Tenu Avafia
Tenu Avafia has extensive experience across human rights, public health, health systems and equitable access matters. He has overseen health programs in low and middle income countries and worked with several partners including programme and donor UN Member States, civil society, private sector and multilateral institutions. Before joining Unitaid, Tenu served as the Head of the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Zimbabwe and led a team at UNDP focusing on HIV, human rights, key populations and health technology innovation and access.
Philippe Duneton
Dr. Duneton is the Executive Director of Unitaid since 2020. He has a Master in Epidemiology, Public Health and he was instrumental in the 2006 creation of Unitaid. His long career has focused on HIV/AIDS, infectious & tropical diseases and public health. He was twice advisor to Bernard Kouchner of France’s Ministry of Health, practiced medicine in the Infectious Diseases Department of La Pitié Salpétrière hospital in Paris, headed the mission against HIV/AIDS and harm reduction for l’assistance publique, Hôpitaux de Paris. He also led the French regulatory agency for medicines and health products, and chaired the board of the European Medicines Agency.
Serena Cungi
Serena’s background includes administrative assistant positions in the private sector, notably the world’s second-largest shipping line, Mediterranean Shipping Company, as well as work in the public sector, with WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Originally from Italy, Serena finished her university degree with a project on the languages of northern Mozambique, and then earned a master’s degree, with honors, in international tourism from the MIB School of Management, completing some of the studies in Panama. Her three years of living in Africa included time in Kenya, and in Mozambique, where she worked with local people to develop an eco-tourism lodge on the Mozambican island of Ibo. She speaks Italian, English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.
Marina Lins do Carmo
Marina joined Unitaid in 2017, with a background in law, international relations and coordination of country partnerships. In her role in the Executive Office, Marina is responsible for providing analytical and strategic support in developing and coordinating corporate partnerships, multilateral initiatives, as well as cross-unit collaboration. Her work also involves resource mobilization and donor relations in close collaboration with the External Relations and Communications team. Originally from Brazil, Marina started her career in corporate law before moving to Angola to volunteer at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UNDP justice and human rights department. She worked at Unitaid as partnerships officer in 2014-15. Marina holds a MSc. in Human Rights from the London School of Economics, and a law degree from Mackenzie University in São Paulo, and is a member of the State of São Paulo Bar Association.
Timothy Ryan
Tim has an extensive background in public health management and quality improvement. Before joining Unitaid in 2017, he was strategic communications specialist for the US CDC in Thailand and acting PEPFAR coordinator for the Asia region. Tim has also been managing director for Solve, CWS, and principle officer and ISO quality manager for the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility. Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in English and education and a master’s in professional writing.
Carole Ballon
Carole has more than 20 years of experience in administration and building management. She worked at the World Health Organization before joining Unitaid in 2011. Carole is from France and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology.