Working through effective links with governments and international partners to promote health and health care delivery, I have designed, sourced funding for and implemented programmes that aim to strengthen health systems and improve access to, availability, and quality of, healthcare for women and children through high quality research, teaching and technical assistance. 

As an academic I designed and conducted large population-based randomised controlled trials of single interventions for improved maternal and new-born outcomes and used this experience to design and conduct implementation research programmes in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa to assess the effectiveness of complex multiple interventions and to measure ‘what works where and how’ in real life settings.    

I developed and delivered programmes that aim to build healthcare provider and manager capacity through teaching and learning, using adult principles of learning and multi-disciplinary approaches. This includes a range of competency-based ‘how-to’ training packages, Diploma and Masters programmes in Women’s Health and Tropical Medicine, and, supervision of Masters and PhD students from all over the world.  

I have extensive experience of leadership and management of multi-disciplinary and multi-national teams to develop and implement organisation and programme mission and strategy. As a Senior Technical Advisor and as an active member on boards, international advisory committees and working groups, I have led and contributed to programmes alongside non-academic and management staff liaising effectively with governments, UN and other partners.

I enjoy the challenge of bringing the discipline of good research leadership and methodology to the design, planning and evaluation of complex development programmes that aim to strengthen healthcare systems and processes and improve health.  I am passionate about ensuring that good data (qualitative and quantitative) are available, understood, and, used by decision makers at all levels.  

Combined with my role as mother to a 21-year-old daughter, reading and the politics of international aid (around which there is much debate in the household as my husband works for an organisation which improves global health policy), I try and find time for painting, preferably using oil paint or acrylics and on a large canvas in a light studio or outside.  Sadly, playing the flute in small ensembles will now have to wait till I am retired.  

Country Experience India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Yemen, Oman, Tunisia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Togo, Syria.

Qualifications

Management and Leadership Training - Corporate Coach International (CCI) ILM Level 7 - ongoing

PhD - University of Amsterdam

Fellow Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - RCOG London

Diploma in Family Planning  Faculty of Family Planning - RCOG London

Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H) - Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen

Arts (MBBS) - Erasmus University, Rotterdam