings more than twenty years' experience in pharmaceutical policies, partnerships, strategic planning, grant-development and evaluation. Before joining Unitaid in 2012, she worked with diverse international organizations including Médecins sans Frontières, and global health institutions such as the Global Fund, always focused on overcoming barriers to health access, and scale-up of the best drugs and diagnostics in resource-limited settings.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, and a master’s in virology.

Dr. Cherise Scott is a global health specialist with close to 20 years of experience developing and advancing innovations and products for neglected diseases. Dr. Scott’s career spans preclinical to market introduction for medicines and vaccines. Her current work encompasses identifying and supporting interventions to overcome access barriers to innovative treatment, diagnosis, and prevention tools for major diseases in low- and middle-income countries with a particular focus on the areas of tuberculosis, HCV, long-acting technologies, innovative delivery forms for paediatric treatment, regulatory and intellectual property.

Jeffrey Smith has joined the Strategy Team as Senior Technical Manager with responsibilities in women’s and children’s health.

Jeff is an obstetrician/gynecologist from the US with 29 years of clinical and public health experience in countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., US, and his public health degree from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US.

He recently spent five years as the Deputy Director of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Previously he was Vice President for Technical Leadership at Jhpiego, where he led clinical interventions and implementation approaches in RMNCAH and infectious diseases, and was a member of both the medical and public health faculties at Johns Hopkins. He spent 10 years in Asia where he provided program management support and technical guidance to public health programs in Nepal, Afghanistan, and Thailand.

Catherina is an expert in intellectual property and pharmaceutical supply & regulation. She came to Unitaid in 2011 after World Health Organization posts in Guinea, Indonesia, India and the Philippines. Before joining WHO she worked with a medicine-supply NGO in Uganda. Catherina says her career has been guided by an abiding interest in the subject matter. "I enjoy the combination of the technical and the practical," she says. "And I believe in what I do. I believe that everybody should have access to medicine and treatment."  Catherina is from the Netherlands and holds master’s degrees in pharmaceutical sciences and political science.