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 Jackson Ilangali

, MD, MPH

Director, Insights & Impact

Africa Secretariat

Photo of Osasere Imafidon

Marketing and Communications Associate

African Impact Challenge

Photo of Dancan Irungu

, PhD

Dean, Graduate School and Director of Enterprises, AMREF International University

Amref International University

Photo of Charles Isidi

Marketing and Communications Lead

African Impact Challenge, University of Toronto

Photo of Joseph Ferenbok (PhD)

, PhD

Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine MSc HENT UofT Academic Director

University of Toronto

Photo of Joseph Ndiritu

Director, Programs Delivery and Reporting

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences

Photo of Joshua Ebinabo

Program Manager, African Impact Initiative

African Impact Challenge

Photo of Patrick Kerre

, PhD

Dean, School of Public Health

Moi University

Photo of Leila Serwaah Khalid

, LLB, MA, PMP

Head, Communications

Africa Secretariat, Office of the Vice-President International, University of Toronto

Profile

Jackson Ilangali, MD, MPH

Director, Insights & Impact

Africa Secretariat

Dr. Jackson M. Ilangali is the Director of Insights & Impact at the Africa Health Collaborative (AHC), where he leads the Collaborative’s work on Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation (MELA), evidence use, Communications, and strategic learning across a network of leading African universities and partners.

A physician by training and public health practitioner by passion, Jackson is driven by a simple question: How can evidence help people make better decisions? His work sits at the intersection of health systems strengthening, quality improvement, implementation science, and organizational learning, with a particular interest in transforming data from a reporting requirement into a catalyst for learning, adaptation, and lasting impact.

Over the past decade, he has worked across multiple African countries, supporting governments, universities, donors, and international organizations to strengthen health systems, improve quality of care, and build learning cultures that enable sustainable impact. His experience spans multi-country programme leadership, quality improvement, MELA system design, and strategic partnerships.

Jackson holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and a Master’s in Public Health (Implementation Science) from the University of Manchester. He is an emerging thought leader in MELA, quality improvement, and evidence-informed decision-making, and enjoys contributing to conversations on how learning can drive stronger health systems across Africa.

Email Address
jackson.ilangali@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Ghana
Profile

Osasere Imafidon

Marketing and Communications Associate

African Impact Challenge

Osasere Imafidon is a Marketing and Communications Associate at the African Impact Initiative, supporting the execution of marketing strategies for key programs including the African Impact Challenge (Health Entrepreneurship & Country Innovation). She strengthens AII’s brand presence by promoting events, partnerships, and initiatives through strategic, multi-platform storytelling.

Working cross-functionally across communications, design, and programs, she develops compelling content, streamlines marketing processes, and supports campaigns that expand the organization’s visibility across African and international markets.

Passionate about meaningful impact, Osasere is committed to fostering spaces where individuals and communities can thrive through collaboration and purposeful action.

Email Address
osasere@africanimpactinitiative.com
Profile Type
Staff
Program
Africa Impact Challenge
Profile

Dancan Irungu, PhD

Dean, Graduate School and Director of Enterprises, AMREF International University

Amref International University

Dr. Dancan Irungu is the Dean Graduate School and Director of Enterprises at Amref International University.

He holds a BED (Business & Mathematics) an MA in Project Management & Planning and a Doctorate in Business Administration and Management. He is a scholar and an expert in Entrepreneurship, Corporate strategy, Organizational Development (OD), and Project Management. He has been a member of think tank, technical advisor and lead consultant for projects funded by GOK, World Bank, Global Fund, UNDP, USAID and European Union.  Dancan has a passion for social economic empowerment and transformation of the youth of Africa through enterprises development. 

Email Address
Dancan.Irungu@amref.ac.ke
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Kenya
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
HEMP Pillar Advisory Commitee
Profile

Charles Isidi

Marketing and Communications Lead

African Impact Challenge

Charles Isidi is a strategic marketing and partnerships leader driving innovation and entrepreneurship across Africa. At the African Impact Initiative, he leads marketing and communications for the African Impact Challenge (Health Entrepreneurship & Country Innovation), positioning AII as a leading platform for healthcare and cross-sector innovation.

He executes high-impact campaigns that showcase AII’s mission and success stories across Africa and the diaspora, while developing tailored marketing materials and overseeing multi-channel strategies to expand visibility and engagement. Charles also builds strategic partnerships with NGOs, government agencies, and corporate sponsors—securing funding and supporting program launches and sector expansion.

Through cross-functional leadership and strategic storytelling, he aligns brand growth with organizational impact, helping scale AII’s reach across African and international markets.

Email Address
charles.isidi@africanimpactinitiative.com
Profile Type
Staff
Program
Africa Impact Challenge
Profile

Joseph Ferenbok (PhD) , PhD

Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine MSc HENT UofT Academic Director

University of Toronto

Dr. Ferenbok is an Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and the founder & faculty member of the Translational Research Program, a professional master’s that trains students to harness creative problem-solving for health sciences innovation. He is the Course Director for Projects in Translational Research and Methods in Practices and Contexts and the Instructor for the Translational Thinking module.

He also co-founded the Health Innovation Hub (H2i), an initiative that fosters translation, innovation, and commercialization of “Health Matters,” and founded the Ideation Clinic, which helps people across disciplines generate and refine innovative ideas. Dr. Ferenbok additionally serves as the UofT’s Academic Director and Instructor for the MSc in Health Entrepreneurship at KNUST in Ghana.

Driven by collaborative problem-solving, he seeks to systematically mobilize knowledge to design more effective, person-centric interventions spanning diagnostics, therapeutics, procedures, and behaviour change. Dr. Ferenbok aims to enhance health outcomes for individuals and communities by embracing diverse perspectives and unconventional approaches.

Email Address
joseph.ferenbok@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Canada
Profile

Joseph Ndiritu

Director, Programs Delivery and Reporting

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences

Joseph Machaka Ndiritu is an esteemed Programme Management Professional with a robust 15-year track record in leading transformative programs across diverse socio-economic landscapes.

Currently, he serves as the Director of Programs Delivery and Reporting at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS). In this capacity, Joseph manages a variety of programs spanning several African countries, oversees substantial budgets, and leads teams with a broad range of cultural and professional backgrounds to achieve their goals. His experience extends to roles at the African Virtual University (AVU), Heifer International, CARE International, and the Ministry of Agriculture in Kenya, where he refined his expertise in monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, as well as food security and community-centric climate change adaptation strategies.

Joseph possesses a strong academic foundation in economics, leadership, and management, complemented by professional qualifications in instructional design & performance improvement, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. His skill set includes strategic planning, financial management, and proficiency in leading culturally diverse teams. Joseph’s commitment to generating positive change is evident in his impressive accomplishments in program management and fundraising, as well as in the development and deployment of innovative tools that empower communities and foster resilience.

Country
Kenya
Profile
Joshua Ebinabo

Joshua Ebinabo

Program Manager, African Impact Initiative

African Impact Challenge

Joshua Ebinabo is the Program Manager for the African Impact Initiative’s flagship program, the African Impact Challenge. He works closely with cross-functional teams to plan and execute the program, ensuring a seamless experience for founders from application through acceleration.

In his role, Joshua has led the transformation of the program’s bootcamp, redesigning and upgrading its structure to provide stronger resources, clearer pathways, and greater value for participating founders. He oversees program timelines, stakeholder coordination, mentor engagement, and performance tracking, ensuring milestones are met and outcomes are impact-driven.

Through strategic planning and continuous improvement, Joshua strengthens the African Impact Challenge as a high-impact accelerator for emerging entrepreneurs across Africa.

Email Address
joshua.ebinabo@africanimpactinitiative.com
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
African Impact Challenge
Profile

Diana Kaliza

Master Scholar

African Leadership University

Being a Mastercard Scholar has provided me with a profound educational opportunity, equipping me to address the healthcare challenges confronting Africa, particularly in Rwanda.

With firsthand experience of the continent’s healthcare system, I am uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully. I recognize the importance of collaboration in effecting change, and I’m committed to working with fellow scholars, professionals, and organizations to improve healthcare across Africa. Moreover, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to give back to my community by addressing healthcare disparities and promoting equitable access to healthcare.

In essence, this scholarship has empowered me to be a force for positive change in the African healthcare system, enabling me to make a lasting impact on the well-being of individuals throughout the continent.

Profile Type
Scholar
Country
Canada
Rwanda
Pillar
Health Ecosystems
Programs
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Mastercard Foundation Masters Scholar program
Social and Behavioural Health Sciences
Profile

Patrick Kerre, PhD

Dean, School of Public Health

Moi University

Email Address
kerrepatrick@gmail.com
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Kenya
Pillars
Health Ecosystems
Health Employment
Health Entrepreneurship
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
Profile

Leila Serwaah Khalid, LLB, MA, PMP

Head, Communications

Africa Secretariat

Leila Serwaah Khalid is a seasoned communications and brand expert with over a decade of experience driving impactful narratives across diverse industries and continents. She has a proven track record of transforming brands into thought leaders, securing high-profile media placements in outlets such as BBC, CNN, Time Magazine, and Reuters.

Leila has excelled at leading dynamic marketing teams and executing successful multimedia campaigns that drive awareness, enhance reputation, and expand customer bases across African and European markets.


Her expertise spans strategic planning, digital marketing, content development, and public relations.


Currently, she serves as Communications Lead for Africa at the University of Toronto, where she spearheads communication strategies for the Africa Health Collaborative, collaborating with 10 institutional partners.


Leila holds a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Ghana, a certification in Marketing Management from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Bachelor of Laws from KNUST, Ghana. She is also a certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute.

Email Address
leila.khalid@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Ghana