Professor Nana Poku is Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and one of the world’s leading experts on the political economy of Africa’s HIV and AIDS epidemic. From 2003-2006, Professor Poku was tasked by then Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan to lead the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa (CHGA) at the Economic Commission for Africa. Since 2007, he has advised a number of African governments on HIV and AIDS, and over the past 15 years has worked in various capacities with a number of global bodies, including the World Health Organization, World Bank, United Nations Development Programme and UNAIDS.
Pauline has had a long career in the UK public service, most recently with the Department for International Development (DFID) where from 2013-2015 she was Director of the division covering DFID’s work in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
Micheal is a thought leader, public speaker, global human rights advocate and corporate inclusion and culture advisor on race, immigration and orientation equality. He is currently the Program Manager at AVAC while attending the New School. He has also worked with Housing Works and Outright Action International, first as a fellow and now as co-chair of the Board of Directors. He was awarded by President Obama in 2015 as a Champion of Change.
Purnima is the former president and CEO of Pathfinder International. She has served in a range of senior leadership roles in multilateral organisations, including UNFPA, UNAIDS, WHO, and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Purnima currently serves on several boards including the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Bay Area Global Health Alliance, and the Hesperian Health Foundation.
Abby Maxman is President and Chief Executive Officer of Oxfam USA. She has over 30 years’ experience in international humanitarian and development operations, including extensive experience in global governance. Previous roles include Deputy Secretary General at Care International and Vice President International Programs and Operations at Care USA. A committed advocate for women’s and girls’ empowerment and gender equality, Abby is known for leading with feminist principles and promoting gender equity in the workplace and communities.
Maya is an economist and a chartered accountant with over 25 years of experience in audit, finance, corporate governance, risk management and compliance. She has held several senior level positions in the financial services and impact finance industry.
She is currently the Chief Audit Executive at a tier one health insurance company in the Netherlands. Furthermore, she serves as a counselor at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Chartered Accountants and is a member of the Supervisory Board of Agora Microfinanance.
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. An advocate for women, children and survivors of violence in Africa, she has a wealth of progressive experience in human rights research and advocacy, community mobilization and organizational leadership through her past roles as Amnesty International’s Regional Director in East Africa and The Great Lakes Region and as Executive Director of Coalition on Violence against Women and Independent Medico-Legal Unit.
