Dr. Githinji Gitahi
Group CEO at AMREF Health Africa Speakers >> Dr. Githinji Githai A passionate advocate for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa, Dr Githinji Gitahi joined Amref Health Africa as the Global Chief Executive Officer in June 2015. Amref Health Africa, headquartered in Kenya, is the largest Africa-based international health and development organisation providing training and health services to over 20 million people annually in at least 35 countries in Africa. Until his appointment to Amref Health Africa, Dr Gitahi was the Vice President and Regional Director for Africa, Smile Train International. Prior to that, Dr Gitahi was Managing Director for Monitor Publications in Uganda as well as General Manager for Marketing and Circulation in East Africa for the Nation Media Group. He held progressively senior positions at GlaxoSmithKline and worked at the Avenue Group. Dr Gitahi is the Co-Chair of the Strategic Advocacy Committee for PMNCH and a member of the African Union Commission on Africa’s COVID-19 Response. He also serves in various Boards, notably – Governing Board of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Board of Directors of the Standard Group in Kenya and Board of Trustees of Safaricom Foundation. In June 2023, Dr Gitahi was appointed by the UN Secretary General as a member of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Lead Group – a global initiative dedicated to eradicating all forms of malnutrition by 2030. Previously, he served on the Governing Board of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and co-chaired the UHC2030 Steering Committee, a World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) initiative for UHC. His engagement with UHC continues and earlier this year, he chaired a UN multi-stakeholder hearing in New York, NY, USA, ahead of the UN High-Level Meeting on UHC in September, 2023. In December 2018, Dr. Gitahi was bestowed the 2018 ‘Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear’ (MBS) by the President of Kenya, in recognition of his outstanding contribution and commitment to the health sector. Dr Gitahi holds a bachelor’s degree in Medicine from the University of Nairobi, a master’s degree in Business Administration from the United States International University, as well as a Certificate for Strategic Perspectives for Non-profit Management from Harvard University.
Prof. Joachim Osur
Vice Chancellor at Amref International University Speakers >> Prof. Joachim Osur Joachim Osur is the Vice Chancellor, Amref International University . He is also the Director of Regional Projects and Field Offices at Amref Health Africa. He is a public health, reproductive health, and Sexual Medicine specialist with a wide experience in health programming in the African context. He has contributed immensely to health systems strengthening in various countries, health policy development and advocacy and development of models that have impacted thousands of lives. Among others, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery, a Master’s Degree in Public Health, and a PhD in reproductive health, a Membership of the American College of Sexologists and a Fellowship of the European Committee on Sexual Medicine.
Julius D. W. Mbeya
Co-CEO, Lwala Community Alliance Speakers >> Julius D. W. Mbeya Julius Mbeya serves as our Co-CEO, where he is responsible for driving the mission of the organization and overseeing operations. Julius grew up in a village that also suffered from the dual burden of HIV and maternal mortality, and is compelled to work at Lwala due to its success at drastically improving health outcomes and deep commitment to community leadership because when communities lead, change is lasting. Prior to joining our team, he worked with MS ActionAid Denmark, UNDP Kenya, and with the World Bank-funded Kenya Agricultural Productivity Project. He has an MA in Political Science & Public Administration from the University of Nairobi, a post-graduate diploma in Healthcare Management from the Kenya Institute of Management, and a post-graduate diploma in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution from the University of Fribourg – Switzerland. “At Lwala, you become your brother’s keeper and your sister’s keeper, even if you do not know the people individually,” he says. “Lwala’s commitment to the community is not in passing. There is a sense of debt and implication in the communities we serve.”
Prof. Marius Hedimbi
Acting Vice Chancellor Welwitchia University Speakers >> Prof. Marius Hedimbi Prof. Marius Hedimbi holds PhD degree (Microbiology. He has over 20 years experience of working in a University environment, where he held various academic ranks; Lecturer to full professor. He served in various administrative and leadership positions in the University and outside University. He served in various committees and subcommittees both at national and international levels and has extensive exposure and collaborations with international Universities. He participated in various international linked collaborations, research, fundraising/ grant writing and publications.
Prof. Emily Achieng’ Akuno
Vice chancellor at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology Speakers >> Prof. Emily Achieng’ Akuno Emily Achieng’ Akuno trained as a music performer-educator at Kenyatta University, Kenya, Northwestern State University of Louisiana, USA and Kingston University, UK. A professor of music and serving Vice chancellor at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Emily has taught music performance and education at high school and university levels in Kenya and South Africa. She is Past President of the International Music Council, and the International Society for Music Education (ISME). She served as chair of World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE), the UNESCO-affiliated alliance that brings together four main international arts education organisations. Her publications cover the concept, contexts, content and procedures of music and music education, with a recent interest in what music does and can achieve in society. She is editor and author of books and articles on music and teacher education in cultural contexts, including the continent-covering title Music Education in Africa: Concept, Process. and Practice (Routledge, 2019), and African Women and Intellectual Leadership.