By: Chloe Panganiban
We are proud to announce the launch of the Innovator Council. Drawing on the expertise of 11 leaders from Grand Challenges Canada’s global health, humanitarian and Indigenous innovation portfolios, the Innovator Council will strategize, share insights and provide feedback on GCC’s work, including our strategic plans, the innovator experience, grants management processes and more.
Through the Council, GCC aims to centre the innovator experience in our work and improve how we provide support to innovators, their organizations and the communities they serve.
Led by GCC’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) portfolio, the Council will meet monthly on specific topics, engage in strategic and process improvement discussions and network and collaborate with one another.
Learn more about the Innovator Council members and their work:
Agha-Nwi Fru is the Founder of SEMBE, a women-led organisation in the Far North of Cameroon. She has over 9 years of experience in the humanitarian and development sector, including three years working on youth mental health programming in emergency contexts.
Alvaro Plata is the Director of Operations at Fundación Oriéntame in Colombia. He is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of leadership experience in project management and development, including non-profit organizations.
Ananas Kahamba is the Founder of Provide Hope in Action, an NGO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has worked for over fifteen years in the humanitarian sector alongside international organizations.
Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga is the Co-Founder and COO of Sehat Kahani, a telemedicine-based business in Pakistan. She actively collaborates with partners and mentors startups.
Eva Mwai is the Director of North Star Alliance in Kenya. Recognized for her work in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Eva has over 20 years of leadership experience in the NGO sector and has significantly impacted gender-based violence prevention and SRHR services.
Dr. Menelik Desta Argaw is the Executive Director of the Ethiopian School Readiness Initiative, which collaborates with the Addis Ababa Education Bureau to promote child-friendly preschool programs.
Monica Berti is the Program Manager at Youth Empowerment and Development Aid in South Sudan. She has seven years of experience in international cooperation projects and specializes in emergency response for displaced populations.
Phylis Mbeke Ndolo is the Founder and Executive Director of Women Spaces Africa, which creates inclusive development opportunities for women and girls with disabilities in Kenya and East Africa.
Puseletso Matshaba is the Founder and Director of Lesedi La Setjhaba Family and Community Centre in South Africa. She is a seasoned social worker with over 30 years of experience across various sectors.
Sage Lacerte, a Carrier from the Lake Babine Nation, is the Founder and Director of Inclusion at Sage Initiative, a national Indigenous women’s impact investing collective. It empowers Indigenous women through a curriculum on Indigenous wealth and commerce, addressing colonial impacts and intersecting identities.
Dr. Sathy Rajasekharan is the Co-Executive Director (Africa) at Jacaranda Health, an organization that leads low-cost, sustainable maternal and newborn health initiatives.
