Meet Our Team → Co-chairs

Dr. Wala is the Programme Director for Health Systems Strengthening Health Africa.

Education:
Certificate in Economic Evaluation of Global Health – University of Washington
Master of Science in Infectious Diseases - University of London (LSHTM) University of Nairobi - MBChB

Career:
She has more than 15 years’ experience spanning the fields of health systems strengthening for universal health coverage, health care policy development, pharmaceutical medicine and clinical research. She is known and respected for program refinements and building credibility and partnerships across cultures and with leading national and international private, public, and non-profit health sector stakeholders. She has participated in the development of key national and international policies and guidelines across many African countries. She has served as organization representative at national and international forums, conferences, technical working groups, and advisory boards.

Awards:
· Upcoming Human Rights Defender of the Year Award Nominee 2017 – for demonstrating courage and impact in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the health care space during the doctors’ industrial strike and the 2017 elections period in Kenya.
· Business Daily Top 40 Under 40 Women 2016 - Based on her outstanding contribution to the segments of the economy in matters health in Kenya inspiring confidence in the fact that the country is on the path of progress despite the many challenges

Memory is the Memory is the Executive Director, The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET).

Memory is an intersectional feminist, a women’s rights activist with over 18 years of experience working on issues of gender and development, women’s empowerment and human rights at national, regional (Africa) and international levels.

As a dynamic pan-African feminist, thought-leader and strategist, Memory is passionate about making a difference in the lives of women and girls using diverse approaches grounded in social justice, feminism and gender equality analysis and practice. She holds a Masters of Philosophy in Management, Integrated Water Resources with a focus on women in leadership and is currently pursuing a second Masters degree in Peace, Human Rights, Gender and Development. Memory joined FEMNET in April 2016 as Head of Programmes, leading and strategically coordinating the programmatic conceptualization, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of FEMNET’s advocacy, communication and capacity building approaches. Prior to joining FEMNET, Memory worked a Gender and Economic Empowerment specialist at International Youth Foundation. She also served as the Executive Director of The Women’s Trust in Zimbabwe, following an accomplished 8 years in the UN in various capacities at UN Women, UNIFEM and UNFPA at both regional and national level. Memory values deep relations that are empowering and timeless.

George Awalla leads VSO’s programmes in Kenya, is also co-sponsor for VSO’s Resilience Programmes and is a Co-Chair of SDGs Kenya Forum. George has over 20 years work experience in programme development and management, fundraising, and civil society leadership. George has MBA degree specialising in strategic management, is finalising a Masters degree in Development Studies. His first degree was in Agriculture Education and Extension. George serves as Executive Liaison for the Mandela Washington Fellowship Programme/Young African Leadership Initiative in East and Central Africa under IREX.

George has also worked in West Africa as project coordinator for Development in Nigeria. George has wide experience in management of donor funded international development programmes in Education, Livelihoods, Governance, Gender and Social Inclusion. placements, George provides technical advise to Viwango a CSO standards mechanism in Kenya; and was involved in the development of Women Economic Empowerment Strategy for Kenya. He has also been a writer on development issues for The Governor a monthly magazine on governance and development issues