Power in Partnership – Read our new strategy to end AIDS

Our Staff
and trustees

About us Our staff and trustees

Frontline AIDS is made up of some of the leading figures in the global response to the HIV epidemic, who bring extensive experience of community responses across multiple regions, as well as expertise in human rights, family planning, international development, finance and communications.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

John Plastow is the Executive Director at Frontline AIDS. John brings extensive international experience of leading and managing change in challenging contexts. He has held senior roles with several major international NGOs, including at Oxfam International and CARE International UK. He was previously Oxfam International’s Interim Global Programmes Director and Oxfam Great Britain’s Chief of Impact prior to that. At CARE International UK, he was the Programme and Policy Director for over 8 years. Most recently, John has been providing support to Oxfam International and Oxfam Ireland on a strategy roll out.

Throughout his career John has worked to champion a rights agenda in solidarity with marginalised communities and progressive civil society organisations. This has included close active engagement on rights for people living with HIV in different roles in sub-Saharan Africa. He has worked across many parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

senior management team

  • Fionnuala Murphy, Associate Director: Global Advocacy
  • Gerrard Graf, Head: Finance
  • Joannah Davis, Associate Director: Funding and Communications
  • Maria Bazirake, Head: Internal Audit and Governance

OUR TRUSTEES

The Board of Trustees are responsible for ensuring that our policies and global strategies are in keeping with our mission.

  • Professor Nana K Poku – Chair of the Board: Nana is the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of KwaZulu Natal, and one of the world’s leading authorities on the political economy of Africa’s HIV and AIDS epidemic. He brings over 30 years of experience in global health governance, development policy, and institutional leadership to the Frontline AIDS board. Nana led the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (2001–2005) and played a central role in piloting the WHO “3 by 5” initiative, demonstrating the feasibility of large scale HIV treatment in Africa. From 2011–2014, he steered the African Consensus Position that shaped the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and he currently leads the UN Secretary General’s Working Group on Global Health Financing for Universal Health.
  • Dr Joan Nyanyuki – Chair of the Accreditation Committee: Joan began her career as a medical doctor, working with survivors of torture and sexual violence before transitioning into human rights and gender equality work.
  • Maya Mungra – Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee: Maya is an economist and a chartered accountant with over 25 years of experience in audit, finance, corporate governance, risk management and compliance.
  • Pauline Hayes – Chair of the People and Reward Committee: Pauline has had a long career in the UK public service, most recently with the Department for International Development.
  • Rhoda Piedra – Board member of Trustees and member of Finance and Audit Committee: Rhoda is finance director of Dutch Market of MSD. She is a finance leader in the pharmaceutical industry, bringing over 22 years of experience to the Frontline AIDS board. She specializes in strategic financial planning, investment analysis, and building impactful partnerships. Rhoda is passionate about applying her expertise in financial governance and controls to help organizations achieve their mission effectively and sustainably.
  • Abby Maxman – Board Member of Trustees: Abby is the President and CEO of Oxfam America, where she leads global efforts to address the root causes of poverty, inequality, and injustice. She brings over 30 years of experience in international development and humanitarian leadership to the Frontline AIDS board. She has worked on gender and climate justice and led responses to humanitarian disasters to HIV and AIDs and Ebola epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. Abby is committed to advancing feminist, inclusive, and locally-led approaches that are essential in the fight to end AIDs and to strengthen health equity worldwide.
  • Micheal Ighodaro – Board Member of Trustees: Micheal is Executive Director of Global Black Gay Men Connect. He has previously worked with the Aids Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) as a Programme Manager and was co-chair of the board of one of the leading global LGBT organizations, Outright Action International. He has expertise in human rights and the translation of advocates demands into policy and health programs.
  • Dr Purnima Mane – Board Member of Trustees: Purnima is an independent consultant with global experience in gender and sexual and reproductive health with over 45 years of experience in leadership and management roles in the UN system, academia and the international non-profit sector. She has held senior positions in the WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, served as President and CEO of Pathfinder International and published extensively in academic journals and books. In her role on the board, Purnima works to ensure that the best local expertise and learnings shape the international AIDS response.