Nelly is a public health specialist and health economist with over 15 years of progressive experience working in global health. Acting Director for Health Workforce Development at the Mastercard Foundation, where she spearheads the design and funding of catalytic programs that strengthen health workforce development across Africa. Nelly has worked across diverse sectors of healthcare across multiple countries in the continent as a frontline healthcare worker; a program manager of key initiatives on tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, and diabetes in both NGOs and the private sector; a technical advisor to governments on healthcare financing; a consultant; a country director; and an ardent NCDs advocate.
Through teamwork and strong leadership, Nelly’s work has been recognized with two awards: the Pharmaceuticals Marketing Excellence Award in 2015 for innovation, sustainability, and impact of the Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) program; and the Skoll Award for social innovation and impactful community health system strengthening.
Nelly is an avid communicator and conference moderator who has had various speaking engagements at global, regional, and national levels. Her passion is to catalyse candid conversations that are solution-oriented and actionable. Nelly holds a master’s in health economics, policy, and management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a master’s in public health from the University of Liverpool, and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Moi University.
Fun fact: Nelly loves reading, swimming, and mentoring young people.