MARIE STOPES UG - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- President of MSI - US & Vice President of Global Partnerships & Philanthropy
Amanda has worked in the social impact and humanitarian aid sectors for over 25 years, and joined MSI from Friends of UNFPA, where she served as interim CEO. She has served a wide range of causes including homelessness, addiction, domestic violence, refugees and displacement, and reproductive health, and has been a leader within UN and INGO organisations.
Over the past 12 years, the focus of her work has been resource mobilisation and communications for the humanitarian sector, working at international NGOs and UN agencies such as UNHCR and at the International Rescue Committee, where she delivered sector leading growth.
At MSI, Amanda leads a new department that draws together the work of MSI US and our global Government, Multilateral, Private and Philanthropic Teams. She's responsible for expanding and diversifying MSI's fundraising efforts and donor sources globally: both working to meet our immediate funding needs as well as ensuring we deliver our ambitious MSI 2030 income goals.
Job Titles:
- Country Director for MSI 's Timor Leste
- Country Director for MSI Timor Leste
Amelia Barreto is Country Director for MSI's Timor Leste programme. Her previous roles include MSI Timor Leste's Clinical Quality Manager, Director General for Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Health and managing the Spotlight Initiatives programme for UNFPA.
Amelia earned a Masters in Health and International Development and has extensive experience in healthcare quality. She has also worked with civil society organisations to end violence against women and children with a focus on raising awareness in the community, as well as ensuring that the health system and other referral systems respond to survivors' needs.
Amelia is passionate about equity and equality. She showcases MSI's insights and practices to advocate for change at a national level.
Job Titles:
- Country Director of Marie Stopes Bolivia
- Country Director, Bolivia
Ana Cecilia is the Country Director of Marie Stopes Bolivia. She is a Bolivian national who spent close to 16 years studying and working in the United States before joining MSI Reproductive Choices. Her latest job was as the Vice President of Programme Operations at the Latin American Community Center in Delaware, working to advocate for and provide services to the Hispanic immigrant community.
Ana Cecilia has a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology from Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, a M.S. in Human Resources Development from McDaniel College in Maryland and over 12 years of experience working for NGO's, managing projects for vulnerable populations.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Vice President
Andrew Seddon joined MSI in 2014 having spent the previous 11 years working as a finance director in the UK National Health Service. His remit covers finance, informatics, group IT, and internal audit.
Andrew has more than 30 years' experience in senior financial leadership positions and has worked in a range of industries in the UK and internationally, including roles as Group Financial Controller of a FTSE 100 group and International CFO for Dell Financial Services in EMEA. He is a UK chartered accountant having qualified with Price Waterhouse in London, where he worked for 13 years.
Andrew joined us because he was inspired by our passion and dedication to our clients, and he's committed to helping ensure that MSI Reproductive Choices' financial and operational processes support the tremendous work done by our frontline staff every day.
Job Titles:
- Country Director for MSI Papua New Guinea
- MSI Papua New Guinea 's Country Director
Angelyn Famudi has been MSI Papua New Guinea's Country Director since May 2022. Prior to leading the team, Angelyn had 20 years' experience managing and working in the corporate sector.
She serves on several boards and societies and is an engaged community member and leader in Papua New Guinea. Angelyn is incredibly passionate about serving women and girls, as well as increasing opportunities for people in her community.
Angelyn enthusiastically agrees with MSI's mission, having said, "it is a privilege to be involved in service delivery to improve the health and quality of life for women, men, and their families, with quality sexual and reproductive health services."
Job Titles:
- Member of the Rest of the Team
- Director of Evidence and Impact
Anisa Berdellima has been with MSI since 2014 and serves as our Director of Evidence and Impact. She has 15 years of experience using data, evidence and insights to drive programmatic change across diverse contexts and health areas such as access to innovative medicine, health financing and expanding access and choice to sexual and reproductive health services.
Job Titles:
- MSI Mexico As Country Director
- Regional Managing Director for Latin America
Before becoming the Regional Managing Director for Latin America, Araceli joined MSI Mexico as Country Director in 2015 with a background working in marketing and business management. Her experience spans the commercial and medical industries, where she has previously taken on roles for large organisations including Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser.
Prior to joining MSI Reproductive Choices, Araceli worked for Johnson and Johnson as Ethicon Business Director for Mexico, in charge of medical devices for general and laparoscopic surgery. She also worked for Novartis Pharmaceutical in charge of the contact lenses business for Mexico and Central America.
Araceli says her role with MSI Reproductive Choices is the perfect match for her, because she gets to use her "commercial background at the service of women in my country, providing the best service for them to have a safe choice."
Job Titles:
- CEO for FRHS India
- CEO of FRSH India
Ashutosh Kaushik is the CEO for FRHS India, one of two MSI programmes in India. Ashutosh has worked in sexual and reproductive health and rights for nearly a decade, with a specific focus on contraceptive access and safe abortion provision.
Ashutosh has more than two decades experience in both corporate development sectors and has worked at the senior level with several international not-for-profit associations.
Under his leadership, FRHS India has become the largest non-governmental provider of clinical contraceptive services in India, delivering high-quality family planning and reproductive health services through multiple channels.
Ashutosh is on the board of FRHS India, MSI's Population Health Services India, ISM Corporation Pvt Ltd, and is also a trustee for the not-for-profit Sarvajan Unnati Bodhini Trust.
Ashutosh holds an executive MBA from the India Institute of Management, Kolkata, and a PG in Financial Management. In his free time, Ashutosh loves highway driving and is a passionate mountain trekker.
Job Titles:
- Country Director for Pakistan
In Pakistan, we work with the locally registered NGO, MSS Pakistan, headed by Asma Balal. Asma is a public health and development professional with over 20 years' experience in donor-funded programme design, implementation and management.
Asma began her career in the corporate sector specialising in commercial marketing and brand management; however, it was during field trips to rural communities that she witnessed the impact of poor access to contraception on women's health and quality of life. This inspired her to join MSS Pakistan as a volunteer and offer her skills and expertise to help market clinical services to clients.
Asma holds an MBA in marketing from the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi, and a master's degree in international health from the Harvard School of Public Health, USA. Asma's commercial sector experience is helping drive MSS towards a sustainable future.
Job Titles:
- Country Director
- Country Director, South Africa
Blum was appointed Country Director in South Africa in early 2018. Blum qualified as a chartered accountant after studying at the University of Cape Town. He has extensive experience within the health sector. A very talented and experienced global senior executive, Blum has a proven track record of re-positioning and building healthcare businesses in South Africa.
Job Titles:
- Product Marketing Specialist
Catherine is a seasoned pharmaceutical expert who started her journey as a medical representative, where her strong foundation in healthcare relationships took root. With a diverse background spanning branded pharma products and generics, Catherine has left her mark across multinational and branded generics pharmaceutical companies.
Catherine's extensive experience in both over-the-counter and prescription products is a testament to her holistic understanding of the industry. With a passion for crafting effective marketing strategies, she has consistently elevated brands and products to new heights.
In 2021, Catherine's journey aligned perfectly with MSI Reproductive Choices, a reflection of her commitment to meaningful impact. As a product marketing specialist, she leverages her wealth of experience to contribute to the organisation's mission of advancing reproductive health.
Job Titles:
- Director of Global Supply Chain
Chris Cavendish has worked for MSI since 2019. He holds a Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management and chartered qualifications from both the Institute of Procurement & Supply and the Institute of Logistics and Transport. Chris is also a member of the European Logistics Association.
Prior to joining MSI, Chris performed a variety of roles within international development, including leading the procurement activities in the UK's emergency response to the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. During this position, he managed the team responsible for purchasing supplies from beds, chairs, and ECG machines, to set up 7,100 bed hospitals, 200 community care centres, and 3 laboratories.
Claire has more than 16 years of international development experience, focused on providing vital strategic and operational support to contraception and safe abortion programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Long dedicated to our mission of realising the right of every individual to have children by choice, Claire brings additional programmatic experience and in-depth knowledge of reproductive health issues to the Board.
Claire was formerly Vice President and Deputy Director of International Programmes at MSI Reproductive Choices. In her time with us, she oversaw the expansion and development of our 18 country programmes across Africa and Latin America, focusing on increasing access to high-quality services, and on sustainable provision of contraception and comprehensive safe abortion.
Job Titles:
- Country Director of MSI Ethiopia
Dr Abebe Shibru has 20 years' experience in large-scale public healthcare programmes, with specific focus on reproductive health and maternal and child health in Africa and Asia. He has served as MSI Ethiopia's Country Director since July 2020.
Abebe first started working at MSI Ethiopia as the Director of Research, External Relations, and Communication before progressing to Programme Director, then to Deputy Country Director and Director of Strategy and Development. He also spent five months working for MSI Cambodia as a business improvement specialist for reproductive health centre performance. Abebe has additionally worked at MSI Zimbabwe (Population Services Zimbabwe) as a Country Director and Chief of Party for a USAID project from 2016 to 2020.
Abebe previously worked as an Associate Director for the US Peace Corps Ethiopia, a Team Leader and Project Manager for IntraHealth/USAID, and a Senior Programme Officer for ActionAid Ethiopia's community-based Health and Gender programme. Presently, he also serves as a FP2030 global partnership's governing board member.
Abebe holds a PhD in Business Management from UNICAF University, a Master of Public Health form Manchester Metropolitan University, a Master of Business Administration in Health Management, a Bachelor of Science from USA University, and an Advanced Diploma in Comprehensive Nursing from Addis Ababa University, Gondor College of Medical Science.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director for MSI Africa
Carole Sekimpi is the Senior Director for MSI Africa, providing support for our Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, and Ethiopia programmes. She is a medical doctor with a Master of Philosophy, Master of Public Health, and a registered member of Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council. She also sits as the Board Chair of the Uganda Family Planning Consortium.
Carole has extensive experience working for both local and international non-governmental agencies in clinical, programming, and management capacities. She maintains strong partnerships with donors, partners, and governments.
Carole is passionate about helping women and girls blossom to their fullest potential and is committed to sustainable interventions that ensure women's health needs can be met long term. She has an in-depth understanding of social and health issues, particularly sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention, and vulnerable children.
Job Titles:
- Global Medical Director / Find Out More
- Member of the Board of UK 's South - Central Ambulance Service
Dr Dhammika Perera is a public health professional with 25 years' experience as a medical doctor and 15 years' experience in international health service management. He has held the role of Global Medical Director of MSI Reproductive Choices since 2014.
Dhammika holds a medical degree from the University of Colombo, a master's degree in evidence-based public health from the University of Manchester, a PhD in public health from Walden University, Minnesota, and a fellowship from the UK Faculty of Public Health.
Dhammika is currently a member of the Board of UK's South-Central Ambulance Service and was previously on the Board of the Dorset County Hospital. He has work experience in the field of healthcare in multiple continents and has provided design, monitoring, quality improvement, and clinical governance support to reproductive health service programmes in over 40 countries.
Prior to joining MSI, Dhammika was the Senior Advisor for reproductive health at the International Rescue Committee. He has also worked in multiple countries with Doctors without Borders for over seven years.
He is a strong believer in reproductive choice and believes in making safe and effective contraceptive services and abortion care available to all that needs it.
Job Titles:
- General Practitioner
- Regional Medical Advisor
Dr Diaminatou Sow is a general practitioner with a passion for providing quality reproductive health programmes and has worked at MSI since 2008.
Diaminatou took on the role of Regional Medical Advisor for Francophone Africa in 2016, and as of 2021, also the Sierra Leone programme. Through this position, she assures the quality of services and monitors the implementation of MSI's standards. Prior to this role she was the Director of the Medical Team at MSI Mali.
Diaminatou is responsible for carrying out quality technical assistance assessments in various MSI country programmes and provides advice on how to strengthen operations. She is also one of our master trainers, specialising in family planning packages for Francophone countries.
Dr Hashrat is based in Bangladesh and ensures clinical quality in Bangladesh, the Philippines, Vietnam, PHS India and FRHS India in her current role as Regional Medical Advisor.
Over the course of her career she has worked in multiple countries in the field of sexual and reproductive health as an obstetrician, gynaecologist and public health specialist. She started her career with MSI Bangladesh in 1995, and subsequently became a member of the Senior Management Team, where she was responsible for several large scale projects across hard-to-reach areas of Bangladesh.
Hashrat joined the Medical Development Team (MDT) in 2008 and has been actively involved in assuring clinical qualities align with best practices and clinical guidelines ever since. She is one of MDT's dedicated trainers and consistently strives to develop the capacity of clinical providers to make MSI's services as safe as possible. She also collaborates with regional operations as a focal point regarding clinical quality of sexual and reproductive health service delivery.
Job Titles:
- Country Director of MSI Kenya
Dr Joan Oracha is an accomplished professional currently serving as the Country Director for MSI Kenya - a role she took on in 2022.
She has years of expertise in programme development, management, and strategy. Driven by her passion for making a positive difference, Joan has held leadership positions in several organisations across sub-Saharan Africa.
Joan is passionate about women and girls' health and is committed to fostering the improvement of healthcare access. By implementing systemic changes, fostering social investments, and promoting women's economic empowerment, she has made a profound impact on a large scale. Her efforts have also included influencing policy, leading to the enhancement, and strengthening of developmental outcomes for diverse populations. Her visionary leadership and strategic management have resulted in significant achievements.
Job Titles:
- Quality Advisor - Public Sector Strengthening
An MSI clinician since 2010, Dr Kofi Sekyere joined the Medical Development Team in 2017 as a Quality Advisor within our Public Sector Strengthening channel. After completing medical school at the Kwame University of Science and Technology, he spent some time working in the affiliated teaching hospital. Kofi also has a master's in Public Health from the University of Ghana. Before joining MSI, he managed the maternity unit of a district hospital where he provided obstetric, gynaecological and sexual and reproductive health services.
In his current role, Dr Kofi is responsible for monitoring and implementing quality assurance measures in a rapidly expanding channel of government providers. He is well versed in advocating for clinical quality within Ministries of Health across the globe, and has supported MSI providers in training government providers in 22 countries.
Job Titles:
- Medical Development Team in 2017 As a Quality Advisor
Dr Rutter is a Board Member on the MSI Reproductive Choices Board of Trustees. She practised as a doctor in Iceland before joining McKinsey and Company in 2006, where she is now a Partner focusing on executive strategy and operations.
Dr Rutter gained an MBA from Harvard Business School and trained as a medical doctor at the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. She has served on our Board of Trustees since 2011.
Job Titles:
- Medical Global Training Lead
An accomplished obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Thida began her MSI career nearly a decade ago as the Clinical Services Manager for our Myanmar programme. She now works on the Medical Development Team as a Regional Medical Advisor, providing peer-to-peer quality technical assistance and assessment to programmes in Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and India. She has also contributed to the improvement of clinical governance in Timor-Leste.
Her specialist areas include family planning services including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), permanent methods and CCSPT, and she is one of MSI's master trainers, carrying out Training of Trainers (ToT) in family planning.
Mohsina is a public health professional with 30 years of experience leading on programme design and management, skilled in designing and implementing innovative health service delivery channels.
She is a Medical graduate from Dow Medical University and has a Masters in Community Medicine from the Aga Khan Medical University and an executive MBA from the Henley Management Collage, UK.
Mohsina served as the Regional Director for West Asia until spring 2020, managing a group of countries which experienced a variety of challenges and perspectives, including continuing security challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Job Titles:
- Medical Doctor
- Regional Medical Advisor
Dr Naheed Ahmed is a medical doctor with experience in clinical service delivery, clinical training design and delivery, and ensuring clinical quality in various countries by providing technical assistance.
Based in Pakistan, Naheed ensures clinical quality across Cambodia, Ghana, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. She has been in her current role at MSI since 2015.
Naheed began her career as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, joining the MSI Medical Development Team in 2008, where she assures and advises on standards of clinical quality. Naheed is a dedicated trainer, working alongside other medical advisors to consistently maintain MSI training resources in response to changes in clinical guidelines, and regularly reviewing and adapting training materials.
She also collaborates with International Operations and regional and project managers regarding all issues related to medical aspects of service delivery.
Job Titles:
- Head of Clinical Services
Dr Patricia Lledó Weber is a specialised Gynaecologist and Obstetrician and a passionate sexual and reproductive health and rights advocate.
Patricia has over 18 years' experience as a clinician in private, public, and humanitarian settings, and has managed hospitals and large sexual and reproductive health projects in diverse contexts across Africa, Middle East, Asia, and America.
Patricia graduated in Medicine and specialised in Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain. She also holds a master's in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Job Titles:
- Country Director DRC
- Expert
Dr Patrick Djemo is a passionate champion and expert in comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights. For over 20 years, he has been a clinical provider, trainer and mentor, and has provided technical support to ministries of health and other stakeholders in countries including Zambia, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo on abortion services in the public health sector.
He has actively participated in the launch of progressive abortion standards and guidelines in the DRC. He has also held various senior management and leadership positions at country and regional levels in the international not-for-profit sector. He received his M.D. from the University of Lumumbashi - DRC.
Job Titles:
- Country Director for MSI Afghanistan
Dr Yaqoob Muslih is the Country Director for MSI Afghanistan as of 2021. He is responsible for providing leadership as the strategic director to the programme. Yaqoob has been with MSI Afghanistan since 2012 and has held various roles, including Health Support and Research Team Lead, Operations Manager, and Deputy Country Director.
Yaqoob has 18 years' experience working for international non-governmental organisations in Afghanistan. He has been working in the Afghan health system since 2005. He is therefore deeply familiar with the country's needs and has a strong network in the community.
Yaqoob is particularly interested in collaborating on research projects on women's and men's health issues from a gender perspective, and their access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including family planning and post-abortion care.
He has experience managing projects implemented at the country level to empower disadvantaged women and girls who have limited access to sexual and reproductive health services. Yaqoob strongly advocates for women's health and takes an active part in policy changes in the broader environment to ease access to health services for women and girls.
Yaqoob has a degree in Medicine from Balkh University, a diploma in Public Health from the Pakistan Institute of Modern Studies, and a Master of Public Health from Thammasat University.
Job Titles:
- Country Director for MSI Nigeria
Emmanuel Ajah is the Country Director for MSI Nigeria. Emma, as he is fondly called, has over 19 years' experience in the development sector, with a history of implementing large multilateral projects and programmes with USAID, DFIF/FCDO, Global Fund, BMGF, and other organisations.
Job Titles:
- Country Director for MSI Zambia
Fikansa Chanda is a senior public health professional with extensive experience in leading sexual and reproductive health and HIV and AIDS programmes in Southern Africa.
Prior to working for MSI, Fikansa worked in different programming and leadership roles within public health and development organisations, including the Regional Psycho-Social Support Initiative, Academic Education for Development, Catholic Church in Zambia, and Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia. Fikansa has designed and implemented large and integrated projects funded by the EU, FCDO, USAID, UN agencies and various foundations.
Fikansa is driven by the impact sexual and reproductive health services have on the lives of women and girls, and how access can lead to improved quality of life in Zambia and beyond. He is motivated by the prospect of a country where everyone can reach their full potential and contribute to national development, without fear or risk of unintended pregnancy.
Job Titles:
- Independent Consultant
- Member of the Board
Fiona has spent the past 40 years working in 30 countries across Africa and Asia on the design, management, strategic planning and evaluation of public and private sector health and development programmes with a focus largely on reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health.
Her work in international development started in Swaziland in 1976 where she was co-founder of the Family Life Association of Swaziland (an IPPF member organisation). She then spent over five years in Bangladesh working for ODA (now DFID) establishing a joint donor funding and technical support mechanism for health sector NGOs. She then managed DFID's health programme in Nigeria before returning to DFID headquarters as health adviser for Pakistan and South Asia regional programmes. She was awarded the MBE in 1992 and the OBE in 1999.
Since 2002, Fiona has been an independent consultant - working largely for DFID, but also for UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS, World Bank, Australian DFAT, GIZ, Gates, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and various international NGOs. Fiona was an active campaigner for safe abortion with the Women's Right to Choose in 1971. She currently volunteers as Ambassador for the international leprosy charity Lepra, is Ambassador for the Family Life Association of Swaziland and is a director of Babymilk Action.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chairman of Baobab
- Chairman of MSI 's Board
Frank is the Chair of MSI's Board. Frank is also Chairman of Baobab + and NED of Agra, AECF, Buhler and Tiger Brands. Earlier mandates include Chairman of Private Investors for Africa and Vice Chairperson of the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania and Feronia. He his career spans 30 years in consumer goods, foods and agriculture.
He has extensive experience with the African continent and with other emerging and frontier markets, having worked in high-growth emerging markets like Poland, Russia and the Andean countries.
Currently based in Dubai, Frank is fully dedicated to his NED portfolio which encompasses both for-profit and not-for-profit mandates. The central theme is emerging markets and a focus on sustainability challenges. Until May 2013, Frank was the Regional President Unilever Africa and the Middle East, a US$5bn revenue food and consumer product business. Earlier Unilever assignments included Regional President of the China Region, Managing Director Unilever Foods France, and Chairman of the Andina Region.
Frank holds an MBA and a Masters of Laws from Leuven University, Belgium.
Job Titles:
- Country Director of MSI Ghana
- Public Health Specialist
George Bruno Akanlu is a public health specialist with professional experience working with international and local NGOs and bilateral development agencies. He has spearheaded the implementation of public health programmes and community development initiatives.
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- Managing Director, MSI Australia
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- Vice - President for Technical Services
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- Country Director, Bangladesh
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- Country Director, Madagascar
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- Country Director for MSI China
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- Member of the Board
- Member of the Rest of the Team
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- Country Director of MSI Mali
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- Chief Operating Officer
- Vice President
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- Executive Officer, MSI Asia Pacific
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- Country Director for MSI Myanmar
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- Member of the Rest of the Team
- Country Director, Sierra Leone
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- Country Director for MSI Vietnam
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- Global Centres Channel Director
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- Country Director for MSI Zimbabwe
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- Head of Clinical Governance
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- Member of the Rest of the Team
- Public Sector Channels Director
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- Country Director, Senegal
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- Senior Director for MSI Africa
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- Member of the Rest of the Team
- CEO, MSI Reproductive Choices
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- Country Director, Cambodia
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- Director of People and Culture
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- Country Director of MSI Malawi
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- Country Director, Burkina Faso
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- Country Director, Mongolia
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- Country Director for MSI Nepal
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- Country Director, Tanzania
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- Country Director, Romania
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- CEO of Population Health Services India