Our team

Blair Hanewall leads the SEMA team, spearheading the development and execution of SEMA's strategies. 

She is an accomplished international health leader who brings over 20 years of experience in global health, international development, and SRHR markets. Her diverse background covers work with international NGOs, a biotech firm, a private foundation, and strategy consulting. Blair has focused on maternal and adolescent health programs and supported decentralized healthcare reform across Africa and South America. As an early employee and team leader at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, she contributed to the establishment evolution of the foundation’s global health primary care program. Blair serves as the Board Chair for AVAC and holds a Master's degree in Business and Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.

Freddy Bob-Jones leads all aspects of SEMA's business operations, including financial and program management, procurement, human resources, communications, legal, and IT. 

With over two decades of experience in international development, Freddy is a seasoned executive who has led strategy and operations in the field. He recently served as the Director of Operations for the FCDO's Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) program, supporting SRHR service delivery across 15 countries in Africa and Asia. Before that, Freddy held leadership roles in several global management consulting firms (including PwC and Deloitte) and the UK civil service, encompassing the Department for International Development (DFID) and HM Treasury. He has a Master's degree in Development Economics from the University of Manchester, UK, and an MBA from Warwick Business School, UK.

Alexis Heaton leads SEMA's data and analytics efforts, collaborating with partners to use data in analyzing markets, identifying issues, and creating effective interventions to promote wider access to SRH products. 

With 20 years of experience in supply chain management, market dynamics, and data analysis for public health, Alexis specializes in data-driven market dynamics research to enhance health systems, market analysis, and pharmaceutical procurement. Before SEMA, she worked at JSI Research & Training Institute for 14 years, providing technical guidance on supply chain and market assessment projects and establishing multi-stakeholder coordination activities to improve data visibility for family planning products. Alexis holds a master's degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

James Droop, SEMA's Head of Global Markets, leads efforts to transform the performance of SRH markets globally.  

James brings extensive experience in international development and global health, with particular expertise in financing, market shaping, and access to essential health products. Before SEMA, James led the UK government’s global health market-shaping portfolio, including responsibility for over £1 billion of approved programming. He has co-created a range of innovative financing and access mechanisms, including several successful access partnerships for SRH products.  James has held positions at the World Bank, IMF, and UK Treasury, and provided consulting services to multilateral organizations, donors, and the private sector. He earned a Master's degree in Development Economics from SOAS in London and a bachelor's degree from Trinity College, Cambridge University.

Karendi Njeru is SEMA's Finance Manager, overseeing finance and grant management operations on SEMA.

With 15 years of experience in private and nonprofit sectors, Karendi focuses on budget execution, internal audit, control systems, policies, procedures, accounting systems, and reporting. Her work with major donors spans Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia, collaborating with prominent donors like BHA, EC, UN, GAC, and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. Karendi holds a Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management) from the University of Nairobi and a CPA (K) certification.

Brenda is the Programme Manager at SEMA, overseeing effective programme management across the organization.

With 10 years of experience in project management, Brenda's expertise covers financial management, grants management, fiduciary assessments, monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, and institutional strengthening services for social and economic development programmes. She has managed projects in health, education, agriculture, good governance, and peace and security, working with diverse development actors like governments, IDAs, and the private sector. Before joining SEMA, Brenda was the Project Manager for the Young Africa Works in Kenya-TVET program and worked as a Programme and Portfolio Management consultant at PwC Kenya. Brenda holds a Master of Science in Finance and is a PRINCE2® certified Project Manager. 

Flevian serves as SEMA's Programme Officer, providing administrative assistance and programme management support.

As a skilled project associate, Flevian's expertise includes planning, implementation, innovation, creativity, monitoring, and reporting. Before joining SEMA, she worked with Amref Health Africa as a Project Associate in their Health Innovations Business Unit. She supported various community health projects there, including the Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) project, similar to SEMA. Flevian holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, with a minor in Development Studies.

Lila works as SEMA’s Grants Officer, ensuring the effective management of SEMA’s grant processes.

Lila brings over seven years of experience in grants management, financial management, and reporting for international NGOs. She is a registered member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Accounting from Strathmore University. She has contributed to the evolution of SEMA's grant management systems from manual to automated processes, in close collaboration with AMREF Health Africa. 

Mary Aikenhead is an accomplished business executive with over 25 years of experience leading and managing multifunctional teams. 

She has a proven track record of developing and executing successful product introduction, marketing, and business strategies across various functions, including sales, procurement, logistics, and finance. She has worked with large private corporations, start-ups, and philanthropic initiatives, managing multi-million dollar investment portfolios to improve access to medicines, diagnostics, and women's health products. Mary holds a Master of Business Administration from Yale University and a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts from New York University.

Alice Molinier is a consultant with 12 years of experience in international development, health, and social impact. 

She has strong skills in strategy consulting, strategic judgment, program, and people management, and technical knowledge in the SRHR and SBCC fields. Alice received her education in France and the UK, earning an MBA from ESSEC Business School and an MSc in Global Health from University College London. She has a proven track record in program management and technical expertise in SRHR and SBCC. 

Anna is a consultant at SEMA with expertise in sexual and reproductive health markets access and market shaping. 

Anna's recent work involved supporting the Ministry of Health in Monrovia, Liberia to scale up access to DMPA-SC. Before that, she was the Programme Manager for the UK's flagship Reproductive Health Supplies program. In this role, Anna collaborated with Ministries, procurers, manufacturers, technical partners, and other donors to expand access to new and underused reproductive health products. Anna has a bachelors in Human Social and Political Sciences from the University of Cambridge and a postgraduate qualification in Maternal Newborn and Child Health from the University of Edinburgh.

Evelyne Wangui is the Communications Lead at SEMA, where she manages communications outreach to SEMA's various stakeholders.

As a seasoned communication specialist, she has collaborated with renowned organizations, including Absa Bank Kenya PLC, playing an instrumental role in its rebranding. Evelyne's expertise has benefited organizations like Grayling, UNODC, DemoAfrica, and HiiL. Her development communication experience includes supporting clients such as AGRA, the AGRF, and FSD Africa. Evelyne holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Nairobi and is pursuing a master's degree in Political Science at the same institution.

Gamo serves as SEMA Country Associate for Senegal and Burkina Faso, with responsibility for managing all aspects of in-country engagement. 

Gamo is a skilled international development professional with extensive experience in program management, education, and advocacy. Before SEMA, she worked for the Council on International Educational Exchange, where she served as Deputy Director. Gamo holds a Master of Arts in International Development Administration from Western Michigan University and a Master of Arts in Linguistics from Syracuse University.

Professor Isaac Adewole has been a Professor at the College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria since 1997. He is currently a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan. He is also an adjunct Professor at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Prof. Isaac F. Adewole is the immediate past Minister of Health, Nigeria; former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and former President of Africa Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer. He is the co-founder of the African Cancer Coalition and a member of the International Taskforce on Elimination of Cervical Cancer in the Commonwealth.

He has served on several national and international organizational boards and programs on research and policy for cancer control. He was a Commissioner on the WHO High Level Commission on NCD (2018-2019). He is also a member of UNESCO/UNFPA sponsored High Level Committee on West and Central Africa (WCA) Commitment for educated, healthy and thriving adolescents and young people. Currently, he is involved with reviewing the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Harmonized Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as serving on the Lancet Oncology Cancer Control in Sub-Saharan Africa Commission and Lancet Commission on Cancer and Health systems.

Zubaida Bai is widely regarded as a thought leader and innovator who has designed and supported sustainable solutions for underserved populations, with a specific focus on gender. Zubaida Bai put her passion for bettering the lives of women and girls to work founding her company, ayzh, in 2009. After leading the organization for 12 years she is now serving on its board. Zubaida Bai brings expertise in risk and compliance when navigating a global market landscape. She is currently serving as the CEO for Grameen Foundation USA, an NGO working to provide access to information and resources with the hopes of eliminating poverty and hunger. Prior to joining Grameen Foundation, she was the Managing Director of Social Ventures at CARE. She holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. She was also conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Claremont Graduate University in 2018.

Miles is currently based in London with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), where he leads a creative team to deliver a high-impact, risk-managed portfolio on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Miles joined CIFF in 2012 after a career with high-profile international health organisations working on family planning, safe abortion care, HIV prevention and neglected tropical diseases. His focus is on innovation-driven entrepreneurship to improve health and wellbeing. Miles is passionate about opportunities to achieve sustainable financing for SRHR choices and help individuals thrive as agents of their own healthcare, especially through self-managed care and user-centred design.

Caroline is an experienced leader at the intersection of global health, innovation, technology, and international development. She has extensive experience in driving complex program deployments in multiple countries, finding, testing and scaling innovations, and developing new business opportunities through public-private partnerships in emerging markets. Caroline has over 20 years’ experience running and growing ventures in the non-profit and commercial space, and applying innovative approaches for profit, purpose, and sustainability. Caroline is a Board Member of Equalize Health and D-Tree International.

*Retired with Shyami da Silva as Interim until new Director appointed

Ellen H. Starbird is the Director of USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health. She provides high-level leadership to the Agency’s FP and RH agenda and portfolio, valued at approximately $600 million USD annually and directs the Office’s $100 million USD program. Ellen has over 25 years of experience designing, managing, monitoring, and evaluating international FP and RH programming. She joined USAID in 1989 and has spent her career in the Office of Population and Reproductive Health. The daughter of a Foreign Service Officer, she spent 11 years of her childhood in Hong Kong and Thailand. She is married and has two children. She has an MA in Development Economics from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, Massachusetts.

Ann Starrs joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as the Director of Family Planning in July 2019. In this capacity, she leads the Family Planning team’s overall strategy and coordinates with other global strategies within the foundation and with external partners to achieve greater access to voluntary family planning. Before joining the foundation, she served as the President and CEO of the Guttmacher Institute; during that time, she co-chaired the Guttmacher-Lancet Commission for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Prior to joining Guttmacher, Ann was President of Family Care International, which she helped found in 1986. She currently serves as co-chair of the Strategic Advocacy Committee of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, and is a member of the governing bodies for FP2030 and the Shaping Equitable Market Access for Reproductive Health (SEMA) partnership. Ann holds a master’s degree from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a certificate in demography from Princeton’s Office of Population Research; she received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Pape is the co-chair for SEMA’s Technical Oversight Committee. He is a seasoned global health leader with a strong commitment to family planning, access to healthcare, and the global health workforce. 

Pape served as the President and CEO of IntraHealth International from 2004 to 2020, where he played a critical role in advocating for human resources for health and family planning on a global scale. He has over thirty years of experience in international health and development, including overseeing initiatives in 40 countries to strengthen health systems and the health workforce. Pape holds an MBA from the University of California. 

Prof. Sheila Tlou is Co-Chair of the SEMA TOC, Co-Chair of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, Special Envoy of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, Chancellor of the Botswana Open University, and Nursing Now Global Challenge Champion. She is former UNAIDS Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, former Minister of Health of Botswana, former Professor of Nursing at University of Botswana and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development in Primary Health Care. She has a Ph.D in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has Membership of the American Academy of Nursing. The Canadian Academy of Nursing and the U.S. National Academy of Medicine.