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.
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.
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.
Christine Arsenault is the Managing Director for the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Management Department, which houses all of the University’s business co-op programs and The BRIDGE; the department’s commitment to Work-Integrate Learning and Entrepreneurship.
She has been involved in co-operative education nationally and internationally for 20 years including leading Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning Canada as President in 2012/13, as a board member of the World Association for Co-operative Education and previously chairing the Canadian co-op research committee. In 2018, she received the U of T Scarborough Principal’s Accomplished Leader Award.
While completing her M.A. she led award-winning research that compared English Language Learners and native English speakers and their success in job searching and recent published research on work-integrated learning’s influence on entrepreneurship. Under her leadership, U of T’s innovative Management and International Business Program was designed and implemented and the department has fulfilled its commitment that ever graduate should have a work-integrated learning experience.
Program Coordinator, Entrepreneurship & Work Integrated Learning - Management Department; Projects Lead - African Impact Initiative
African Impact Challenge
Celestine Nema is a Program Coordinator for Entrepreneurship and Work-Integrated Learning at The BRIDGE, an entrepreneurship accelerator in the Management Department at the University of Toronto, Scarborough.
She also acts as the Projects Lead for the African Impact Initiative, a University of Toronto partner that runs the African Impact Challenge, a startup incubator program that supports young African entrepreneurs to create viable solutions for the most pressing challenges within their communities. Celestine’s career spanned public service for almost a decade before pivoting her career to focus on her passion for entrepreneurship, youth education, and youth development.
Dave Fenton is the Assistant Director of External Relations with the Department of Management at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC).
He leads a team of relationship managers that support Management’s accredited co-operative education program, and oversees the curricular work-integrated learning (WIL) program through The BRIDGE. One such initiative includes the African Impact Challenge (AIC), launched in 2020 alongside through the African Impact Initiative. The AIC empowers African youth to realize the change they wish to see in their communities through the development and launch of technology-driven social impact startups. The AIC was recognized by the United Nations as one of the top 50 solutions in the 2020 Youth Solutions Report for Sustainable Development. Dave has been published in Cooperative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada’s (CEWIL Canada) e-book “The Practice of Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning in the Canadian Context”, presented publications at the WACE International Research Symposium, the World Association of Cooperative Education (WACE) World Conference, the CEWIL Research Spotlight, and serves as facilitator of Global WIL Modules. Dave holds a Master of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto.
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.
In her role as Program Coordinator, Jamila assumes a pivotal role, diligently overseeing, co-managing, and orchestrating the implementation of business development initiatives at The African Impact Initiative.
She brings years of experience to the realm of Program Incubation, where her primary focus lies in nurturing Entrepreneurial Development. Jamila’s profession is underscored by her exceptional organizational acumen, a knack for fostering team synergy and networks. Her portfolio extends across multiple African countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Lesotho, Kenya, and Nigeria.
