ABOUT US

Richard Fisher

Chair

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Economics Hons.; Chartered Accountant

In his role as Chair of Policy Cures Research, Richard draws on his decades of management and Board experience to provide strategic direction and advice, and the implementation of best Governance and business processes.

Richard qualified as a Chartered Accountant in London and spent 24 years with professional services firm Ernst & Young in the UK, Australia and Papua New Guinea, the latter 15 years of which were as a partner of the Sydney office. Since retiring from the firm in 2002, Richard has worked in the corporate world in Australia as a consultant, contractor, CFO, COO and Chief Executive.

Richard has been engaged by dozens of companies over several decades to help improve financial management and sustainability, deal with management and leadership issues, and design and implement new business strategies. He has a broad range of experience across multiple sectors – including manufacturing, services, research and development, and not-for-profit – and has had many years involvement with the work of Policy Cures Research.

Richard has a particular interest in building environments where people enjoy working together towards common objectives and building a team with the talent and determination to achieve these objectives.

Dr Nick Chapman

Chief Executive Officer

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery, Hons.; Bachelor of Medical Science; Master of Human Rights, Merit

As the CEO of Policy Cures Research, Nick is ultimately responsible for every project and publication, acting as the public face of the organisation while using his background in medicine to ensure that the annual G-FINDER report is clear, accurate and engaging.

Nick has extensive experience in health policy and practice as a doctor, researcher and analyst, and since 2010 has specialised exclusively in understanding the policy and funding landscape for R&D targeting neglected diseases and other global health priority areas. His experience includes work on research tracking (including the G-FINDER project), strategy development, funding gap analysis and innovative financing mechanisms.

Nick is a guest lecturer at the University of Sydney, an expert advisor on R&D to the Access to Medicines Index, and has been recognised by the Lowy Institute for International Policy as one of its ‘new voices’ in international policy. He has a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (Hons) and a Bachelor of Medical Science from the University of Tasmania, and a Master’s degree in human rights, focusing on international development and international law, from the University of Sydney.

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn

Anna Doubell

Chief Operating Officer

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Commerce; Master of Applied Finance; Master of Public Health

As PCR’s Chief Operating Officer, Anna retains a hands-on role in critical phases of project work, while also driving system redevelopment, people management, strategic direction and future projects.

Anna joined the Policy Cures Research team in 2015, bringing more than 12 years of experience in the international finance sector. Her thorough understanding of commercial enterprises is underpinned by skills in financial modelling, data manipulation, and analysis. Anna has a longstanding commitment to not-for-profits and international development; she was a director of a charity which provides food, services and education to those in need; spent nine months working with a community organisation in the Philippines as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development; and in 2018, she swam the English Channel, raising money for malaria research.

In addition to her Masters of Public Health from the University of Sydney, Anna has completed short courses in infectious disease modelling and vaccine epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Connect with Anna on LinkedIn

Andrew Tuttle

Chief Strategy Officer

UNITED KINGDOM

Master of Public Health (Infectious Disease Epidemiology); Bachelor of Arts (International Affairs; German Language & Literature)

As Chief Strategy Officer Andrew leads on shaping and advancing PCR’s work in communications, external relations, business development and organisational strategy. Andrew joined Policy Cures Research in 2020 and brings 15 years of global health and international development experience with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights and infectious diseases.

Andrew has held strategy and leadership roles in programme design and development, advocacy and communications, research, external relations, and donor resource mobilisation in the global health sector. He has targeted experience in family planning, safe abortion, vaccination policy, and social and behaviour change communications and has worked for Marie Stopes International, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Chemonics International, and as a consultant with Global Health Strategies, serving clients at the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, and the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Andrew is also committed to improving diversity and inclusion in the workplace. He co-led Chemonics International’s LGBTQI+ employee resource group and served on Chemonics’ corporate Diversity and Inclusion Council, working to advance ethnic, gender, and social equality across the company’s 5,000+ global workforce.

Andrew is also a part-time Doctor of Public Health candidate at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn

Dr Lindsay Keir

Director, Science and Policy Advisory Team

UNITED KINGDOM

Bachelor of Science (Hons), Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Hons), Doctor of Philosophy (commendation), Member of Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health- UK (2009)

As director of the science and policy advisory team, Lindsay is responsible for ensuring the technical accuracy of PCR’s work. Her team is composed of medical doctors and scientist who provide the science, global health and medical knowledge to the organisation and keep up to date with shifting research and development landscape. This detailed understanding of global health diseases and R&D is used to guide the conceptualisation of new projects and to set the scope of work to ensure the data collected is accurate and relevant to global health. We ensure that our knowledge is shared with the rest of PCR. Lindsay and her team are also responsible for ensuring that staff stay up to date with all things global health and how PCRs data can be used to influence R&D priority setting and global health policy.

Lindsay draws on her background as a medical doctor specialising in child health, as a scientist with experience from basic research through to clinical development, and experience in global health funding and R&D. She joined PCR from Wellcome where, among other things, she led initiatives to improve access to monoclonal antibodies in low- and middle-income countries, to support the delivery of critical care in low resource settings and to improve nutrition science. She is fascinated by innovative clinical trial design and is passionate about using data to better inform global health priorities and policy.

Lindsay is a member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and has a level 7 (Director) CMI qualification. She is passionate about strategy development and monitoring impact. Outside of her role in PCR, Lindsay is also a trustee of the charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK where she chairs the Research Strategy and Funding committee.

Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn

Maya Goldstein

Director of Strategy and External Affairs

AUSTRALIA

Master of Arts in Biological Sciences, First Class

Maya is Director of Strategy & External Affairs, as well as PCR’s Gender Lead. She is responsible for leading Policy Cures Research’s business development and partnerships work, executing external engagement and organisational development strategies that build strong, enduring and mutually reinforcing relationships with key experts and organisations across the global health R&D sector. As Gender Lead, she is also responsible for advising on the design and execution of gender-intentional research, external engagement, and internal operations, and co-leads a number of PCR’s sexual, maternal, women’s and gender-related health projects.

Maya joined Policy Cures Research in 2018, and brings over 15 years of experience in global health and international development. She offers specific technical expertise in sexual and reproductive health and a strong background in the not-for-profit health sector. Prior to joining Policy Cures Research, Maya held senior and consulting roles at MSI Reproductive Choices, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Safe Abortion Action Fund and Australian DFAT. She has extensive experience in policy and advocacy, partnership development, multi-million-dollar program design, and research and evaluation for reproductive health projects globally.

Maya holds a Masters’ Degree (MA) in Biological Sciences from the University of Oxford, UK. She has also completed short courses in Health Economics and Financing and Qualitative Research Methodologies at the University of Melbourne.

Connect with Maya on LinkedIn

Dr Sabastine Wakdok

Director of Research

UNITED KINGDOM

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Hons); Fellowship specialisation in Family Medicine; Master of Science in Public Policy; Master of Business Administration (First Class); Doctor of Philosophy in Global Health Policy.

As Director of Research, Sabastine is responsible for leading Policy Cures Research’s research and analysis portfolio related to the biomedical product development landscape across PCR’s thematic areas of neglected diseases, emerging infectious diseases, and sexual and reproductive health. His team is comprised of dedicated and exceptional scientists, biomedical, economics, and public health professionals who rigorously analyse the global landscape of R&D funding for historically neglected and underfunded health issues.

Sabastine draws on his background as a physician specialising in family medicine with an interest in infectious diseases. He joined PCR after working previously as Associate Director of Portfolio Management at the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) in Nairobi, Kenya, Doctoral Researcher at the Global Health Policy Unit, University of Edinburgh, UK and Project Director, HIV/AIDS programme at the Nigerian National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

Sabastine holds a PhD in Global Health Policy from the University of Edinburgh, UK, an MBA with distinction honours from the University of Oxford, UK, an MSc in Public Policy from University College London, UK, a Certificate in International Management from Stanford University, USA, and a Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery (Hons) from the University of Jos, Nigeria.

Connect with Sabastine on LinkedIn

Harriet Bell

Director of Communications

UNITED KINGDOM

Master of Arts in English Literature; Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma

Harriet leads our strategic external communications, to help make PCR’s value and offering visible and accessible to all stakeholders. She manages our media relationships, website and social media, and aims to increase the reach and impact of our research outputs. Harriet joined Policy Cures Research in 2024 and draws on her extensive background in scientific research publishing. She has led the communications and marketing globally for a wide portfolio of publications and digital research products in global health, including The Lancet family of journals. She has particular expertise in the development of digital ways to communicate, disseminate and support the use of research and evidence by policy makers, advocacy groups, academia and industry.

Harriet is passionate about openness, accessibility and inclusivity in research communications. Understanding, listening to and engaging with all the stakeholders who make use of PCR’s work is her number one priority.

Harriet has a Master of Arts in English from the University of Oxford, UK.

Connect with Harriet on LinkedIn

Lisette Oversteegen

Data Lead

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Health; Master of Public Health

As a Senior Analyst, Lisette provides Policy Cures Research with the benefit of her expertise in project and data management. She is responsible for preparing and rolling out the annual G-FINDER survey, managing the data collection period, and maintaining and optimising the G-FINDER data portal. She also leads the large-scale data mining effort to extract US NIH funding data for G-FINDER each year.

Lisette has over fifteen years’ experience as an analyst of R&D and the pharmaceutical industry, focusing exclusively on neglected diseases since 2010. Prior to joining Policy Cures, where she also managed the G-FINDER project before its transfer to the newly-formed Policy Cures Research, Lisette worked for business information company Datamonitor, where she focused on collecting and analysing market data and formulating strategic insights and recommendations for the pharmaceutical sector.

Connect with Lisette on LinkedIn

Dr Paul Barnsley

Research and Analysis Lead

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Bachelor of Economics, Hons.; Bachelor of Laws, Hons.; Doctor of Philosophy (Econ)

Paul’s role as  Research and Analysis Lead involves management of the forthcoming report on emerging infection disease R&D and shaping the written content of the annual G-FINDER report.

Paul has nine years’ experience as a health economist, which has included work with the United Kingdom’s Office of Health Economics, Deloitte Access Economics, and most recently a role as the senior health economist for the Royal Life Saving Society. His work in the health care sector has focused on the pharmaceutical industry, drowning prevention and epidemiology, and valuation of health care interventions.

Earlier in his career, Paul worked in project finance and construction contracting with a major Australian law firm, assisting in the creation of legal and financial structures underlying large infrastructure projects. Paul also worked as a freelance information technology journalist and provided advice to the UK Charities Aid Foundation on prioritisation of corporate philanthropic spending.

Paul’s academic work can be found in the Journal of Technology Assessment in Health, the Journal of Safety Research and BMJ Open.

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn

Dr Vipul Chowdhary

Technical Lead

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery; Master of Public Health

In his role as our Technical Lead, Vipul uses his clinical experience to track the neglected disease product pipeline and to provide real-world context in determining whether grants fall within the G-FINDER survey’s scope.

Vipul has over 15 years’ experience in the field of global health, working initially in India with the Department of Health. Vipul has worked for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) since 2004, initially as a field doctor. He was recently the Country Representative for MSF in Liberia for the Ebola epidemic response, prior to that he was the head of MSF operations in Nigeria and Yemen. Vipul has worked in various positions with MSF in developing country contexts, including in Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Liberia, Malawi, Sri Lanka and Yemen. He was involved in the G-FINDER project from its inception and supported the Policy Cures team as a consultant working on the Indian neglected disease R&D funding landscape.

Connect with Vipul on LinkedIn

Vanessa Candeias

Senior Analyst

EUROPE

Masters of Nutrition Sciences; Masters of Public Health

Vanessa brings nearly 20 years of experience in global public health to her role as a Senior Analyst for Policy Cures Research where she  is responsible for helping to shape the content and strategic direction of the G-FINDER project (with a focus on neglected diseases), as well as lead on partnerships and external engagement related to measuring the impact of global health R&D investments.

Prior to joining PCR she served as the Senior Director at the Hepatitis Fund she focused on increasing investments and financing for eliminating viral hepatitis. As the Head of Global Health and Healthcare and a Member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum she brought together businesses, governments and civil society organizations to co-design and accelerate the implementation of partnerships to transform healthcare systems. During her time at the World Economic Forum she played critical roles publishing breakthrough data on the economics of non-communicable diseases and in catalysing major public-private partnerships such as CEPI, The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, City Cancer Challenge, the Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare and many others. At the World Health Organization Headquarters she developed global guidelines, provided technical assistance to countries and led policy development for the prevention of chronic diseases.  When in Portugal, she worked at national level on designing and implementing health promotion policies for Lusophone countries with the Portuguese Ministry of Health and the Institute of Preventive Medicine of the University of Lisbon.

In addition to her training as a nutritionist at the Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences in Porto University, and her Master’s in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine she also graduated as a Global Leadership Fellow of the World Economic Forum.

Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn

Dr Amelia Hynen

Senior Technical Officer

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Science, Honours in Biomedical Science; Masters of International Public Health; Masters of Public Health; Doctor of Philosophy

Amelia relies on her background in basic science research and her keen interest in infectious diseases to assist in the application of the G-FINDER neglected disease and emerging infectious disease scope to the grants reported by funders and recipients, as well as conducting landscape reviews of the product development pipeline for these global health areas. She is also responsible for the creation a knowledge sharing platform, facilitating learning and development across the PCR team.

Amelia has seven years of experience as a Teaching Associate at the University of Technology, Sydney, focusing on microbiology and epidemiology. Prior to joining Policy Cures Research, she worked as a Research Assistant at the University of New South Wales, focusing on immunisation coverage in Australian Indigenous populations, and interned in the Global Influenza Programme at the World Health Organization, assessing burden of disease and monitoring influenza incidence.

Amelia’s PhD focused on the assembly of bacterial communities and her academic work is featured in the journal Nature Communications.

Connect with Amelia on LinkedIn

Dr Cécile Ventola

Senior Technical Officer

EUROPE

Masters of Political Sciences; PhD Public Health

Cécile has completed a PhD in Public Health at the University of Paris 11 in 2017. She’s a member of the Science and Policy Advisory team and brings over a decade of expertise in sexual and reproductive health. Her research has focused on a diversity of SRH related topics, including male contraceptives, national surveys on sexuality, contraception, abortion and fertility, access to health for LGBTQI+ populations, gender-affirming healthcare, the intersections of gender and health, organizational factors of health equity, sexual health and menstrual health.

Prior to joining PCR, Cécile held various research and advisory positions at French governmental agencies and research institutes and delivered trainings on gender and health to academic students and health professionals in France and the UK. In 2020-2021, she worked with the WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health on gender-affirming healthcare for trans* children. She also was Senior Research Manager at the Femtech startup Clue by Biowink, where she helped develop novel digital data collection tools in order to reach underrepresented populations for research projects on menstrual health and contraceptive preferences.

Her academic work is featured in the French academic journals Cahiers du Genre, Populations et Sociétés, Sciences Sociales et Santé, Genre Sexualité Société as well as Contraception, BMC Women’s Health and the American Journal of Human Biology.

Connect with Cécile on LinkedIn

Juliette Borri

Senior Analyst

EUROPE

Bachelor of International and Global Studies; Master of Science in Global Health

Juliette’s work as a Senior Analyst for the Policy Cures Research team involves her in all aspects of the annual G-FINDER report, especially analysis and presentation of data. Juliette also headed our recent report on Snakebite Envenoming for the Wellcome Trust.

Juliette has a keen interest in development and global health policy having completed a summer program at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and a semester abroad at the University College of London’s School of Public Policy. In 2016, she participated in the Student Forum Maastricht conference in Brussels, contributing to a recommendation paper on triangular cooperation focusing on the EU’s facilitation of South-South cooperation and knowledge transfer. Juliette has also interned with Médecins Sans Frontières in their Sydney office, where she worked in the Medical Communications department as a translator, focusing on child health programmes in South Mali.

Connect with Juliette on LinkedIn

Emmanuelle Bomo

Communications Lead

UNITED KINGDOM

Bachelor of Arts (International Finance); CEMS Master in International Management

As a Communications Lead for the Policy Cures Research team, Emmanuelle is responsible for sharing our research and reports with partners, enabling them to use our findings to inform their decision-making.

Emmanuelle joined Policy Cures Research in 2021, bringing over 12 years’ experience in communications and stakeholder engagement. She has worked with multiple impact-led organisations to increase their reach and influence, creatively engaging target audiences and empowering them to act. She has extensive experience in building networks to catalyse social change and in crafting communications strategies.

Prior to joining Policy Cures Research, Emmanuelle worked at The Conduit, MTV Staying Alive Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and began her career consulting in European public affairs in Belgium. She is fluent in French and English.

Connect with Emmanuelle on LinkedIn

Maddie Kearney

Analyst

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Medical Science; Master of International Public Health

In her role as an Analyst for Policy Cures Research, Maddie users her medical science background to assist with analysing grants reported as part of the G-FINDER survey and assists with the writing and preparation of the annual G-FINDER report.

Maddie has a keen interest in global health, having taken part in a volunteering trip to Nepal, and completing an international field placement in Timor-Leste, where she undertook a research project on implementation of Directly Observed Therapy for Tuberculosis treatment. She is also involved in research at the cardiovascular division of the George Institute for Global Health.

Connect with Maddie on LinkedIn

Dr Joelle Tan

Analyst

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Medical Science; Doctor of Medicine

As an Analyst for Policy Cures Research, Joelle contributes to the annual G-FINDER report and the report on emerging infectious disease R&D.

Joelle has a strong background in medicine, having spent a year working as a junior doctor prior to joining PCR. Beyond her clinical experience, she has worked as a writer at a Melbourne-based healthcare communications agency, with clients comprising pharmaceutical companies, aged-care providers and other healthcare brands. She has also interned at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where she worked on projects to improve quality of care provided in UN health clinics.

Connect with Joelle on LinkedIn

Dr Alex Ankomah

Technical Officer

AFRICA

Bachelor of Science, Human Biology; Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery; Master of Public Health; Master of Infectious Diseases Intelligence

Dr Alex Ankomah has completed a dual Masters program in Public Health and Infectious diseases Intelligence at the University of New South Wales, building on his  Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and MBChB from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana.

Alex is an Australia awards scholar with keen research interests in infectious disease modelling and sexual & reproductive health issues. His current research work focuses on global efforts towards the development of pandemic-focused vaccine development.

Prior to joining PCR, Alex supported the South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit  as a volunteer contact tracer as part of the NSW COVID-19 response and brings with him many years of experience in clinical work and maternal healthcare delivery from his time living and working in Ghana, a low-resource setting bedevilled with many neglected tropical diseases and significant maternal and reproductive health challenges.

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn

Omotola Olufemi

Analyst

Bachelor of Science, Double Major in Biology and Medical Science; Master of Public Health

In her role as an Analyst for Policy Cures Research, Tola assists with the management and analysis of our survey data.

Tola has a keen interest in global health, infectious disease, and data analytics. She has research experience in the international health non-profit sector, in the areas of reproductive and maternal health, and sustainable health development. Prior to joining Policy Cures Research, she worked with the Engage Africa Foundation to shape preventative health narratives and policy for non-communicable disease in urban sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition to her masters degree in public health, Tola has completed a certificate in data science.

Thomas Clifton

Analyst

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology; Master of Health Economics

In his role as an Analyst, Tom uses the breadth of his biomedical sciences background combined with his understanding of health economics to assist with data handling and analysis, and provides assistance with the management of PCR’s systems and data.

Tom has a broad understanding of the language of health and a keen interest into the complexity and interplay of health systems. He couples this with multifaceted background outside the health sector, including his work at start-ups and experience in commerce, to help better understand and contextualise the pipeline and development data gathered by PCR.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn

Hinjal Bhatia

Technical Officer

AFRICA

Bachelor of Pharmacy; Masters of Global Health and Development

Hinjal has 9 years of experience in healthcare, research, advisory and consulting services in Africa. Prior to joining Policy Cures Research, she worked as a Project Manager at Africa Health Business, focusing on actionable insights and project implementation support to grow the health agenda in Africa. She also worked at Stema whereby she was involved in pioneering new approaches to community health and sustainable development. In addition, she worked for Kilifi County Government in Kenya where she headed the Pharmacy department and was the co-founder of the Medication Therapy Management Clinic in Kilifi.

She possesses in-depth knowledge on the public and private healthcare system and policies in Africa.

Connect with Hinjal on LinkedIn

Céline Aerts

Analyst

EUROPE

Marie-Curie Sklodowska Ph.D. fellowship in Health Economics, Masters of Economic Policy, Bachelor of Economics.

Céline is a health economist with a keen interest in research and development for neglected diseases and emerging infectious diseases. With over 9 years of research experience, she possesses strong quantitative skills and expertise in various methods, including cost-effectiveness analysis and impact evaluations on economic and health indicators.

She completed a Marie-Curie Sklodowska Ph.D. fellowship in Health Economics at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), with her doctoral work focusing on the economic challenges associated with product development, implementation, and adoption for neglected diseases. During her time in academia, Céline has been involved in numerous global health projects, gaining in-country experience mainly in Africa and South America. She worked on neglected diseases in Guyana, Madagascar, Gabon, Argentina, and Afghanistan, as well as on maternal health projects in Mozambique and Morocco.

Before joining PCR, she worked as a consultant on public health projects, collaborating with a diverse portfolio of clients such as the European Agency for Development and Health (AEDES), NewBorn Solutions, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Population Services International (PSI), and the Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW). Notably, her work with DSW included an extensive analysis of pull mechanisms to stimulate research and development for neglected diseases and emerging infectious diseases at the European level.

In addition to her Ph.D., Céline holds a Master’s in Economic Policy from University College London and a Bachelor’s in Economics with Econometrics from the University of Kent, UK.

Lee Sternberg

Accounting Manager

AUSTRALIA

Lee manages the team’s revenue and payroll, providing day-to-day accounting oversight while also maintaining PCRs financial records and administering external subcontracts.

Lee has more than two decades’ experience as an accountant and bookkeeper, and is also a registered BAS agent. She has run her own bookkeeping consultancy since 1998, providing services to clients based in Australia, Dubai, Singapore and the UK. Prior to this, Lee worked for both national and multinational organisations in Sydney and London, managing their account departments and reporting directly to the CFO.

Rebecca Vanderhoek

Operations Manager

AUSTRALIA

Adv. Diploma Nutritional Medicine; Graduate Certificate Business Administration

As Operations Manager, Rebecca oversees a range of functions across HR, recruitment, technology and systems as well as administrative support across finance, projects and strategy.

Rebecca has over six years experience as an Operations Manager, prior to which she worked as a nutrition consultant in her own business. Her expertise and passion lies in process improvement, technology and supporting executive management in driving organisational strategy and growth.

Connect with Rebecca on Linked In

Dr Diana Portela

Project Co-Ordinator

PORTUGAL

Master’s in Medicine, Medical Specialist in Public Health, PhD Candidate in Health Data Science, Post-Graduate in IT Management

Diana is a medical public health professional with over six years of expertise in epidemiology, data governance, and technology integration within the healthcare sector. Her academic accomplishments include a master’s in medicine, a medical specialization in Public Health, an ongoing PhD in Health Data Science, and a post-graduate degree in IT Management. Diana’s practical experience is extensive and diverse, featuring significant roles in public health, including internships at the ICT unit of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, and at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development´s Health Division. Her role in epidemiological surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly notable, demonstrating her capability in developing and implementing critical information systems for data collection and analysis. Diana also played a crucial role in integrating API technology in health information systems for the Infection Prevention and Control Program. Her expertise extends to optimizing cancer screening programs and monitoring non-communicable diseases using business intelligence and business analytics approaches. Diana’s PhD research, focusing on developing algorithms for cluster analysis in hospital databases and assessing their economic impact, showcases her deep analytical skills and commitment to advancing health data analysis methodologies.

In addition to her technical skills, Diana is actively involved in health technology innovation, representing Porto in the European Innovation and Technology Health community and was as a member of the winning team at the European Health Forum Gastein Hackathon in 2020. Coupled with her international experience, Diana has honed essential soft skills such as self-governance, and teamwork. She is passionate for project management, innovation and detail-oriented approaches and contributes as a project coordinator for PCR.

Delfina Rampone

Research assistant

EUROPE

Delfina has been working as a G-FINDER research assistant for several years. She has a background in international finance, and holds a Bachelor degree in International Relations from the Universidad Católica Argentina, a degree in International Trade from the Escuela Argentina de Negocios, and a dual Masters in International Management from the Universidad Adolfo Ibañez and The University of Sydney. In addition to English, Delfina is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Connect with Delfina on LinkedIn

Shavon David

Research Assistant

AFRICA

Bachelor of Science; Master of Biotechnology

Shavon graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree specialising in Microbiology and Physiology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She graduated with an Honours in Medical Microbiology from the same institution. In 2011 she started her career at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) while completing her Masters Degree in Biotechnology through the University of Pretoria which she graduated cum laude with thesis titled “Antibody characterisation for the development of an E. coli immunosensor: A model system for water quality monitoring”. Shavon has over 10 years’ industry experience with published articles and patents in point of care paper-based and other biosensor diagnostic technologies addressing LMIC needs. In addition to joining Policy Cures Research on the G-FINDER Project, she is currently the managing director and co-founder of Shiloh Research & Development Consulting. She aims to positively impact healthcare by improving the lives of all people through advanced, affordable and available technological solutions.

Connect with Shavon on LinkedIn

Yuri Takehara Chemale

Research Assistant

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery

Yuri Takehara Chemale completed his medical degree at the Porto Alegre Federal University of Health Sciences, having accrued extensive clinical experience in diverse clinical settings in Brazil. Having practised in the public health sector, Yuri managed complex clinical conditions in a low-resource setting with a keen interest in infectious diseases.

Besides his clinical experience, Yuri has a background in healthcare management and a strong interest in teaching and clinical research. He is currently working towards the Masters of Infectious Diseases Intelligence (Extension) program at the University of New South Wales, furthering his knowledge of emerging and neglected infectious diseases.

Connect with Yuri on LinkedIn

Tiana Mahncke

Research Assistant

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Global Studies; Bachelor of Science (Honours); Master of Public Health

Tiana is a Master of Public Health student at the University of Sydney with a specific interest in global communicable disease control. She also holds a double Bachelor of Science (climate science and conservation ecology) and Global Studies from Monash University and an Honours degree in health geography from the University of Melbourne.

Tiana’s goal is to apply her interdisciplinary knowledge in environmental and social sciences to assess upstream drivers of the emergence and transmission of zoonoses, and in turn, sustainable development solutions. She also has a keen interest in community development and participation in health initiatives. For example, with the support of the Aurora Foundation, she recently contributed to a systematic review of the perceptions and experiences of Aboriginal diabetes patients accessing primary care.

Prior to joining PCR, Tiana took part in several sustainability programs, including participating in the International Conference for Sustainable Development in NY as a student delegate. More recently, she worked in the NSW Health COVID-19 Response team.

Connect with Tiana on LinkedIn

Dr Ana Baburamani

Research Assistant

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Behavioural Neuroscience, Honours in Physiology; Doctor of Philosophy

Ana has a strong background in basic and translational biomedical research with 10 years’ experience as a post-doctoral researcher and Research Fellow from Sweden and United Kingdom. Her research has focussed on understanding complications of pregnancy and the impact this has on the developing fetal and neonatal brain. Upon completing her PhD at Monash University, Australia she moved to University of Gothenburg and in 2014, relocated to King’s College London. During this time she worked in the fields of perinatal brain injury, fetal physiology, neuroimaging and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Ana has recently moved back to Melbourne and her key drive is to identify and implement evidence-based change to enable improved health outcomes. She is passionate about promoting STEM careers and is active in running science communication and public outreach activities for the wider community.

Connect with Ana on LinkedIn

Dr Marta Ferraresso

Research Assistant

Bachelor of Science; Master of Molecular Biology; Doctor of Philosophy

Marta has a strong scientific background, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Molecular Biology at the University of Milan, Italy. During her Master degree, she spent one year at University College London, working on viral-vector development for drug-delivery. In 2018, she completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge on targeted therapies and soon after, she started a research associate position in collaboration between Cambridge University and the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala.

During her time working between Kampala and Cambridge, she was leading a team on endemic Burkitt Lymphoma (eBL). Currently, she is developing a biomarker detection assay to facilitate early eBL diagnosis associated with EBV and malaria infection in low- and middle-income countries.

Alongside her scientific career, she has founded an NGO in Uganda, called Fund A Future, that promotes education and healthcare for disadvantaged children. She has recently published a book on HPV vaccine awareness which is currently distributed in school and health centre across Uganda.

Dr Kate Murnane

Research Assistant

UNITED KINGDOM

Integrated Masters of Biomedical Sciences (Honours); Doctor of Philosophy (Oxon)

Kate has a strong medico-sciences background, having graduated with a First-Class Honours in Biomedical Sciences at the University of York, England (MBioMedSci). During her studies, Kate was awarded 2 independent internships funded by the BHF, Bloodwise and the BCSB to study haematological diseases and Glycogen Storage Disorders. For her Master’s, Kate studied HIV immunology and viral structure.

In 2023, Kate completed her PhD at the University of Oxford, publishing her primary research in Nature, the world-leading journal for scientific research. Kate has been awarded numerous academic prizes and scholarships worth over £120,000, including the Doug Higgs Haematology prize for her research contribution on paediatric B-cell leukaemias and the prestigious WIMM-MRC scholarship.

Alongside working for Policy Cures Research, Kate is a completing her medical studies (accelerated BMBCh/MBBS) at The University of Oxford and is also the Junior Dean of Keble College, Oxford. In January 2023, Kate was made a Baber medical scholar for exceptional performance and currently, Kate is leading a systematic review of global palliative care provisions in collaboration with Oxford University NHS trust.

As of June 2023, she will take a secondment from clinical work to focus on consulting, NGO, and policy work to use her experience and knowledge to drive high impact projects.

Outside of her studies, Kate volunteers for The Oxford Refugee Health Initiative, was Vice-President of the Oxford Feminist Society, Sub-editor of The Oxford Scientist and committee member for the University’s Amnesty International society.

Previously, Kate was a life sciences consultant for a national policy group which produced parliamentary COVID-19 briefings and has worked as a healthcare and EDI consultant for numerous think-tanks and organisations. She recently attended PwC and Strategy &’s Insight into Consulting programme.

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn

Dr Caroline Royle

Research Assistant

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons); Doctor of Philosophy; Masters of Public Health (working towards)

Caroline has a strong scientific background, having graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Melbourne University, with Honours in Immunology from the University of Sydney.

Caroline began her scientific research career investigating preeclampsia, working in laboratories across Australia and the USA, before moving fields into HIV research. In 2014, she completed her PhD in Medicine at Imperial College London, where she studied the interferon response to HIV-1 and HIV-2. Since returning to Australia, Caroline has worked as a post-doctoral research scientist where she has continued to examine the interplay between HIV and the interferon response.

Caroline is currently working towards her Masters of Public Health at the University of New South Wales, with a desire to combine her scientific background with infectious disease control. As part of the Masters program, she recently completed an internship with the Health Emergency Management Branch of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care undertaking policy development.

Connect with Caroline on LinkedIn

Michelle Hasham

Research Assistant

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Medical Science; Bachelor of Pharmacy; Master of Public Health

Michelle has a strong health background and contributes to pipeline projects as a research assistant for Policy Cures Research. 

Michelle served over twenty years as an Army Officer in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). In 2001, she deployed to East Timor and worked within a treatment team providing health support to ADF, United Nations, and other allied forces. A pharmacist by profession, Michelle’s other roles included strategic-level logistics, governance, clinical, and policy positions in the ADF. In 2023, Michelle completed a Master of Public Health at the University of Sydney and made the move to the Australian community sector. 

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn

Benny Wirawan

Research Assistant

AUSTRALIA

Bachelor of Medicine; Medical Doctor; and Masters of Global Health and Infectious Disease Intelligence (working toward)

Benny graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine from Udayana University followed with 2 years of clinical rotation giving him Medical Doctor qualification with license to practice in Indonesia. He has a strong scientific background. He was active as a student researcher focusing on diabetes epidemiology.

Benny began his scientific research career as a research assistant investigating implementation of HIV prevention strategies in Indonesia, including partner notifications and feasibility study for a PrEP implementation trial. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was heavily involved in research projects informing Indonesian policymakers on impacts of the pandemic toward HIV key population as well as investigating COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Upon moving to Australia, he has also been involved in research projects on palliative care workforce development.

Benny is currently working toward a master’s degree in Global Health and Infectious Disease Intelligence at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He is driven by a passion to inform better health policies through application of social science principles. As part of his master’s program, he is currently working on a research project at the Kirby Institute, UNSW focusing on PrEP acceptance cascade among MSM and TGW in Asian and Australian countries/territories.

Connect with Benny on LinkedIn