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 John Nkengasong

Executive Director for Higher Education, Collaboratives, and Special Initiatives, Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation

Director, Collaboratives and Special Programs, Mastercard Foundation  

Mastercard Foundation

Photo of Joshua Ebinabo

Program Manager, African Impact Initiative

African Impact Challenge

Photo of Osaretin Obano

Executive Director, African Impact Initiative

African Impact Challenge

Photo of Osasere Imafidon

Marketing and Communications Associate

African Impact Challenge

Photo of Charles Isidi

Marketing and Communications Lead

African Impact Challenge, University of Toronto

Photo of Achieng’ Aling’

, Dr (Med)

Healthcare Programs Director

African Leadership University

Photo of Kimberly Crasta (MHSc)

, MHSc

MSc HENT Instructor, Faculty of Medicine MSc HENT Program Officer

University of Toronto

Photo of Ashley Aimone

, PhD

Associate Director, Doctor of Public Health Program

Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Office of the Vice-President International, University of Toronto

Photo of Peter Koskei

, PhD

Programme Lead, Junior Faculty Development Program, Moi University

Moi University

Profile

John Nkengasong

Executive Director for Higher Education, Collaboratives, and Special Initiatives, Mastercard Foundation

Mastercard Foundation

Email Address
jnkengasong@mastercardfdn.org
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
Profile

Ashley Collier

Director, Collaboratives and Special Programs, Mastercard Foundation  

Mastercard Foundation

Email Address
acollier@mastercardfdn.org
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
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
Osaretin Obana

Osaretin Obano

Executive Director, African Impact Initiative

African Impact Challenge

Osaretin Obano is a dedicated innovator and ecosystem builder passionate about transforming healthcare entrepreneurship in Africa. As Executive Director at the African Impact Initiative, University of Toronto, he plays a pivotal role within the Africa Health Collaborative, where he focuses on turning visionary ideas into tangible, life-changing healthcare ventures.

With a strong background in technology, business development, and startup investing, he applies a practical, results-driven approach to supporting early-stage health innovators. His work involves nurturing high-potential healthcare startups, fostering strategic partnerships, and providing the tools and guidance needed to scale impactful solutions across the continent.

Through the Africa Health Collaborative, he bridges the gap between entrepreneurial ambition and real-world implementation, helping to build sustainable ventures that address critical healthcare challenges. His efforts are centered on creating lasting impact by empowering entrepreneurs who are poised to redefine health outcomes in African communities.

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

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

Achieng’ Aling’ , Dr (Med)

Healthcare Programs Director

African Leadership University

Dr. Achieng’ Aling’ is a medical doctor and global health professional with a background in health workforce and health systems strengthening. She currently serves as Healthcare Programs Director at African Leadership University (ALU), where she leads the African Health Collaborative, focused on building the next generation of health leaders through entrepreneurship, workforce development, and primary healthcare innovation. She has supported health program implementation across Africa, working closely with governments and partners to design and deliver locally led solutions, particularly in maternal health and health workforce strategy. A trained obstetrician-gynecologist with an MSc in Global Health Delivery, she is also a proud WomenLift Health Fellow committed to advancing women’s leadership in African health systems.

She is deeply passionate about menstrual health equity and champions the integration of menstrual and hormonal health into leadership and policy spaces, ensuring these often-overlooked issues are part of the conversation in shaping resilient health systems.

Profile Type
Staff
Country
Rwanda
Governance
Project Implementation Committee
Profile

Kimberly Crasta (MHSc) , MHSc

MSc HENT Instructor, Faculty of Medicine MSc HENT Program Officer

University of Toronto

Kim is a healthcare innovator, researcher, and mentor dedicated to improving access and equity for underserved communities. She holds a Master of Health Science in Translational Research and a Public Health Policy certification from the University of Toronto (U of T), blending policy and clinical insights to address health system inefficiencies. At Toronto General Hospital, Kim co-leads projects to optimize clinic flow and resource allocation, using electronic health records to enhance patient care and support frontline teams.

A passionate traveller, Kim has visited more than 40 countries across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia—immersing herself in local communities and embracing their diverse cultures, traditions, and histories. These global experiences shape her commitment to health equity and drive her collaborative work in Africa.

Kim also co-leads the summer bootcamp for healthcare venture founders in the African Impact Challenge and serves as the UofT’s program officer and instructor for the MSc in Health Entrepreneurship at KNUST in Ghana.

Email Address
kim.crasta@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Profile

Ashley Aimone, PhD

Associate Director, Doctor of Public Health Program

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Ashley’s background and training include pediatric nutrition, epidemiology, and global health research.  As the Associate Director of the Doctor of Public Health program, Ashley supports the training and mentorship of the Mastercard Foundation-funded scholars from African Health Collaborative partner institutions, as well as teaches applied research methods, and supports program operations and development. In her faculty role, she is the co-lead instructor for a Planetary Health course, in partnership with the School of Public Health, Moi University, Kenya. Her research interests and engagements include planetary health education, and community-based research, particularly at the intersection of climate/environmental change and food systems (including nutrition, food security, and food sovereignty).

Email Address
ashley.aimone@utoronto.ca
Profile Types
Faculty
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
Profile

Peter Koskei, PhD

Programme Lead, Junior Faculty Development Program, Moi University

Moi University

Dr. Koskei is a Lecturer and former Head, Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics at the School of Public Health Moi University, Kenya. He teaches Principles of Epidemiology, Principles of One Health, Research Methods as well as Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Control. Prior to his joining Moi University, He worked for the Rinderpest eradication project in Southern Sudan undertaken by Veterinaires Sans Frontiers – Belgium and funded by FAO. He has also worked as a Veterinary investigation officer and as a field Veterinarian at the ministry of livestock development, Government of Kenya. He is the academic leader for the newly developed Masters of Science in Infectious Diseases and Global Health programme

Currently, Dr. Koskei is the activity lead for the Junior Faculty Development programme under the Mastercard Foundation. He has also been the One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA) focal person for Moi University, a project that brought together 16 schools (8 Public Health and 8 Veterinary) across eight countries in East, Central and West Africa.

Dr. Koskei is committed to training, mentoring and promoting an inclusive and supportive scientific environment, while providing training in rigorous and unbiased experimental design, methodology, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results. He is also committed to aiding and supporting trainees in identifying and transitioning into careers in the biomedical research workforce that are consistent with trainee skills, interests, and values.

Profile Type
Staff
Country
Kenya