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Photo of Sophie Stuart-Sheppard

Coordinator, Communications & Community Development

Health Innovation Hub (H2i), University of Toronto

Photo of Efosa Obano

Founder & Manager of the Black Founders Network; Founder of African Impact Initiative

African Impact Challenge, The BRIDGE, University of Toronto

Photo of Penina Lam

, PhD

Senior Director, International Relations, Africa & Head, AHC Secretariat

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

Photo of Timothy Kinoti

, PhD Candidate

Head, Learning & Program Improvement

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

Photo of JesusMiracle Chiadika

, M.Ed., PhDc

Senior Regional Lead, Communications Lead

Office of the Vice-President International, University of Toronto

Photo of Edward Nkole

, CPA, CMA

Finance & Administration Associate Director

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

Photo of Angel Motsamai

, MBA, PhD

Program Officer (Southern Africa), South Africa

Africa Secretariat

Photo of Saima Zulqarnain

Program and Business Development Manager

Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto

Photo of Len Brooks

, PhD

Professor, IMIx, UTM

Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto

Photo of Lisa Morgan

Assistant Dean, International and Specialized Programs

University of Toronto

Profile

Sophie Stuart-Sheppard

Coordinator, Communications & Community Development

Health Innovation Hub (H2i)

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.

Email Address
sophie.stuartsheppard@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Profile
Efosa KC Obano

Efosa Obano

Founder & Manager of the Black Founders Network; Founder of African Impact Initiative

African Impact Challenge

Efosa Obano started and manages the Black Founders Network (BFN), which supports Black entrepreneurs across Canada with capital, community, and capacity building.

He also started and leads the African Impact Initiative (AII), which enables early African innovators to create solutions to challenges in their communities. He has expertise in using technology to create social impact, invest with impact, and build early-stage ventures. For this work, he has been recognized by the United Nations and the Ontario Minister’s Award of Excellence.
 
Prior to these, he led a team that guided start-ups on their digital transformation journeys with Dell Technologies Canada. He also led community outreach for Dell Canada’s Social Impact Team & Dell Canada’s Black Networking Alliance. He received Dell’s Corporate Social Responsibility Award for this work. He is an alumnus of the University of Toronto, where he specialized in Strategic Management.

Email Address
efosa@africanimpactinitiative.com; efosa.obano@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
African Impact Challenge
Profile
Dr Penina Lam, Lead of the Africa Health Collaborative

Penina Lam, PhD

Senior Director, International Relations, Africa & Head, AHC Secretariat

Africa Secretariat

Dr. Penina Lam is the U of T’s Senior Director of International Relations, where she leads strategic engagement and development of partnerships with Africa.

 She also leads the implementation of the Africa Health Collaborative, designed to facilitate talent development and entrepreneurship among African youth. She oversees the Secretariat team and works in close partnership with colleagues across U of T, with African institutions, and the Mastercard Foundation. 

As a scholar-practitioner, she’s passionate about research and programs that foster access to and equity in education, health, and employment opportunities.  Prior to joining U of T, she worked as an Organizational Development (OD) consultant at the World Bank, in healthcare and education sectors. She’s experienced at engaging with diverse stakeholders to design, develop, and deliver impactful learning and talent development program.

Her academic career has spanned research, faculty, staff, and senior leadership roles working with African, Canadian, and US institutions. Dr. Lam holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership & OD, with a focus on Human Resource Development.

Email Address
penina.lam@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Canada
Pillars
Health Ecosystems
Health Employment
Health Entrepreneurship
Program
Africa Secretariat
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
Profile

Timothy Kinoti, PhD Candidate

Head, Learning & Program Improvement

Africa Secretariat

Timothy Kinoti holds the role of Learning Facilitator, Africa at the University of Toronto (U of T), where he oversees all aspects of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Adaptation within the Mastercard Foundation Health Collaborative initiative in Africa.

Collaborating closely with colleagues at U of T and African Higher Learning Institutions, he draws upon 16 years of professional experience dedicated to research, impact measurement and program design; with a strong focus on development financing, youth employment initiatives, entrepreneurship, education, gender, and healthcare. He is an accredited Development Finance Fellow from the European Investment Bank (EIB). Before joining U of T, he contributed to the education portfolio and led the social protection program at World University Service of Canada within the refugee context and supported national education programs in Kenya at RTI International.

Email Address
timothy.kinoti@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Kenya
Pillars
Health Ecosystems
Health Employment
Health Entrepreneurship
Program
Africa Secretariat
Profile

JesusMiracle Chiadika, M.Ed., PhDc

Senior Regional Lead, Communications Lead

Office of the Vice-President International

JesusMiracle Chiadika is a communications and higher education professional, scholar, and strategic storyteller whose work sits at the intersection of international engagement, health, culture, and institutional impact. She serves as Senior Regional Lead, Communications Lead within the Office of the Vice-President International at the University of Toronto, supporting the University’s engagement within the Africa Health Collaborative. In this role, she leads communications strategy, strengthens institutional visibility, and works with divisional and institutional partners to translate complex research, partnerships, and programmatic work into compelling stories that demonstrate impact across the University, Africa Health Collaborative, and broader global ecosystem. 

JesusMiracle is also completing a PhD in Higher Education, with research focused on culture and student mental health in postsecondary institutions. Her scholarly work has been supported by the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Inlight Fellowship. Across her academic and professional work, she is committed to building meaningful connections, amplifying diverse perspectives, and communicating the people, partnerships, and ideas driving transformative change. 

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

Edward Nkole, CPA, CMA

Finance & Administration Associate Director

Africa Secretariat

Edward Nkole is a seasoned professional who, since March 2022, has been dedicated to his role as the Senior Planning and Budget Officer at the Office of the Vice President International (OVPI).

His responsibilities encompass providing invaluable financial management counsel, ensuring meticulous preparation of financial reports for the Foundation, and fostering collaborative partnerships both within and outside the organization.

Edward’s role is marked by dual reporting, where he effectively liaises with the Senior Director, International Relations, Africa for the Mastercard Foundation Grant. Furthermore, he holds a pivotal position as the finance lead within OVPI, reporting directly to the AVP International Engagement and Impact.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Edward’s true passion lies in the realm of education. With a remarkable twelve-plus years of experience in the university sector, he brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to the table. Edward Nkole is a dynamic individual who continues to make a significant impact in the field of international relations and education.

Email Address
edward.nkole@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Pillars
Health Ecosystems
Health Employment
Health Entrepreneurship
Program
Africa Secretariat
Profile

Angel Motsamai, MBA, PhD

Program Officer (Southern Africa), South Africa

Africa Secretariat

Dr. Angel Motsamai is a Program Officer: Southern Africa, at the University of Toronto.

Her key roles involve establishing partnerships with Africa-based industries with the purpose of creating work integrated learning opportunities for African scholars studying at the University of Toronto. She is also responsible for establishing and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders in the Southern Africa region.

Prior to joining the University of Toronto, Dr. Motsamai contributed her skills and knowledge to the University of KwaZulu Natal, where she held the position of Principal Project Coordinator. In this role, she was responsible for managing various academic projects, including the Entrepreneurial Champions Program, an initiative by the South African government through the Department of Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs.

Her other previous employment includes the Mangosuthu University of Technology, where she worked as a Project Officer. Her duties included placement of students with industry, establishing partnerships with organizations and government. Prior to this, she worked at the Durban University of Technology, as a Senior International Relations Officer. Her tenure there involved fostering international collaborations and partnerships, which enhanced the university’s global presence and academic exchange opportunities.

Dr. Motsamai’s educational background is anchored by a robust foundation in business administration. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, which provided her with a comprehensive understanding of business management principles. Further advancing her expertise, she pursued and completed a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA), which has equipped her with the skills to conduct high-level strategic planning and decision-making.

Email Address
angel.motsamai@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
South Africa
Pillars
Health Ecosystems
Health Employment
Health Entrepreneurship
Program
Africa Secretariat
Profile

Saima Zulqarnain

Program and Business Development Manager

Institute for Management & Innovation

Saima Zulqarnain is the Program and Business Development Manager for IMIx Executive Programs, a department housed at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Institute for Management and Innovation (IMI).

With over 16 years of experience in executive education, she excels in program management, strategic marketing initiatives, and fostering collaborative partnerships across a diverse group of faculty, administrators, students, and stakeholders. Within her current role, Saima oversees a comprehensive portfolio of certificate programs, including the Mastercard Foundation-funded Certificate of Effective Healthcare Management.

 
Before joining the University of Toronto in 2008, Saima worked at LUMS University’s executive education department in Lahore, Pakistan. During her time there, she was at the helm of several large-scale international programs offered by LUMS with partners including INSEAD, the Darden School of Business, the World Bank, and the International Human Resource Development Corporation (IHRDC). Saima holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology (BA). She currently lives in Oakville, Ontario with her husband and son.

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

Len Brooks, PhD

Professor, IMIx, UTM

Institute for Management & Innovation

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
Pillar
Health Ecosystems
Program
IMIx
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
Pillar
Health Ecosystems
Program
Public Policy