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 Thokozani Majozi

, OMB

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research & Internationalisation, UCT

University of Cape Town

Photo of Solomon Makuza

, BSc (Hons); MPH

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, University of Toronto

Photo of Notisha Massaquoi

, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Society; Founder & Director, Black Health Equity Lab

University of Toronto Scarborough

Photo of Micah Matiang’i

, PhD

Dean, School of Medical Sciences; Senior Lecturer, Nursing and Midwifery Sciences

Amref International University

Photo of Isambi Mbalawata

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences

Photo of Caroline Mbindyo

CEO, Amref Health Innovation

Amref International University

Photo of William (Bill) McConkey

, PhD

Academic Director, New Venture Program, and Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship

African Impact Challenge, The BRIDGE, University of Toronto Scarborough

Photo of Emmanuel Opoku Mensah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Toronto

Photo of Ignacio Mongrell

Assistant Director, ICUBE

ICUBE, University of Toronto Mississauga

Photo of Lisa Morgan

Assistant Dean, International and Specialized Programs

University of Toronto

Profile
Thokozani Majozi, Africa Health Collaborative University of Cape Town

Thokozani Majozi, OMB

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research & Internationalisation, UCT

University of Cape Town

Thokozani Majozi is a South African chemical engineer and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research & Internationalisation at the University of Cape Town.

He previously held senior roles at the University of Pretoria, the University of the Witwatersrand, and the Engineering Council of South Africa, and served as Chair of the CSIR Board. Currently, he serves as President and Chairperson of the Academy of Science of South Africa.

His research focuses on batch chemical process integration, particularly water minimisation in industrial systems, and he pioneered key techniques for reducing wastewater in batch plants. He holds an NRF B1 rating and has received multiple honours, including several NSTF awards, the NRF President’s Awards, and the Order of Mapungubwe (Bronze). 

Majozi is a member or fellow of leading scientific bodies, including the Academy of Science of South Africa and the African Academy of Sciences, and is an alumnus of the Global Young Academy. 

Email Address
dvcresearch@uct.ac.za
Country
South Africa
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
Profile

Solomon Makuza, BSc (Hons); MPH

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Solomon Makuza is a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. He has devoted his career to improving social determinants of health and well-being in under-resourced communities. His career began at AVSI International, where he led a child protection and development project across three refugee camps in Rwanda. There, he established multisectoral mechanisms to protect, respond to, and prevent child abuse.

Following this, he served as Programs Manager at Partners in Health, addressing socioeconomic disparities and improving healthcare and social support for vulnerable communities. Most recently, Solomon served as the Executive Director of Gardens for Health International, an NGO focused on maternal and child nutrition. Under his leadership, thousands of families and children were positively impacted. He built enduring partnerships with both local and global stakeholders and played a pivotal role in shaping national policies, including school feeding programs, community health workers’ nutrition guidelines, and the food and nutrition policy.

With a strong background in community outreach, international development, and health equity, Solomon’s interests include maternal and child health, food and nutrition security, global health, and policy development.

In his free time, Solomon enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching soccer and basketball, and jogging. Originally from Rwanda, he holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Health Sciences and a Master’s in Public Health. Upon completing his DrPH program, Solomon aims to use his expertise and platform to advance public health in underserved communities, driven by a strong sense of optimism about his potential impact.

Email Address
s.makuza@mail.utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Scholar
Country
Canada
Program
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
Profile

Notisha Massaquoi, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Society; Founder & Director, Black Health Equity Lab

University of Toronto Scarborough

Notisha Massaquoi is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Society at the University of Toronto, Scarborough with a graduate appointment in the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

She is also the founder and director of the Black Health Equity Lab (The BHEL) which conducts community-based health research and works with Black communities to develop advocacy tools, strategies and programs to improve health outcomes, wellbeing and success in Canadian systems.  She holds a BA in Psychology from Western University, a Masters in Social Work  and PhD in Social Justice Education from the University of Toronto.  Her early health leadership career established several health service organizations which serve Black communities in Canada and she developed and served for two decades as the Executive Director of Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre in Toronto – the only Community Health Centre in North America specializing in primary healthcare for Black and racialized women.

Email Address
notisha.massaquoi@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Canada
Program
Public Policy
Governance
HECO Pillar Advisory Committee
Profile

Micah Matiang’i, PhD

Dean, School of Medical Sciences; Senior Lecturer, Nursing and Midwifery Sciences

Amref International University

Dr. Micah Matiang’i is a senior Lecturer at the Amref International University (AMIU) which only trains Human Resource for Health (HRH).

He currently  heads the Directorate of eLearning (ODeL) in the university. In addition to academic work, Micah does implement  Primary Health Care (PHC) centered projects more especially  in the area of  Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH). Micah is a commonwealth fellowship alumnus with interest in Health Systems Research (HSR)  and disruptive training technologies. Micah has an experience spanning over 18 years in training HRH. He has  background in BScN with a masters and doctorate in Public Health.

Email Address
micah.matiangi@amref.ac.ke
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Kenya
Governance
HEMP Pillar Advisory Commitee
Profile

Isambi Mbalawata

African Institute for Mathematical Sciences

Email Address
imbalawata@nexteinstein.org
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Rwanda
Governance
HECO Pillar Advisory Committee
Profile

Caroline Mbindyo

CEO, Amref Health Innovation

Amref International University

Ms. Mbindyo is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Amref Health Innovations.

She is an experienced leader at the intersection of digital innovation, global health, and international development. She has extensive experience in driving complex program deployments in multiple countries, scaling innovations, and developing new business opportunities through innovative financing models in emerging markets. She has over fifteen (15) years of experience running and growing entrepreneurial ventures in the non-profit and commercial space, implementing access programs, and deploying innovative approaches for profit, purpose, and sustainability. Ms. Mbindyo is a Board Member of D-Tree and Qhala and is on the Advisory Board of Analytics for a Better World.

Email Address
caroline.mbindyo@amref.org
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Kenya
Governance
HEMP Pillar Advisory Commitee
Profile

William (Bill) McConkey, PhD

Academic Director, New Venture Program, and Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship

African Impact Challenge

UTSC grad Professor Bill McConkey spent two decades in the early-stage venture world before returning to the University of Toronto, Scarborough to join the Department of Management, teaching courses in Operations, Product Management and Entrepreneurship.

Bill has supported countless students as they launched new ventures, whether in the classroom, through co-curricular initiatives or co-op terms. Bill is involved in several student organizations, including MCC The Management Consulting Club, LIVE Competition and the department’s new Sales club. Bill is Academic Director of the campus’s New Venture Program, and sits on the Board of Advisors and Board of Directors of a number of Canadian companies.

He and his wife Monica and their five children – and new puppy – live in Stouffville, Ontario.

Email Address
bill.mcconkey@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Canada
Program
African Impact Challenge
Profile

Emmanuel Opoku Mensah

Master Scholar

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

My experience as a Mastercard Scholar has been nothing short of exhilarating.

This is in stark contrast to the initial feeling of uncertainty when I was selected. Mastercard has contributed immensely to my integration into my program of study. Every step of the way was carefully guided to prevent any mishaps, and I could not be more grateful.

I am looking forward to completing my Masters in Public Health at the University of Toronto and making great impact in the occupational and environmental health space worldwide.

Profile Type
Scholar
Country
Canada
Ghana
Programs
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Mastercard Foundation Masters Scholar program
Occupational and Environmental Health
Profile

Ignacio Mongrell

Assistant Director, ICUBE

ICUBE

Originally from Uruguay, Ignacio moved to Canada in 2010 and earned a Master’s of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) from the University of Waterloo.

He worked at the Waterloo Accelerator Centre as Director of Client Services where he led the JumpStart funding program and other strategic initiatives. Ignacio also worked at Haltech Regional Innovation Centre supporting clients and community members by managing a range of business advisory programs, including the Haltech HEAT™ startup services program, and specialty programs to support scaleup of high-growth ventures. Ignacio is also an entrepreneur at heart and co-founded and exited a real estate start-up (Apartmint). Ignacio is currently the Assistant Director at ICUBE – and chair of Positive Space at the University of Toronto, advocating for LGBTQ2S+ students, staff and faculty.

Email Address
ignacio.mongrell@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Profile

Lisa Morgan

Assistant Dean, International and Specialized Programs

University of Toronto

Lisa Morgan is Assistant Dean, International and Specialized Programs at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) where she leads strategic design and business development with a focus on international initiatives and other specialized programming in lifelong learning. She also leads the planning, direction, and oversight of the English Language Program (ELP) and Post-secondary Education Preparedness.

In collaboration with the Office Vice President International and in participation with the Africa Health Collaborative, she is leading a co-creation project with an interdisciplinary team featuring SCS, UofT Faculty, and Ashesi University, Ghana.

Formerly, she served as ELP Director and Academic Director, where she established and maintained strategic and collaborative international partnerships with institutions and governmental organizations including those with a focus on equity-deserving groups in various regions around the world and has participated in several trade missions in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Lisa Morgan has a B.A.A in Education from Ryerson University and an M.A. in Education from University of Toronto.

Email Address
lm.morgan@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Ghana
Program
Public Policy