People Directory

Our team is the heartbeat of our collaborative efforts, comprising diverse experts from various fields. Each member brings unique skills and perspectives, uniting to drive innovation and impact in the health sector. Together, we are more than just a team; we are a community committed to transforming healthcare across Africa.

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People Directory

Photo of Lily Afsaw

Student Life Officer, Mastercard Foundations Scholars Program

University of Toronto, Centre for International Experience

Photo of Edwina Apaw

, CPA, MBA, PhD Candidate

Program Manager, Africa

University of Toronto, Office of the Vice-President International

Photo of Christine Arsenault

Managing Director

African Impact Challenge, University of Toronto Scarborough, The BRIDGE

Photo of Ernest Asamoah

, PhD

Program Officer (West Africa), Ghana

University of Toronto, Office of the Vice-President International

Photo of Katherine Beaumont

Senior Director, Global Learning Opportunities and International Student Success

University of Toronto, Centre for International Experience

, MSc, MBA, PhD Candidate

Program Manager, Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Program Officer (East Africa), Kenya

University of Toronto, Office of the Vice-President International

Photo of Len Brooks

, PhD

Professor, IMIx, UTM

University of Toronto, Institute for Management & Innovation

Photo of Gwen Burrows

Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement & Impact

University of Toronto, Office of the Vice-President International

Photo of JesusMiracle Chiadika

, M.Ed., PhD Candidate

Regional Lead (Health Employment), International Research Officer

University of Toronto, Office of the Vice-President International

Profile

Lily Afsaw

Student Life Officer, Mastercard Foundations Scholars Program

University of Toronto

Lily Mesfin Asfaw is the Student Life Officer at the University of Toronto’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Lily, who is Ethiopian and born and raised in Rwanda, moved to Canada to pursue a BA in Political Science and Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice at the University of British Columbia (UBC). After her studies, Lily transitioned to full-time work at UBC in their International Student Advising office and later became Program Assistant in their Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. There, she developed a strong interest in helping international students, particularly African students, acclimate to Canada which she continues to do in her current position. In her role as Student Life Officer, she organizes co-curricular programming to help scholars adjust to living in Canada, manage their studies, and foster community.

Email Address
lily.asfaw@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
Mastercard Foundations Scholars Program
Profile

Edwina Apaw, CPA, MBA, PhD Candidate

Program Manager, Africa

University of Toronto

Edwina is the Program Manager for the Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative within the Office of the Vice-President, International.

Previously from the U of T Scarborough where she served as Manager, Administrative Operations & Business Officer for the Department of Management and Manager of Operations & Project Management for the Office of the Vice-Principal Academic & Dean.

She has experience leading multidisciplinary teams and brings a breadth of knowledge on managing departmental operations, human resources, project management and administration of financial resources. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Henley Business School, University of Reading, U.K, where she is currently completing her PhD in Business Informatics & Systems Science.

Email Address
edwina.apaw@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
Africa Secretariat
Profile

Christine Arsenault

Managing Director

African Impact Challenge

Christine Arsenault is the Managing Director for the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Management Department, which houses all of the University’s business co-op programs and The BRIDGE; the department’s commitment to Work-Integrate Learning and Entrepreneurship. 

She has been involved in co-operative education nationally and internationally for 20 years including leading Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning Canada as President in 2012/13, as a board member of the World Association for Co-operative Education and previously chairing the Canadian co-op research committee.  In 2018, she received the U of T Scarborough Principal’s Accomplished Leader Award.

While completing her M.A. she led award-winning research that compared English Language Learners and native English speakers and their success in job searching and recent published research on work-integrated learning’s influence on entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, U of T’s innovative Management and International Business Program was designed and implemented and the department has fulfilled its commitment that ever graduate should have a work-integrated learning experience.

Email Address
christine.arsenault@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
African Impact Challenge
Profile

Ernest Asamoah, PhD

Program Officer (West Africa), Ghana

University of Toronto

Ernest is the Program Officer for West Africa, Office of the Vice President International, University of Toronto.

Ernest coordinates University of Toronto’s projects and programs in the West Africa subregion. Ernest previously worked with KPMG as Manager where he managed the Firm’s business development Unit in Ghana and contributed significantly to increasing the service lines and revenue of the Firm. Prior to that, Ernest was Program Officer with World Vision International, Ghana where he was responsible for  the planning and implementation of youth trainee sponsorship, child protection and donor relations. He led and improved donor retention and deepened donor relations. Ernest joined the U of T from Regent University College of Science and Technology, a private University College affiliated to KNUST as the Dean, School of Business, Leadership and Legal Studies. He developed industry relevant and demand – driven postgraduate programmes and short courses to beef up the academic programmes of the College, strengthened industry -academic relations. Ernest chairs the Ghana Research – Industry Collaborative Steering Committee.

Email Address
ernest.asamoah@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Ghana
Program
Africa Secretariat
Profile

Katherine Beaumont

Senior Director, Global Learning Opportunities and International Student Success

University of Toronto

Katherine Beaumont is an international educational professional with over 25 years’ experience in the field working with universities, communities and corporations across the globe.  Her focus in the work has always been innovative opportunities for participants that lead to meaningful engagement and a deeper understanding of self, systems and others and the ability to affect change.

Email Address
katherine.beaumont@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
Mastercard Foundations Scholars Program
Profile

Eva Boakye-Yiadom, MSc, MBA, PhD Candidate

Program Manager, Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Eva Boakye-Yiadom, Project Manager of the Mastercard Foundation Africa Higher Education Health Collaborative, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

Eva has great expertise in administration, audit, accounting, and project management. Eva is a PhD candidate at the KNUST School of Business. She holds an MSc in Accounting and Finance from Christian Service University, Kumasi Ghana, Masters in Business Administration, from the Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom and Bachelor of Management Studies from KNUST.

Email Address
evadd2000@gmail.com
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Ghana
Program
All KNUST Programs
Profile

Lillian Bogonko

Program Officer (East Africa), Kenya

University of Toronto

Email Address
lillian.bogonko@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Kenya
Program
Africa Secretariat
Profile

Len Brooks, PhD

Professor, IMIx, UTM

University of Toronto

Len is the Professor of Business Ethics & Accounting at the University of Toronto with appointments at the Rotman School of Management, the UTM Department of Management, and the Institute of Management & Innovation (IMI).

He is currently the Director of the University of Toronto’s Professional Accounting Centre (PAC), the Master of Forensic Accounting (MFAcc) Program, and IMIx Executive Programs which offers the Certificate of Effective Healthcare Management to students in Africa funded by the Mastercard Foundation.

An expert in accounting, governance and ethics, Len has authored, co-authored, or co-edited many articles and several books including: Business & Professional Ethics for Directors, Executives & Accountants; Ethics & Governance: Developing & Maintaining an Ethical Corporate Culture; and Principles of Stakeholder Management.  His current research interests include professionalism, professional skepticism, DEI, and the linkage between continuing success, governance, risk management, and the maintenance of reputation. 

Email Address
imi.executiveprograms@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
IMIx
Profile

Gwen Burrows

Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement & Impact

University of Toronto

Gwen Burrows is Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement & Impact at the University of Toronto.

The Assistant Vice-President, International Engagement and Impact (AVP IEI) collaborates with colleagues across the university and internationally to advance the University of Toronto’s global excellence and impact in research, its translation, and in teaching and learning. The Assistant Vice-President leads and executes the University’s integrated international strategy across multiple dimensions, with a particular focus on region-specific engagement strategies and the development of partnerships to maximize global impact.

Gwen was Executive Director in the Office of the Vice President International for five years before becoming AVP IEI and in that role, supported the creation and implementation of the University’s first international strategic plan, and led the development of key international partnerships in a number of regions around the world. Gwen came to the University from The Hospital for Sick Children, where she held a number of leadership positions, including Executive Director, Public Affairs and Child Health Advocacy. As Director, Strategic Projects for the SickKids Research Institute from 2006-2013, amongst other accomplishments Gwen co-led a successful $227 million Canada Foundation for Innovation grant proposal and its implementation to support the vision guiding the development of the Peter Gilligan Centre for Research and Learning. Gwen holds a Master’s in Philosophy from Johns Hopkins and a BA from McGill University.

Email Address
gwen.burrows@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
Profile

JesusMiracle Chiadika, M.Ed., PhD Candidate

Regional Lead (Health Employment), International Research Officer

University of Toronto

JesusMiracle is the Regional Lead (Health Employment), International Research Officer at the Office of the Vice-President International, University of Toronto. She is also completing a PhD in Higher Education with a collaborative specialization in Comparative, International and Development Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She graduated with an M.Ed. in Higher Education, and has an inter-disciplinary background in the arts, psychology and entrepreneurship. She has lived on three continents which impacted her worldview and interests in understanding education from a global perspective. Having worked extensively with international students, she is interested in understanding how internationalization policies impact their experiences on an institutional level, and how institutions can improve the services and supports provided to students.

Email Address
jesusmiracle.chiadika@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
Africa Secretariat
Governance
HEMP Pillar Advisory Commitee