The University of Cape Town (UCT) proudly hosted the inaugural Health Collaborative Convening from October 15th to 17th, 2023, at the scenic Protea Hotel by Marriott, Waterfront Breakwater Lodge in Cape Town, South Africa.
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.
Sophie (she/her) is the Communications & Community Development Coordinator at Health Innovation Hub (H2i), University of Toronto’s health-focused accelerator.
She is passionate about research translation, and rethinking how we design, deliver and access healthcare services, centering patient-informed and community-led models of care. She has worked within communications, operations management and project coordination in non-profits, healthcare, academic and start-up environments alike. In addition, Sophie has worked in frontline roles, from intake and case coordination to peer support facilitation. Having been a part of the founding and leadership team of a mental health focused start-up, she has unique insight into the journey and challenges of taking ideas in healthcare from conception to scale. She holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology from McGill University, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at University of Victoria.
Chris Suzdak is based in Mauritius and serves as the Director of ALX Ventures, which develops, connects and funds early-stage tech entrepreneurs emerging from the African Leadership Group ecosystem.
Chris also leads The FutureList, a global platform and community that spotlights tech innovators and connects them with investors, talent and partners. He previously started and scaled up teams in the fintech, agtech and edtech sectors across Africa. He’s passionate about finding and supporting the next big thing.
Dehran holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology, a BSc (Med) Hons. in Community Health and a HDE (PG) Sec in Education and MPH.
Dehran has experience as a secondary school educator; specialist scientist at the MRCSA (health promotion); senior project manager at the Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa; and senior manager within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
He previously directed research on international studies funded by a NIH Fogarty R01 grant as well as by CDC/WHO.
He served as a consultant for WHO’s Tobacco Free Initiative in Geneva and as contributor / regional consultant for the WHO African Region / Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO World Report on Child Injury Prevention, 2008).
He has been employed as the Health Teaching Platform Manager (Faculty of Health Sciences, UCT) for the past 10 years.
He is a Board Member at Ithemba Lobomi, NPO based in Thembalethu, George; Chairperson of the Dr Aadil Moerat Medical Bursary Trust and Chairperson of the Victoria Hospital Facility Board.
My name is Seidu Tahiru from Ghana, with a background in Actuarial Science and Applied Mathematics.
My academic journey centers on Health Informatics and Data Analytics. I am passionate about harnessing advanced analytics to empower clinicians with transformative decision-making tools for the benefit of patients and the healthcare systems.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship has transformed my academic journey, providing me with vital academic guidance, career mentorship, and financial support. This program has cultivated a community of scholars dedicated to positive change in Africa.
I aspire to leverage this opportunity to improve healthcare systems, particularly in Ghana, and contribute to a healthier future for all.
Mohammad Tahvili is a serial entrepreneur who has founded a number of companies in different sectors such as digital marketing, sustainability, diversity, and accessibility, all tied to social innovation and helping others shine.
His diverse background includes an HBSc in Computer Science and Entrepreneurship which helped him grow and help many small businesses with his technical skills. Additionally, he has over seven years of experience in app & website development, business development, branding and marketing that he is using to this day to help as many small businesses as possible to sustainable grow and scale their businesses.
The Mastercard Foundation’s visionary commitment to education and leadership has profoundly influenced my journey.
As a Mastercard Scholar, I’m deeply proud to be part of a program that not only champions academic excellence but also emphasizes the importance of creating a meaningful, positive impact in the world. This scholarship has not only alleviated financial barriers but has also fostered a culture of service and leadership within me. Through my studies, I’m determined to contribute to solving global challenges and improving accessibility of healthcare. This transformative experience has empowered me to think globally and act locally, making a real difference.
My time as a Mastercard Foundation scholar at the University of Toronto has truly been a transformative experience.
As a medical doctor from Ethiopia, I have gained a new perspective on healthcare and the ways in which it is viewed around the world. In Canada, I have been inspired by the idea that healthcare is a right, not a privilege to be earned, and I now dream of bringing this ideology back to my home country.
Dr. Naomi Teshome Assegied is an accomplished medical doctor with almost ten years of experience, most of which has been dedicated to public health. With a solid foundation in medicine, she has a proven track record in health financing, project management, health system strengthening, and strategic planning. Naomi completed her undergraduate studies in medicine from the University of Gondar and her Master’s in Public Health from the Hebrew University. She has also completed a leadership fellowship from the University of Delaware and is a Mandela Washington Fellow under the Young African Leaders Initiative.
Naomi has illustrated her leadership abilities throughout her career, one notable example being her role in spearheading the development of a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for Ethiopia’s emergency, injury, and critical care systems. She has also played a crucial role in preparing and revising over ten national policy documents at the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia during her time as a technical advisor.
In her most recent role as a Country Manager for East Africa at Akros Research, Naomi oversaw the implementation of critical health initiatives in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan. Her role involved managing local teams, coordinating with member states, and driving innovative solutions to improve health outcomes at the country level. Naomi also served as a Co-Chair of the Standing Committee of Medical Care and a Scientific Committee Member at the Ethiopian Medical Association.
Naomi’s areas of interest include public health leadership, health equity and social determinants of health, emergency preparedness and response, and global health.
Beyond her professional life, Naomi is passionate about exploring new places, learning about diverse cultures, and indulging in the rich variety of global cuisines. She has also been a Sunday school teacher at her local church since she was fifteen years old and deeply values this role.
Dr. Nhlanhla Thwala started his career in 1986 as a high school teacher in his native Eswatini after completing a BA in History and English, and a Diploma in Education.
In 1990, he completed an MA in Linguistics at Syracuse University. In 1994, he completed a PhD in formal Linguistics from the University of California in Los Angeles.
His post-PhD career started in Indiana University, Bloomington where he was a Visiting Scholar and Coordinator of the African Language Program from 1996 to June 1998. He then spent 16 years at Wits University, Johannesburg from June 1998 to May 2014 in various capacities including serving as the founding Head of the School of Literature, Language and Media (2001-2003), Director of the Wits Language School (2007-2014), Researcher at SOAS while on Sabbatical at Wits (2004-2006). In 2014, he left Wits and first joined Advtech (one the largest JSE listed private education companies in South Africa) as Head of the Institute of Independent Education (IIE). He then joined Pearson South Africa as Managing Director of CTI Education Group (a higher education company acquired by Pearson in 2013) from September 2014. In that time, he also served as the Academic Director of Pearson Institute of Higher Education from 2016 until his departure in September 2020 this year.
Nhlanhla’s education professional career spans 34 years. After starting as a Higher School teacher, in June 1996, he returned to the University of Swaziland in January 1997 as a Teaching Assistant in the English Department until June 1988.
During his graduate studies, he worked as a teaching assistant at Syracuse University and UCLA. He also had Summer Teaching roles at Yale University (1993), Boston University (1994), and Ohio State University (1996). In 1998, he started at Wits as Lecturer and rose to Senior Lecturer in 1999 before his appointment as Head of the School of Literature Language and Media in 2001.
