Our journey is marked by a deep connection to the spirit of Ubuntu, the belief that we are all interconnected in our shared humanity. Africa’s rich tapestry of cultures, landscapes, and communities is at the heart of our story.
Robyn is a quietly formidable leader in global health, known for creating the conditions where others can succeed. With more than 25 years of experience, she has worked across Africa to unlock potential, strengthen systems, and guide partnerships that deliver lasting impact in complex environments.
As the Founder and Co-Executive Director of Supporting Health Initiatives (SHI), Robyn steers a division that exists to hold space for success – bringing people, resources, and ideas together to enable programmes that matter. Robyn provides the strategic and operational backbone that allows ambitious initiatives to take root and thrive across areas such as regulatory reform, health workforce development and cross-border collaboration.
Under her leadership, SHI has attracted significant funding and built trusted relationships with governments, regional bodies, donors, academia and health agencies. Her ability to unite stakeholders and translate vision into action ensures that complex goals lead to tangible results.
Robyn’s contributions reach beyond SHI. As one of the early contributors to the formulation of the Global Fund shaping global health financing with focus on accountability and equity. Robyn continues to champion local vaccine production and resilience in health systems for Southern Africa and Africa.
Her advocacy is deeply personal. In “A silent Killer: My Fathers Battle with Sepsis,” she shares her family’s loss to highlight the urgent need for action on sepsis.
Those who know her describe Robyn as principled, collaborative and unwavering in her commitment to equity.
Professor Maria Papathanasopoulos is a leading virologist and educator, internationally recognized for her pioneering work in HIV research, bioinformatics, and infectious diseases. She serves as the Director of the HIV Pathogenesis Research Unit (HPRU) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), where she leads innovative research into HIV-1 drug resistance, pathogenesis, and vaccine design.
In addition to her role at HPRU, Professor Papathanasopoulos is affiliated with the Wits Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI), contributing to integrative research on infectious diseases and oncology.
Holding a Ph.D. from Wits, she has established state-of-the-art laboratories that advance scientific understanding of HIV and inform strategies for prevention and treatment. Her work has earned widespread acclaim and continues to shape both national policy and global discourse in the field.
Her research portfolio includes major contributions to initiatives funded by the South African Strategic Health Innovation Platform, the National Research Foundation, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative Innovation Fund, the Carnegie Foundation, and the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation.
Wits Health
Professor Papathanasopoulos’s extensive publication record, with over 2,900 academic citations, highlights her impact on the scientific community and commitment to advancing health equity through research.
Dr. Lieve Fransen is a globally respected health expert and social policy strategist with over four decades of experience advancing public health and social equity. As a former Director at the European Commission and Founding Co-Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, she led the creation of one of the most significant global health financing mechanisms, mobilizing billions of dollars and forging partnerships that have saved millions of lives.
Driven by a passion for Africa, Lieve has dedicated much of her career to strengthening health systems across the continent. She has collaborated extensively with African governments and organizations to build resilient infrastructures and ensure global initiatives translate into sustainable, locally driven solutions.
Her contributions have earned her prestigious honors, including the National Order of the Lion of Senegal (1999), awarded by two presidents, the Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights (2001), and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2003) for her tireless advocacy for equitable healthcare and human rights.
Lieve has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and influenced policy for the European Council and Parliament. As a Senior Adviser to the European Policy Centre, she continues to champion evidence-based solutions for social investment, healthcare, and gender equity. Her relentless advocacy and commitment to systems strengthening make her a transformative force in global health, leaving a legacy of lasting impact.
Professor Garrett Wallace Brown is a leading authority in global health policy, renowned for his transformative contributions to health governance, equity, and financing. He holds the Chair in Political Theory & Global Health Policy at the University of Leeds, where he directs the Centre for Global Security Challenges. His work spans health system strengthening, pandemic preparedness, health financing, and global health justice.
Driven by a deep passion for Africa, Professor Brown collaborates with governments, NGOs, and international agencies to build resilient health systems and promote equitable healthcare across the continent. His work addresses unique health challenges, strengthens institutional capacity, and fosters sustainable impact.
A prolific author, Professor Brown has co-edited the Oxford Handbook on Global Health Politics and contributed to the Oxford Dictionary of Global Health Terms. He has served as a media advisor to the Group of Seven (G7) and Group of Twenty (G20) and provided evidence-based recommendations to the UK Cabinet Office COVID-19 Roundtable Group during the pandemic.
His contributions include leading World Health Organization (WHO) initiatives on pandemic preparedness tools, cost estimation, and sustainable financing strategies. Known for bridging academia, policy, and practice, Professor Brown’s dedication to advancing health justice and his commitment to Africa continue to shape the global health landscape.
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