Speakers

Dr. John DENG DIAR DIING, PhD, PE Executive Secretary, Northern Corridor Secretariat

Dr. John DENG DIAR DIING, PhD, PE

Executive Secretary, Northern Corridor Secretariat

Dr. Eng. John DENG DIAR DIING is an infrastructure development expert and leader with a diverse background in project management, public policy, and environmental assessment. He holds a PhD in Project Planning and Management from the University of Nairobi, a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, where he was a distinguished Edward S. Mason Fellow and an MSc in Management of Projects (Construction) from the University of Manchester.

Prior to ascending to the helm of the NCTTCA, Dr. John was the Deputy Director of Infrastructure Development and Management at the Northern Corridor Transit & Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) Secretariat in Mombasa, Kenya.

He also served as the Director for Projects for South Sudan Roads Authority where he was instrumental in managing strategic road development projects. Additionally, Dr. John served as Managing Director of Horizon Real Estate Construction Company Ltd, overseeing significant construction projects in South Sudan.

Dr. John has a strong foundation in organizational strategy, stakeholder management, and leadership. He has been recognized for his contributions to the field with several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Eric Yankah Award from Harvard Kennedy School and a Chevening Scholarship.

Mr. Bernard Kadasia

Chair of the Supervisory Board, NA

Bringing 35 years of experience in technical, managerial, and leadership positions across government, civil society, private sector, and international non-governmental organizations. Bernard is an active member of the Alliance for Health Promotion, becoming President in 2012.

Most recently the Deputy Executive Director and Director of Policy and Advocacy, Research Promotion, and Communications for the International AIDS Society.

Bernard previously spent 17 years with the International Co-operative Alliance as Director of the Regional Office for East, Central, and Southern Africa.

Mr. Stephen Ruzibiza

Mr. Stephen Ruzibiza

CEO, Private Sector Federation (PSF), Rwanda

Mr. Stephen RUZIBIZA has 17 years of progressive professional experience asa Business development practitioner in private institutions within Rwanda and in the Region.

He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Private Sector Federation(PSF), a business member-based institution, that focuses on, market access, capacity building, advocacy,financial advisory, business climate change, trade and investment promotion in Rwanda.

Before joining PSF he worked as RwandAir Company Secretary in charge of legal affairs.

Ruzibiza has also served on the Board of Directors of diverse institutions and works closely with major development partners

Dr. Samoel Ashimosi Khamadi

Dr. Samoel Ashimosi Khamadi

Senior Principal Research Scientist, Director for the Centre for Virus Research (CVR) – KEMRI

Dr. Samoel Ashimosi Khamadi is a Senior Principal Research Scientist working at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and is currently the Director for the Centre for Virus Research (CVR) at KEMRI.

He has over 20 years’ experience working in the field of Infectious Diseases Research with an output of over 85 Publications published in peer-reviewed journals. He has a PhD in Molecular Medicine, and Master’s degrees in Public Health, Business Administration and Immunology.

He has worked with the Ministries of Health in Kenya and Tanzania and International Collaborating agencies in advancing research in infectious diseases and is actively engaged in the Design and implementation of public health interventions in diagnostics, disease outbreak and surveillance.

He is also actively engaged in teaching and mentorship of Master’s and PhD students at various Universities in Kenya, Tanzania and DRC.

Programme Director – Disease Control and Prevention Management, Amref Health Africa

Dr. George Githuka

Programme Director – Disease Control and Prevention Management, Amref Health Africa

Dr. Githuka has over thirteen years of experience in National infectious diseases Programmes management and coordination at the Ministry of Health, Kenya. First at the National AIDS & STI Control Program, where he coordinated HIV control programs among the key populations, HIV Testing Services programs, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision programs, and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis Programs. He has also worked at the National TB program coordinating Infection Prevention and Control, TB in Prisons, and TB-Diabetes Programs. Dr. Githuka has also worked at the National Malaria Control Programme as the Head at the Ministry of Health.  He has experience working with an international multi-lateral organization – UNAIDS as the community mobilization and partnerships adviser. He is currently the Programme Director – Disease Control and Prevention Management at Amref Health Africa in Kenya. In this role he oversees the implementation of Malaria, TB and Non-Communicable Diseases interventions.

Founder and Chairman of Express Shipping & Logistics EA Ltd, Group

Silvester M. Kututa

Founder and Chairman – Express Shipping & Logistics EA Ltd, Group

An International Award Winner in Shipping!

Founder and Chairman of Express Shipping & Logistics EA Ltd, Group;( www.esl-eastafrica.com ), a leading provider of sea and air shipping logistic solutions across Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Southern Sudan).

Current:

  • Chairman: Kenya Ships Agents Association.
  • Chairman: Marine Transport and Port Logistics Industry Advisory Board for East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), Kenya Coast National Polytechnic. EASTRIP is a World Bank and Kenya Government Project to upskill the maritime industry).
  • Consultant: GuidePoint (consults for quite a number of African, American, British and European investment funds on emerging opportunities in Eastern Africa.
  • Chairman, Kenya Alumni: World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden

Previous Board and Taskforce positions served include:

Education and professional standing:

Caroline Barber - Chief Executive, Transaid

Caroline Barber

Chief Executive – Transaid

Caroline Barber is chief executive at Transaid and has worked in logistics and international development for 20 years.  She is responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of the organisation.

Prior to becoming chief executive, Caroline was Transaid’s head of programmes where she was responsible for Transaid’s existing programmes as well as developing new partnerships and opportunities. Here Caroline managed a programmes portfolio spanning seven countries and covering professional driver training, transport management, community managed transport, emergency transport and rural access. Caroline continues to provide technical assistance to programmes in Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana.

Caroline started her career in the private sector working for a third-party logistics provider where she held roles in project management, implementation and business development.

Caroline is also a supervisory board member of the North Star Alliance, an NGO providing healthcare to mobile workers and the communities they interact with across Africa. Caroline is also a coalition member of People that Deliver.

Dr. Godfrey Nsereko - National Coordinator and Community Health Focal Point for Africa CDC’s Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Center in Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr. Godfrey Nsereko

National Coordinator and Regional Focal Point for Community Health, Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre, Africa CDC

Dr. Godfrey Nsereko is currently serving in the position of National Coordinator and Community Health Focal Point for Africa CDC’s Eastern Africa Regional Coordinating Center in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a visionary public health expert and leader with 14+ years of experience transforming lives across Africa.
Holding a master’s in public health (majoring in health promotion), a post-graduate diploma in project management and a bachelor’s in pharmacy, Godfrey has extensive experience in strengthening
community health and primary health care programs at continental, regional and national levels, and drives impactful results in public health management, global health security, field epidemiology, and
pharmaceutical supply chain systems. He has worked across Africa, bridging anglophone and francophone settings with his multi-lingual capabilities.

A proven leader, Godfrey has served as Student President, Coordinator, and Guild Representative Council, held Board Member positions on three Governance Boards, and most recently chairs the Board of Trustees for a Chœur de l’Église catholique. His leadership philosophy centers around empowering individuals, communities, and systems, and believes in cultivating collaborative relationships, fostering inclusive environments, and leveraging local expertise. He advocates for proactive, community-driven initiatives prioritizing prevention, equity, and social justice, and champions policies addressing health disparities, promoting holistic well-being, and celebrating human resilience.

Beyond professional accomplishments, Godfrey leads self-development initiatives empowering youth and alleviating poverty within his communities. A talented musician, Godfrey is a skilled bass singer,
trainer and pianist. He is also an accomplished soccer player, and a national clubman champion in motor rallying. Godfrey’s journey embodies dedication, leadership, and passion.

Jasmin Gohl - Project Lead – GIZ Trade Kenya

Jasmin Gohl

Project Lead – GIZ Trade Kenya

Jasmin is currently leading the GIZ Trade Team in Kenya with a diverse set of projects on Trade Facilitation, AfCFTA, e-commerce, private standards and QMS.

She has worked in Ethiopia with GIZ and the AUC before, mainly on the AfCFTA and Institutional Development and AUC OD Processes. She holds a Master Degree of Business Administration with a focus on Environmental Supply Chains. She’s been with GIZ since 2006.

Valentine Kabita

FELTP Resident Division of Disease Surveillance & Response Ministry of Health

Valentine Kabita is an epidemiologist currently working at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC). With advanced training through the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP), she has extensive experience in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, data analysis, and public health systems strengthening.

Rosemary Nzunza

Senior Research Scientist at the center of Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute.

A Senior Research Scientist at the center of Virus Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute. Currently I am the EPI head of division, that supports the Kenya Ministry of Health, Department of Disease surveillance and Response in diagnosis of vaccine preventable diseases. The EPI Division has labs that are funded by WHO to support 6 countries of the African region (AFRO) and East and Mediterranean region (EMRO) is surveillance and response of vaccine preventable diseases; Kenya, Somalia, Yemen, Djibouti, Eritrea and Comoros. As a division head I sit and represent the Labs in the National Secretariat of disease surveillance and response; prepare and implement national guidelines. Our close collaborators in this program are WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Kenya County Governments, Welcome Trust and APHL.

John Muge Nyaboka

Machakos County Government

County Government of Machakos, Department of Health
Director of Health Programs and Partnerships.

Natasha Mramba - Advocate for women with a keen interest in Technology

Natasha Mramba

Advocate for women with a keen interest in Technology

Natasha Mramba is a passionate and innovative Woman in Tech dedicated to leveraging technology to solve real-world problems and empower communities. A champion for women in technology and a member of Women in Tech and Developers for Social Change, she actively fosters community-driven solutions and inspires others to embrace the potential of innovation. Beyond tech, she mentors youth, experiments with social media creativity, and champions causes that uplift communities.

Tom Kinyanjui - Co-founder of Neutral Labs Africa

Tom Kinyanjui

Co-founder of Neural Labs Africa

Tom Kinyanjui is the Co-founder of Neural Labs Africa, a pioneering health-tech company revolutionizing healthcare across the continent through innovative AI-powered solutions. Under his leadership, Neural Labs Africa developed NeuralSight™, an AI-driven PACS platform that provides real-time medical imaging analysis, enhances diagnostic accuracy, and improves patient outcomes. His visionary approach has led to strategic partnerships with global organizations such as the UNICEF Innovation Fund and NVIDIA, enabling the development of cutting-edge AI models and advancing healthcare innovation in underserved regions. Passionate about technology and social impact, Tom is committed to transforming healthcare delivery in Africa through groundbreaking solutions and collaborative efforts. 

Dr. Mwatha Stephen

Director Preventive & Promotive Partner Coordination & liason in department of Health services, Makueni County

Director Preventive & Promotive Partner Coordination & liason in department of Health services, Makueni County

Wairimu Kiama

Country Operations Manager, Express Shipping & Logistics EA Ltd

Wairimu, has 10 years of expertise in Transport,Customs Clearance, Customer Service, Project Management, and Vessel Operations, leads a successful Operations Team focused on delivering excellence. She supports port and terminal operations with proactive communication, driving business growth in Kenya.

Wairimu holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, is a trained CPA, and is currently advancing her studies at the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS).

Angella Langat

Director of Partnerships & Advocacy, Resource Mobilization
& Accountability Monitoring, and Planning & Risk Directorate

Mrs. Angella Langat is the Director of Partnerships & Advocacy, Resource Mobilization
& Accountability Monitoring, and Planning & Risk Directorate at the National Syndemic
Diseases Control Council.
With extensive experience in the non-profit sector and public service, Angella has
dedicated her career to designing and leading impactful public health programs that
address critical challenges and transform lives.
Angella has two Masters – Sociology of Work and Development from Paris West
University Nanterre La Défense, France, and Public Health from the University of
London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In addition to her professional roles, Angella is committed to governance and advocacy
through her board memberships. She serves on the board of Beyond Zero and is a co-
opted board member of ActionAid, where she contributes to the Programmes and
Resource Mobilization Committee.
Angella is deeply passionate about advancing health equity, with a particular focus on
improving the lives of women and girls.