Staff

Ben has been CEO of the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) since 2015. He has 30 years’ experience of working internationally, with an emphasis on global health and disability work. He has worked extensively across Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia during this time, harnessing expertise from across the UK health community, in the NHS and in specialist medical charities such as Sue Ryder and Sense, to benefit the development of health and social care in low and middle-income countries. For the last fifteen years he has been in leadership roles, building a strong track-record in advocacy and programme innovation, and working closely with UK Government departments and UN agencies. His knowledge of the INGO sector is further informed by periods chairing BOND Working Groups and taking active roles in health networks such as STOPAIDS, the network he directed from 2010 to 2015. Ben has led an active voluntary life in the UK throughout this time, serving as a Councillor and acting as a Trustee of several charities. He became a Fellow of the RSA in 2019 and is a member of the BBC Charity Appeals Advisory Committee. Ben has an MSc in Development Management from the Open University and an MA in History from Edinburgh University.

At THET, Ben leads an organisation that is pioneering a health partnership approach to the training of health workers across 30 countries in Africa and Asia. Health partnerships harness the skills of staff from the UK National Health Service in ways which bring mutual benefit to all involved, a vision of co-development that speaks to the new era of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ben.simms@thet.org

@bensimms65 

Louise is an experienced manager of international development programmes and organisations with specific thematic expertise in health and social development and on policy influence. Louise has geographic experience across Africa, Asia and Latin America and spent 12 years living and working in Brazil.

During her professional career working for a range of international health and development organisations, including NGOs and research institutes, Louise has developed a strong track-record in partnerships, programme design and management, capacity development and the generation and use of evidence to inform policy making and practice.

Originally trained as a nurse, Louise has a BSc in Philosophy and Sociology and an MSc in Environmental and Development Education.

Louise.mcgrath@thet.org

@LouiseM_THET

A CIMA-qualified Chartered Management Accountant, Saf has over 20 years of experience working within the non-profit and INGO sector.

With considerable experience leading teams in cross-divisional projects, Saf has supported senior management and Board members during her career, providing strategic leadership and operational support during the implementation of finance systems and change management phases at International Organisations.

At BBC Media Action, in her role as Head of Project Finance, Saf led a team of Project Accountants during a significant finance transformation project, delivering financial management training and guidance to Country Directors, Finance Managers and project staff based in country offices across Africa, Asia, and MENA regions.

Saf continues to engage in volunteering and was appointed by Medical Aid for Palestinians in March 2023 as an Independent Member of the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee.  She has previously held positions as a Trustee at The Charity Finance Group and completed a six-year tenure as an Independent Member of the Audit and Risk Committee with UNICEF UK, where her role included providing guidance and recommendations for the Board on a range of policies, including oversight on financial reporting, risk, HR, governance, and internal controls. Saf has a BSc (Hons.) in Mathematics with Business Studies from Queen Mary University of London and a PGCE in Mathematics from Kings College London.

HROps@thet.org

Richard joined THET in November 2014 as Grants Officer. He has a Masters degree in International Development from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to working with THET, he spent two years in Nairobi initiating a refugee education programme, and he previously worked in fundraising and communications for London-based NGOs.

Richard.skone-james@thet.org

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Margaret joined THET in 2023. She is a highly experienced health workforce (HWF) and health systems (HS) specialist, with over 20 years’ experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of HWF and HS programmes, and related research across Africa and Asia. She has provided technical leadership and assistance in health systems strengthening, and health workforce policy, planning, management and development, working in partnership with global and country stakeholders, including government ministries and agencies, health education providers, health workers, civil society and communities, and donors and development partners. She has led and facilitated reviews and evaluations of health systems and health workforce policies, programmes and interventions, using mixed methods research approaches and evaluation methodologies.

She also has expertise in the design and delivery of health workforce and health systems capacity development interventions, particularly in the areas of HWF governance and leadership. At THET, in her role as Technical Director, Health Systems Strengthening, Margaret provides technical leadership for the Global Health Workforce Programme and other THET programmes.

Anne joined THET in May 2024.  She has worked in the international development sector since 2010 and brings a wealth of experience in the management and strategic development of health and education programmes in LMICs.

Previously, she spent 8 years as Director of Programmes at Vision Action, and held key roles in an international volunteering organisation, overseeing a portfolio of programmes across Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, and Latin America. She has lived and worked in a number of countries including Ghana, Costa Rica, and Fiji.

Moses  is on a secondment from NHS England where he has been working as a global health  Project  manager.

During his professional career, Moses has worked in mental health services with East London NHS Foundation Trust where he is currently volunteering as vice chairperson of East London NHS – Butabika ( Uganda) international health link . Moses has co-founded the Uganda Diaspora Health Foundation and UK  East African Health Summit with strategic aim empowering the diaspora voice in global health .

Moses has a BSc in Health Psychology, Masters in Public Health (Addictions) from  Kings’ College London and a Post Graduate in Health Research from Oxford University .  At THET, in his role as Diaspora Engagement Advisor, Moses leads on Experts in our Midst / Voices diaspora programmes and the wider diaspora engagement activities  .

Moses.Mulimira@thet.org

Sheba is a global health professional and public health leader with fifteen years work experience in multi-sectoral programme management including health systems strengthening, child protection, workforce development, multi-disciplinary research implementation as well as networking and partnership building. She has a Bachelors degree of Dental Surgery and a Masters of Public Health from Makerere University.

Prior to joining THET, Sheba served as Research Director at the AfriChild Centre (Centre for the study of the African Child), Deputy Executive Director at the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)-a regional non-profit network organization of over 20 African countries and as lecturer at Makerere University School of Public Health. She is passionate about scientific writing and has worked as Managing Editor at the Pan African Medical Journal (PAMJ) and Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (JIEPH).

Nura joined THET in 2014 as their Country Director in Somalia and Somaliland. Nura has training and experience in the fields of education and health and has extensive experience leading health system strengthening programmes in Somaliland with Health and Education background.

Nura has nine years experience working for health and education projects, including networking and collaboration with the health and education programme partners in Somaliland from national level to village levels, including national and local government, teachers, head teachers, health training institutions, Hospitals, MCHs and health posts.

Her previous NGO experience includes time  with COOPI, NRC, STIPA and Save the Children International. She has also been involved in designing, planning, implementing and monitoring for projects funded by DFID, EC, ECHO and UNHCR amoungst others.

Nura.aided@thet.org

Following this he has been working as an Honorary Associate Professor at Jimma University and as THET’s Country Director in Ethiopia leading our Chronic Disease Programme.  Most recently assisting the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health with the localisation of PACK (a practical approach to care kit) for primary care utilisation.

Muleba is a Seasoned Project Management Specialist with a broad range of work experience in the Non-Governmental Organisation sector.  She is a graduate of the University of Zambia (UNZA), and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, a Masters Degree in Business Administration, a Masters Degree in Organisation Leadership and a Masters Degree in Development Studies. Currently, she is working on a Doctoral qualification in Organisation Leadership.

Muleba has 18 years of work experience and has managed various donor funded programmes in organisations such as World Vision, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Family Health International, PATH and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation among others. Her areas of expertise are in organizational development and capacity building, budget and work plans management, new business development, strategy and policy development and networking and constituency building.

Prior to joining THET as Country Director for the Zambia Office, Muleba served as Country Programme Manager for a UK-Zambia Charity called Build It International whose focus was Skills Development. She also served as Deputy Country Director at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation overseeing programmes in Agriculture, Energy and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene sectors.

Andrew has over 20 years of fundraising experience, including many in director-level positions. Andrew’s experience covers a number of fundraising channels, including with corporates and major donors,

and he has worked with both national and international organisations, including Orbis UK.