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Our Team

Boards

Chairs

Afua Basoah – Head of Healthcare Strategy, Rapp | Chair, m2m U.K.

Afua has more than 15 years of health consulting experience focused on designing strategies and developing partnerships to help clients strengthen their leadership position and value to stakeholders. Through the provision of strategic, scientific, and creative counsel and an unwavering passion for transforming insights into compelling health stories that inspire action, Afua has supported pharmaceutical clients engage multiple stakeholders and drive impact through corporate citizenship, medical affairs, and communications activities. She is  currently Head of Healthcare Strategy at the global, award-winning, multi-practice digital experience agency Rapp, which is part of the Omnicom Group. She works closely with clients to deliver personalised omnichannel health experiences by leveraging the power of data, technology, and science. Prior to joining Rapp, Afua held roles as Vice President, Head of London, at Rabin Martin; Managing Director and European Business lead at ApotheCom; and Client Service Lead at Ogilvy Healthworld, U.K. She served as Rabin Martin’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Lead and Co-Chair of Omnicom’s disability Business Resource Group, OPEN DisAbility UK + Allies. Afua holds a DPhil. in Neurosciences from the University of Oxford.

Colin Freund – CEO of MODRA Pharmaceuticals | Chair, m2m U.S.

Colin has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, with a primary focus in oncology. Prior to being appointed CEO of MODRA Pharmaceuticals, which specialises in oral chemotherapy, Colin was CEO of QUE Oncology, Inc., a company focused on cancer-related therapies. Colin also held senior business and corporate development roles at Transgene SA, Agennix Inc., and GPC Biotech AG, all of which were involved with developing novel oncology therapeutics. Earlier in his career, Colin was a project manager at the Boston Consulting Group in the healthcare and high technology practice areas.

Jolly Mokorosi – Financial Services Professional and Business Owner | Chair, m2m SA

Jolly is a financial services professional and business owner. She also serves on the boards of various South African Retirement Funds and Trusts as an executive principal officer and trustee, and is actively involved in the education of retirement fund trustees and officials in Southern Africa. She is a member of the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP), as well as previously a member of the Institute of Directors Southern Africa and a Registered Person (equities). She is also an advisory committee member of the Southern Africa Pension Fund Investment Forum and the inaugural Deputy Chair of Batseta’s Asset Owner’s Forum. Outside of financial services, Jolly focuses on enterprise development, climate change, sustainability, and agriculture, and has received a community development award for her work and advocacy for economically vulnerable mothers and child-headed households.

Meena Ravella – Advisor and Consultant | Vice Chair, m2m U.S.

Meena has over 20 years of experience in the consumer internet, and currently advises several Silicon Valley companies. Meena most recently was the Vice President of Business Development for Shutterfly, whose mission is to help the world share life’s joy by helping people share their memories. Prior to Shutterfly, Meena headed up marketing partnerships for eBay, with a focus on the largest consumer websites, electronics manufacturers, and wireless carriers. Prior to eBay, Meena worked at NBC Internet, Boston Consulting Group, and JP Morgan Chase.

Members

Souleymane Ba – Partner, Just Climate | m2m U.K.

Souleymane has experience investing across a range of investment stages and industries including financial services, industrials, telecom infrastructure, and agribusiness. Prior to joining Helios in 2012, he worked at Warburg Pincus, a New York-based private equity firm with $60 billion in assets where he was focused on leveraged buyouts, growth equity, and venture investments in the industrial and consumer sectors. Before joining Warburg Pincus, Souleymane worked in the U.S. buyout fund of the Carlyle Group, a multinational private equity firm with more than $200 billion in assets. Souleymane started his career in investment banking with Morgan Stanley in New York. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Africa Specialty Risks, Bayport Management Limited, and Solevo. His other portfolio companies include Crown Agents Bank and Investment Management, and Helios Towers Africa. Outside Helios, Souleymane also serves as a member of the Wesleyan University board of trustees.  He has a BA in Economics from Wesleyan University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is a Senegalese and British national and speaks French and Wolof.

Dr. Mitch Besser – Founder, m2m | m2m SA & m2m U.S.

An obstetrician and gynaecologist, Mitch’s career has been dedicated to the public health needs of women. In 1999, he joined the University of Cape Town, assisting with the development of services for pregnant women living with HIV to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). It was through that work he recognised a need for an education and psychosocial support programme that would help PMTCT services achieve the best medical and social outcomes, and founded m2m in 2001. Among the many awards Mitch has received are the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the U.S. Presidential Citizen’s Award.

Dr. Lynette Ann Denny – Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Cape Town | m2m SA

A gynaecologic oncologist, Lyn has worked in the field of cervical cancer prevention in collaboration with colleagues from Columbia University in New York since 1995. The group evaluates alternative strategies for the prevention of cervical cancer in low-resource settings, which is the most common cancer diagnosed among women living in lower-income countries. Lyn has extensive research experience in cervical cancer prevention, including three cross-sectional studies comparing different screening tests. In addition to her position at the University of Cape Town (UCT), she serves as Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Groote Schuur Hospital and Director of the SA Medical Research Council Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre. She has authored, edited, and reviewed numerous scientific papers, and her work has been widely recognised by her peers, including the 2016 International Gynaecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) Global Humanitarian Award.

Katy Digovich – Co-founder and CEO, Minutia | m2m U.S.

Katy is Co-founder and CEO of Minutia, a U.S. cell therapy start-up working towards the transplant of insulin-producing cells combined with nanosensors to contribute to a functional cure for Type 1 diabetes. A Type 1 diabetic herself, Katy has worked in more than 40 countries creating diagnostic and informational tools at the intersection of technology, health, and underserved communities. Prior to Minutia, Katy spent nearly six years at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), where her responsibilities included CHAI’s Global Diabetes programme and  various TB/HIV diagnostic device products. Following her undergraduate studies at Princeton University, Katy was Co-founder and Director of Operations for Positive Innovation for the Next Generation (PING), a youth-oriented non-profit organisation developing health information management tools in Botswana. She also started and served as CEO of Develo, PING’s for-profit arm designed to boost the organisation’s sustainability.

Dr. Samukeliso Dube – Executive Director, FP2030 | m2m SA

Samukeliso (Samu) has more than 20 years of experience in health care, including senior roles in the delivery and financing of health care. She leads FP2030’s global Support Network as a central platform for family planning that provides an unparalleled space for stakeholders to convene, align, share knowledge, broker resources, and advance the field. Before joining FP2030, she worked at Afrocentric Health as General Manager, leading Health Policy and Medical Advisory, and worked at Royal Philips as Medical Counsel for Africa and Business Development Manager for Southern Africa. Samu’s experience in global health includes her role at ArK as Head of Healthcare Investments, prior to which she was Africa Program Director at PATH, leading the Global Campaign for Microbicides. She has a Degree in Medicine and Surgery (MD) from the University of Zimbabwe, a Master’s in Public Health (MPH), a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (DTMH), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s in Finance and Investments.

Dr. Tim Evans – Medical Doctor | m2m U.K.

Tim is guided by his belief that “prevention is the medicine of the millennium.” Early in his career, he established primary health clinics in rural areas of Zimbabwe recovering from civil war. After acquiring post-graduate qualifications in general practice, anaesthetics, obstetrics, and gynaecology, he established a private general practice for women and children in London, followed by the first fully integrated practice incorporating conventional, complementary, and alternative healthcare. He was appointed as Apothecary to HM The Queen and The Royal Households of London in 2003.

Peggy Grueninger - Head of Corporate Donations and Philanthropy, F. Hoffmann-La Roche | m2m U.K.

For Peggy, philanthropy is more than a job—it is a responsibility. She encourages companies to give back to communities where they operate and live, and to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She has driven impactful initiatives across Roche’s four main philanthropic areas: Humanitarian & Social, Science & Education, Community & Environment, and Arts & Culture. She has brought a particular focus to supporting education and health with local partners in South Africa, Kenya, India, and across Latin America. Previously, Peggy held senior positions in clinical trials management at Roche. She studied Leadership in Philanthropy at the Boston College Wallace E. Graduate School of Management, and is a member of the Swiss South Africa Chamber of Commerce and the Swiss Africa Business circle.

Colleen Hancock – Advisor and Mentor | m2m U.S.

Colleen is an accomplished General Manager/COO/Corporate VP, and a collaborative and innovative leader. She has 20 years global consumer internet/technology experience with BabyCenter and Johnson & Johnson (J&J), and 15 prior years in global retail strategy with Neiman Marcus and Duty Free Shoppers (DFS). She has a history of success in the consumer services industry on and offline, with a track record of delivering results for the business and understanding how to evolve with ever-changing technology and generational needs. Colleen recently left her roles as COO BabyCenter and VP Marketing Accelerator at J&J to pursue new personal and professional growth opportunities. She also serves on the board of Azlo, a financial technology company, and advises MAMA (Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action), which she co-founded.

Andrea Hartley – Founder and CEO, Skating Panda | m2m U.K.

As an entrepreneur, Andrea started her professional journey as a girl helping her mother run a business from the kitchen. She is Founder and CEO of Skating Panda, the strategy and communications consultancy which drives performance through purpose. She is also Co-founder of Mum & You, the ethical parenting e-commerce company that creates products designed for mothers by mothers. Other start up experience spans sport, charity, and politics—the successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Bid, the Women’s Equality Party, and Reach to Teach, an education charity. She is a Board Director of the food poverty social enterprise, Maymessy, and a Mentor at Unreasonable. She holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford University and Masters from the Universities of Salamanca and Exeter.

Loretta Kelly - Director of Strategic Marketing, Blue Diamond Growers | m2m U.S.

Loretta has worked for over 20 years with ingredient, biotech, agricultural, and consumer package good companies to deliver value-added solutions that respond to the latest health and wellness trends. As a strategy and marketing professional, she collaborates with various stakeholders to bring these new innovative options to market at companies like Ingredion, Novozymes, and Blue Diamond Almonds. She applies that same collaborative leadership approach to volunteer activities that support access and equality across black women’s health initiatives. She earned a BBA in strategy and public policy from George Washington University and MBA in marketing and strategy from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Keith Kibirango - Director of Philanthropy and Private Sector Engagement, Crown Agents | m2m U.K.

Keith has more than twenty years of social impact and fundraising experience, raising more than £30 million in donations for socially-focused causes across Africa, Europe, and internationally. He has held senior positions at leading U.K. charities, including Ark Schools, Tommy’s, and JUSTICE. Most recently, as Head of Africa Philanthropy at Save the Children U.K., he created a programme that directly connects with African donors—the first of its kind for an international charity. He is also the Founder of Abantu Impact Foundation, an African-led, Africa-focused social impact organisation focused on reducing poverty by investing in small and medium-sized enterprises. Keith trained as a lawyer in both Uganda and the U.K., and earlier in his career provided legal aid at FIDA(U), Uganda’s largest legal aid clinic, and served as Director of the Uganda Law Society.

Ariel Knowles – Finance Professional & Consultant | m2m U.S.

Ariel has spent her career working in finance roles in the U.S., Hong Kong, and London. Most recently, she was Senior Finance Manager for Interior Define, a Chicago-based omni-channel home furnishings retailer. Prior roles include Investment Banker within UBS Investment Bank’s Industrials and Consumer Products & Retail groups in Chicago and London, respectively, and Supervisory Analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein in Hong Kong. Ariel is involved in various other philanthropic causes and educational initiatives and institutions, including the Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago’s Field Museum, and Western Reserve Academy.

Derek Lubner – Chair and Co-founder, Izinga Assist | m2m SA & m2m U.K.

Derek is Chair and Co-founder of Izinga Assist, a South African-based NGO which is creating a platform to digitise philanthropy in the country. He manages his late parent’s family Foundation, MAID (Make an Immediate Difference), which distributes funds to 30+ NGO’s in South Africa. He has been on the Board of m2m since its inception in 2001 and currently sits on the U.K. and SA Boards.

Musa Makhunga – Founding Managing Director, HR Matters Holdings | m2m SA

Musa was part of the initial Board in the early days of mothers2mothers when he was Director: Community Development at Rotary International’s Waterfront Club in Cape Town. Prior to founding HR Matters Holdings in 2006—which comprises an HR consultancy, warehousing, clearing & forwarding agency, and trucking—he held HR executive positions in industries spanning mining, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and banking.  Through the latter, he worked for STANBIC Africa which introduced him to most of the Southern African countries. Musa is involved with other community outreach initiatives such as through the Nothani Education Trust which he co-founded to provide tertiary education scholarships to undergrads from deserving communities in Northern KZN.  He is also a founding member of a startup that is making inroads in the mineral sands and aluminum sectors. Always one with a keen eye for community development involvement, he was voted President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Durban recently.

Charles McGregor – Trustee, University of Cape Town Trust | m2m U.K.

A South African residing in London, Charles was Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Hospitality Europe BV from 1994 to 2006, when it sold to Blackstone. He is currently a Trustee of the University of Cape Town Trust, England, and the Bembridge Sailing Club having served the Club for 17 years, including a term as Rear Commodore (Finance). Previously Charles served as a Governor of the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chair of the Hospital’s Patient Carer Advisory Group, and on the Hospital’s Integrated Governance and Risk Management Committee, retiring in 2018. In 2018, Charles was awarded the UCT Vice Chancellor’s Medal in recognition of his service to the University. In May 2021, he retired as a Trustee of Goodenough College, but remains on the Finance, and Investment Committees.

Karin Norington-Reaves – Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership | m2m U.S.

Karin is the Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, the United States’ largest publicly-funded workforce development system, which serves more than 140,000 people and 132 municipalities annually. With more than 25 years of public sector professional experience, she was previously the Director of Cook County Works (Cook County’s workforce development agency), Deputy Director in the Office of Urban Assistance for the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and Chief of Staff for the City of Chicago’s 20th Ward. She also spent eight years as a litigator for the U.S. Department of Justice, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, and the Citizens Utility Board in the fields of mental health law, education, contracts, and public utility consumer protection. Karin has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Modupe Odusote – Visual Artist | Human Resources Consultant | m2m U.S.

Modupe is a visual artist and human capital expert with over 20 years in the field of strategic human resources. She is the former Chief HR Officer of the Atria Institute which serves as an academy of medicine and science and a not-for-profit collaborative in New York City. Previously, she served ten years with Johnson & Johnson, where her roles included Global HR Director for J&J’s Global Public Health organisation. Here, she helped set up offices in South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya, and worked across sub-Saharan Africa in implementing the DREAMS programme and exploring the public-private partnerships in the areas of HIV, TB, and mental health. In Nigeria, she worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers as an HR strategy consultant, co-owned a management consulting practice, and co-led efforts around HIV/AIDS education and the fight against stigma at Standard Chartered Bank. As an artist, Modupe’s works reflect her vibrant heritage, and she aims for their authenticity to provide reflection and an appreciation of life and human connection.

Neena Patil – Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs, Jazz Pharmaceuticals | m2m U.S.

Neena has over 20 years of experience in established and emerging biopharmaceutical companies with operations and footprints in dynamic markets worldwide. She has scaled, integrated, and navigated organisations through complex legal and business environments to fulfill their corporate purpose and realise their strategic goals.  She currently serves as Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs, for Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company with worldwide operations headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, focused on developing and commercialising neuroscience and oncology products that address unmet medical needs. She oversees global legal, corporate communications, sustainability, patient advocacy, and legislative affairs functions.  Before joining Jazz, Pharmaceuticals, Neena held roles at Pfizer, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk. A purpose-driven executive, Neena is a thought leader on topics encompassing legal and corporate strategy, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I), culture, and Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG).

Terry D. Peigh – Marketing Communications Consultant; Advisor; Development Organisations Board Member | m2m U.S.

Following a career of over 40 years in the advertising and marketing communications business, leading the programmes of some of the world’s largest and most successful companies, Terry has recently retired and now devotes his time to consulting and Board service. His professional experience includes over 20 years serving as a Senior Vice President/Managing Director of Interpublic Group, a global marketing communications firm. Prior to that , he was Executive Vice President of True North Communications and Fcb Advertising. For most of his career, Terry has also utilised his marketing skills to advise governmental and NGOs on how best to use modern day marketing principles and practices to advance health and livelihood goals in the developing world.  He currently serves on the Boards of four global NGOs.

Kate Schachern – Consultant | m2m U.S.

Kate is a former Partner at Rabin Martin, a global health strategy firm based in New York, overseeing large-scale, global health and health access projects around the world. Kate works closely with the private and public sectors on effective strategy, programming, partnerships, and communications in a number of key areas, including access to medicines, corporate responsibility, public affairs and policy, and stakeholder engagement. As Managing Director, she also leads the firm’s Business Development, Finance, Operations, and Marketing & Communications. She holds a BA in Journalism from George Washington University.

Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela – CEO, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority | m2m SA

Boitumelo is CEO of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative. Prior to joining SAHPRA, she managed a biotechnology incubator at The Innovation Hub Management Company. She was also a McKinsey & Company Leadership Fellow for two years and a Senior Researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Boitumelo holds a Ph.D. (Biochemistry) and an MSc in Management Finance and Investment, and is the author of scientific publications, review articles, and book chapters. She sits on a number of scientific advisory committees and Board of Directors, and is involved in leadership projects, including the African Union Strategy for Health Research and a WHO Expert Panel on scaling health Innovations in Africa.

Robin Smalley

Robin Allinson Smalley – Co-founder | m2m U.S.

Robin enjoyed an award-winning career as a television producer/director/writer before realising that the legacy she wanted to leave had nothing to do with entertainment. Turning her attention to the nonprofit world, she became the Executive Director of The Media Project, working to incorporate healthy messages around sexuality and reproductive health into television. From there, she moved her family to South Africa to become m2m’s first Executive Director. During her tenure as head of our North America operations, Robin supported U.S. fundraising, partnership development, advocacy, and global communications.

Dr. Tim Tucker – Founder and CEO, SEAD Consulting | m2m SA

Tim is a public health strategist, with a track record in HIV, hepatitis, vaccines, COVID-19, and public health programmes in Africa and beyond. He is Founder and CEO of the Black-empowered public health organisation, SEAD Consulting, which for the past 17 years has consulted for a wide range of organisations around the world on health strategy, health programme interventions, health systems strengthening, and business analytics/M&E. In addition, Tim is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT) School of Public Health. He worked as a clinical virologist, before being appointed as the inaugural director of the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the (then) largest biotech and clinical initiative on the continent. Tim currently serves on the Board of the South African Medical Research Council, National Health Laboratory Service Research Trust, and  Students’ Health and Welfare Centres Organisation, and is a member of the U.S. Government National Institutes of Health HIV Strategy Working Group. He is a registered Clinical Virologist, with a medical degree, Ph.D., and pathology specialisation from UCT.

Non-voting Members

Frank Beadle de Palomo – President & Chief Executive Officer, m2m | m2m SA & m2m U.S.

Frank has more than 30 years experience in the global health community that includes significant achievements in HIV prevention, domestic and global care, research, policy, and advocacy. Before joining m2m as CEO in 2012, Frank was Senior Vice President and Director of the Global Health, Population, and Nutrition Group at FHI 360. Previously, Frank was Senior Vice President and Director of the Academy for Educational Development (AED), where he re-established the organisation as a leader in global AIDS programmes. He also created and directed the National Council of La Raza ‘s Center for Health Promotion in the U.S.

Tom Kagerer – m2m South Africa Board Observer; Investment Director, LGT Venture Philanthropy | m2m SA

As Investment Director at LGT Venture Philanthropy (LGT VP), Tom deploys philanthropic growth capital to organisations and companies with effective, innovative, and scalable solutions to social and environmental challenges. In his role, he covers the whole life-cycle of philanthropic investments, from sourcing all the way through to exit. Previously, he served as Head of Impact Management at LGT VP and LGT Lightstone, and Head of Talent at LGT VP. Earlier in his career, Tom worked with Heart Social Investments, a social enterprise incubator in Cape Town, South Africa, to support social enterprises addressing the needs of low-income customers. He also spent nine years with BMW in Germany and the U.K. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Applied Science of Munich, Germany.

Officers of the Corporation

Chad D. Rathner – Chief Operating Officer, m2m | Secretary, m2m SA

Chad brings more than 20 years of experience in the global health community and private sector. Before joining m2m as COO in 2014, Chad was the Deputy Country Director at FHI 360 Zambia, as well as Chief of Party on USAID’s flagship HIV and AIDS Prevention programme in Zambia. In addition, from 2007-2010, Chad was the Academy for Educational Development (AED) Director of the Local Partners Capacity Building Program, a USAID-funded organisation development project. Chad’s position with m2m utilises his expertise in developing solutions for a wide range of HIV and AIDS, family planning, maternal and child health, education, public/private partnership, and capacity building programmes.

Sarah Sheldon – Senior Grants and Compliance Manager, m2m | Secretary, m2m U.S.

Sarah is a programme and grants management professional with more than 13 years of experience in international health and development. Currently, she serves as the Senior Grants & Compliance Manager for m2m. She is responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements of m2m’s donor and funder agreements, and building the capacity of project management teams around compliance. She also plays a major role in organisational policy development and managing the governance of m2m’s local branches. Sarah previously worked with FHI 360, including as Regional Grants and Contracts Officer for West Africa based in Accra, Ghana from 2015 to 2017. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University.

Senior Management Group

Frank Beadle de Palomo – President & Chief Executive Officer

Frank has more than 30 years experience in the global health community that includes significant achievements in HIV prevention, domestic and global care, research, policy, and advocacy. Before joining m2m as CEO in 2012, Frank was Senior Vice President and Director of the Global Health, Population, and Nutrition Group at FHI 360. Previously, Frank was Senior Vice President and Director of the Academy for Educational Development (AED), where he re-established the organisation as a leader in global AIDS programmes. He also created and directed the National Council of La Raza ‘s Center for Health Promotion in the U.S.

Meet Frank

Chad D. Rathner – Chief Operating Officer, m2m; Secretary, m2m South Africa

Chad brings more than 20 years of experience in the global health community and private sector. Before joining m2m as COO in 2014, Chad was the Deputy Country Director at FHI 360 Zambia, as well as Chief of Party on USAID’s flagship HIV and AIDS Prevention programme in Zambia. In addition, from 2007-2010, Chad was the Academy for Educational Development (AED) Director of the Local Partners Capacity Building Program, a USAID-funded organisation development project. Chad’s position with m2m utilises his expertise in developing solutions for a wide range of HIV and AIDS, family planning, maternal and child health, education, public/private partnership, and capacity building programmes.

Meet Chad

Tricia Cassidy – Business Development Director

Tricia has over 15 years of experience in the international development sector, predominantly serving in emergency response, programme management, strategic partnerships, business development, and institutional funding roles in the U.K. Before joining m2m in January 2021, Tricia worked with ActionAid International and ActionAid UK, and managed a European refugee response programme in Greece for the Start Network. She also led a partnership development unit with ACTED in South Sudan, and created institutional funding teams for Muslim Aid and the British Red Cross. In her current role, Tricia is focused on organisation-wide leadership and leads the Business Development Department. She holds a master’s degree in Development and Emergency Practice from Oxford Brookes University.

Jennifer Coffey – Director of Strategic Partnerships

Jennifer brings 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector specialising in strategic partnerships, business development, leadership, fundraising and relationship management. Jennifer joined m2m in 2020 from Save the Children where she spent 6 years working with and subsequently leading a team of partnership experts across a portfolio of multilateral, bilateral and trust & foundation partners. Her team drove partnership approaches for the Save the Children global movement, ensuring Save the Children’s role as a partner of choice. Prior to this, Jennifer worked for various beyond profit organisations in the UK, Australia and Ireland. She has a Masters in Voluntary Sector and NGO Management from Cass Business School. At m2m, she is responsible for driving strategic partnerships with multilateral and bilateral organisations, trusts and foundations, as well as the private sector.

Caitlin Corcoran – Senior Lead Special Initiatives, Operations

Caitlin brings more than 12 years of experience in public health and international development, in the non-profit sector. At m2m, she is responsible for leading strategy, coordination, and implementation of key Operations initiatives and managing multi-country awards; previously, she managed a diverse portfolio of m2m’s country offices and the regional RISE II project. Prior to joining m2m in 2015, she was a Senior Programme Officer at FHI 360, backstopping capacity building and grants management programs in Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. Previously she worked at the Academy for Educational Development (AED) on HIV prevention and capacity programmes in the U.S. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from American University.

Emma France – Chief Growth Officer

Emma established the European office of m2m in 2011. In her current role, she leads m2m’s global development and strategic engagement strategy, and takes responsibility for shaping our public engagement and advocacy. She holds day-to-day responsibility for m2m’s European and North American operations.  Emma began her career as a project finance lawyer at Allen & Overy. She has served in various board roles in national and local charities, including as Vice-Chair of Amnesty International U.K. and as a trustee of the Amnesty International U.K. Charitable Trust.  She currently sits on the Advisory Board for Gucci’s Chime for Change and is a Trustee for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably). She has also served as a Visiting Fellow at Cass Business School. 

Kimberly Grubb - Senior Portfolio Lead

Kimberly has more than 15 years of experience in programme management of global health projects in East and Southern Africa.  Prior to joining m2m, she served as the Director of Business Operations for Population Services International (PSI) in Mozambique, ensuring efficient operations for seven sexual and reproductive health projects. Previously, she held various roles at PSI headquarters providing programme management support throughout the project lifecycle, from proposal development to start up and implementation. She has experience working on projects funded by bilateral and multilateral donors as well as private foundations. Kimberly has a Masters in International Development from George Washington University.  At m2m, she manages a diverse portfolio of m2m country offices. Kimberly also serves as Deputy Chief of Party on the regional USAID-funded RISE II project.

Megan Guzman - Senior Portfolio Lead

Megan is a Senior Portfolio Lead in the Country Management Unit, supporting a diverse portfolio of countries throughout the programme lifecycle from programme conceptualization to implementation and reporting, utilizing programme management, leadership, and backstopping skills gained over the past 15 years. Prior to joining mothers2mothers, Megan worked at HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes in eSwatini and Mozambique managing $20m+ projects focused on increasing access to treatment and improving clinical outcomes as well as a women-focused philanthropic foundation and non-profit consulting firm in New York City. Originally from California, Megan has lived in Southern Africa since 2013. She graduated with distinction from McGill University in Montreal with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Development Studies and History and has a Master’s of Public Health in Population and Family Health from Columbia University in the City of New York.

Ilda Kuleba - Regional Director: Lusophone Countries

Ilda Kuleba was born in Angola but raised on three continents. Her passion for working in a job that helps improve people’s lives started in Ethiopia at 16. With over 15 years of experience in public health working for international organizations and in the private sector, she brings creativity to her work, humility, and a strong sense of compassion. Ilda has been the Country Director for Mozambique since 2016 and has seen the country program grow from two donors to multiple funding streams, increasing its impact on the work done on the ground. Ilda was promoted to Regional Director for Lusophone countries in 2021. Ilda holds a Bachelor of Arts from American University and a Masters of Science from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is currently pursuing a certification in African Philanthropy.

Lazola Makhupula - Senior Strategic Information Lead

Lazola is a data and strategic information (SI) professional with experience across education, research, not-for-profit and public sectors. Before joining m2m, Lazola was an Associate at the National Department of Health, responsible for data quality and utilisation and systems roll-out across South Africa. Prior to that, he has held different roles as a technical advisor at one of the largest district support partners (Anova Health) in South Africa focusing on general TB/HIV programmes, as well as key and priority populations programmes focusing on multiple African countries. He has also served as a researcher in geology and mining at university level. At m2m, Lazola is responsible for managing routine SI activities and projects.

Dillon Mann – Global Communications Director

Dillon is a communications professional with experience across the not-for-profit, technology, policy and professional services sectors. Prior to joining m2m, he was Communications & Campaigns Director at the World Wide Web Foundation, an organisation that ensures everyone, everywhere can get online and use the web to improve their lives. Leading a global communications team from Cape Town, he helped the organisation to triple in both size and impact. Prior to this, he served as a director at a leading U.K. communications consultancy, working with diverse clients ranging from government departments to law firms.  At m2m, Dillon is responsible for the development, integration, and implementation of m2m’s global communications strategy across three continents.

Uviwe Mzilikazi – Finance Manager: Corporate Financial Analysis & Systems

Uviwe is an experienced professional with the strong ability to make the tangible connection between business and its financial performance for effective decision making. She completed her articles at Deloitte and has spent the last 16 years working as a Chartered Accountant gaining extensive experience in the hotel and leisure industry, television media, print media industries and more recently, the non-profit space. Over and above the traditional areas of financial management, her involvement in business, over the years, has extended towards more responsibility and oversight of operations which prompted the interest in obtaining the Chartered Global Management Accountant qualification. She joined m2m in 2022 to head up the Corporate Financial Analysis and Systems division.

Dr. Kathrin Schmitz – Director, Programmes and Technical Support

A Medical Doctor with an MBA, Kathrin has extensive clinical, research, and technical expertise in programme design and implementation. Early in her career, she specialised in paediatric clinical practice and research, and oversaw the accreditation of informal Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across South Africa. Since joining m2m in 2005, Kathrin has played a leading role in the organisation’s programmatic and geographical expansion. In her current role, she leads programme innovation aligned with organisational strategic objectives, and drives the conceptualisation and design, implementation and scale-up of m2m’s rapidly expanding portfolio of programmes, while overseeing technical quality.

Meet Kathrin

Sarah Sheldon - Head of Risk and Compliance

Sarah is a programme and grants management professional with more than 15 years of experience in international health and development. Currently, she serves as the Head of Risk & Compliance, Operations for m2m. She is responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements of m2m’s donor and funder agreements and building the capacity of project management teams around compliance and managing risk. She plays a major role in organisational policy development and managing the governance of m2m’s local branches. Sarah is also the Board Secretary for the m2mUS Board. Sarah previously worked with FHI 360, including as Regional Grants and Contracts Officer for West Africa based in Accra, Ghana. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University.

Rebecca Silver Fisher – Director, North America

Rebecca joins m2m from buildOn, where she served as Vice President for Philanthropy and oversaw global philanthropy and fundraising strategy. She succeeded in building and managing relationships with some of the biggest companies in the U.S., and helped to drive a $20M organisational budget, while also recruiting and managing leadership boards. Prior to buildOn, Rebecca held senior roles at the American Lung Association, and the ALS Association, where she helped to build new revenue streams and shift perceptions for these blue-chip charities. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is passionate about gender equity, women’s rights, social justice, education, global development, public health, politics, and the arts. Rebecca leads m2m’s North American resource mobilisation strategy and is responsible for the teams based in New York and Los Angeles. She is also responsible for elevating m2m’s profile in North America.

Cleophas Wamambo - Finance Manager: General Accounting

Cleophas is a qualified chartered accountant and joined m2m in 2019 from Common Good NPC, where he held the position of Finance Manager since the beginning of 2018. He has held several financial positions at NACCW, Tetrad Holdings and FBC Holding Limited. Cleophas has over 15 years of working experience in the Financial Accounting and Reporting environment in financial services, construction and NPO organisations. This background affords significant financial expertise and regulatory skills. Cleophas holds the qualifications of BBA Accounting (Solusi), Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Science (UNISA), Chartered Accountant (SAICA), and (ICAZ). Cleophas is in charge of the General accounting division of m2m South Africa.

Country Leadership

Kimberly Grubb – Senior Portfolio Lead, Angola

Kimberly has more than 15 years of experience in programme management of global health projects in East and Southern Africa.  Prior to joining m2m, she served as the Director of Business Operations for Population Services International (PSI) in Mozambique, ensuring efficient operations for seven sexual and reproductive health projects. Previously, she held various roles at PSI headquarters providing programme management support throughout the project lifecycle, from proposal development to start up and implementation. She has experience working on projects funded by bilateral and multilateral donors as well as private foundations. Kimberly has a Masters in International Development from George Washington University.  At m2m, she manages a diverse portfolio of m2m country offices. Kimberly also serves as Deputy Chief of Party on the regional USAID-funded RISE II project.

Dr. Agnes Kobusingye - Country Director, Uganda

Agnes is a Medical Doctor, specialising in the Monitoring and Evaluation of health systems, and has over 18 years of experience serving mainly in senior management and leadership positions. Prior to joining m2m Uganda, Agnes was the Country Director of Lutheran World Relief and IMA World Health in Uganda, where she coordinated the merger of the two organisations to form CORUS International—ensuring the smooth transition to new policies, strategies, and programming, strengthening collaboration with government ministries, departments, and agencies. Agnes is passionate about programming that impacts the health of a household: specifically, health, nutrition, WASH, community health systems, and livelihoods, including environmental and climate protection.

Dr. Bridget Malewezi – Country Director, Malawi

Dr. Bridget Msolomba Malewezi is a medical doctor and public health practitioner. Prior to joining mothers2mothets (m2m), she was the Country Director for Seed Global Health in Malawi and served in various roles at the Clinton Health Access Initiative. Passionate about women’s roles in health care, Bridget serves in various leadership positions. In 2021, she was selected at the Harvard LEAD Fellow and is the current vice-President of the Malawi Chapter of Women in Global Health (WGH). She is also a member of the WGH Chapter Steering Committee for sub-Saharan Africa, and is the Acting Chair for the taskforce set up to establish the Women Doctors Association of Malawi.

Respeace Mgawe - Senior Capacity Building Advisor, Tanzania

Respeace is a public health professional, with more than 15 years of experience in designing and implementing public health interventions focused on strengthening quality improvement (QI), monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and research and learning systems towards comprehensive HIV/AIDS care. Respeace has a background in nursing, counselling, and business administration and his extensive experience includes: health supply chains; reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH); and integrated management of childhood illnesses.

Mpolokeng Mohloai – Country Director, Lesotho

Mpolokeng is a dedicated, committed, and goal-oriented healthcare professional with a successful background in clinical training and education, and programme management. She holds a Master’s Degree in Community Health Nursing, plus an Honours Degree in Nursing, specialising in healthcare management, primary healthcare, and HIV and AIDS care. Mpolokeng joined m2m in 2008 as the Regional Manager in Lesotho and then moved to Head Office in Cape Town, South Africa, to work as the Training and Education Officer. She returned to Lesotho as the Programme and M&E Manager, and was promoted to Senior Programme Manager in 2016 and to Country Director in 2020.

Elijah Mvula – Project Director, Zambia

Elijah brings more than nine years experience in Public Health to m2m Zambia, having worked for the Ministry of Health (MoH) and various international NGOs. He joined m2m in 2019 to support the USAID-funded Supporting an AIDS Free Era (SAFE) Project as a PMTCT Specialist. He has also provided technical leadership in the design, implementation, and expansion of m2m Zambia’s programme activities, ensuring that the programme aligns with m2m, donor, and MoH priorities. Before joining m2m, Elijah worked as a Project Coordinator at Pact and led on the implementation of community HIV prevention, care, and treatment strategies under the Zambia Community HIV Prevention and Care Project. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Health, a degree in Environmental Health, and a postgraduate certificate in project planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

Dr. Mohammed Ali Ouenzar - Country Director, Mozambique

Dr. Mohammed Ali is a multi-lingual physician with 18 years of experience in Global Health Programmes, Health System Development and Humanitarian Response. A native of Morocco, he started his career working with local organisations then served in other African countries: Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and Mozambique where he was the Country Director of an international NGO. He also held various technical and leadership positions with PEPFAR implementers in Mozambique including HAI, EGPAF and Abt Associates. Dr. Mohammed Ali is passionate about global health community-based approaches and is an advocate for social justice. He appreciates jazz and afro funk music, cooking Moroccan dishes and loves traveling with family to discover Mozambique and neighbouring countries.

Yvonne Prempeh-Ferguson – Project Director, Ghana

Yvonne is a development practitioner with more than 20 years of direct implementation and management experience in varied health sector portfolios. She has also led multi-sector projects in education, child protection, youth empowerment, and livelihoods. Through her work in multiple countries, Yvonne has gained significant cross-cultural experience and has built strategic relationships with UN and international agencies, national and local governments, and community-based organisations. She earned an MPhil in Economics and Politics in Development from Cambridge University (U.K.) and an MA in Development Economics from Dalhousie University (Canada). Yvonne describes herself as a passionate advocate for children’s rights and for improving the lives and well-being of vulnerable women.

Sbonelo Zondo – Country Representative, South Africa

With over 14 years of experience in HIV/AIDS programming, Sbonelo specialises in Strategic Information, HIV Prevention and Treatment. His expertise spans various areas including reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH), Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC), and DREAMS initiatives across Southern and Eastern Africa. Throughout his career, Sbonelo has held senior positions in Strategic Information and Programme Management at organisations such as m2m South Africa, JSI Inc., and FHI360. He has also contributed to PEPFAR programmes like the DREAMS Innovation Challenge and Epic, focusing on capacity building, digital health, and economic strengthening initiatives. Sbonelo’s educational background includes a foundation in Medical Sciences, complemented by postgraduate qualifications in Demography, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics.

Spokeswomen

Teddy Atim – Uganda

Site Coordinator, Namayingo District

Teddy learned she was living with HIV when she was 20 years old and expecting her first child. The devastating news strained her relationship with her husband, who tested HIV-negative. Fortunately, m2m Mentor Mothers at her clinic educated Teddy and her husband about staying healthy as a discordant couple and protecting their baby from infection. After seeing that it is possible to break the cycle of HIV infection, Teddy decided she wanted to become a Mentor Mother. She is happily married and now has three children who are all HIV-free. She is proud to be a driver of change in her community and earn a living so her family can have a bright future.

Meet Teddy

Josophine Kalombola – Malawi

Adolescent Mentor Mother, Lilongwe District

Growing up in her community in Lilongwe, Josophine always felt different. Unlike her siblings, she had to take pills every day. Not knowing why, Josophine often hid them or threw them away. In 2020, Josophine became sick—she went to the clinic, and a nurse referred her to mothers2mothers (m2m). With the support of her Mentor Mother, Thoko, Josophine learned she had been born with HIV. Thoko helped her accept the news by introducing her to other young people like her at an m2m support group. Today, Josophine works for m2m as a Peer Mentor for adolescents. She is now the person giving hope to girls in her community—talking to them about the importance of understanding their status, ensuring they have access to sexual and reproductive health information, and serving as a role model for those who are fearful of the future or who are also living with HIV.

Meet Josophine

Makeletso Khomonngoe – Lesotho

HIV Testing Services Mentor, Mohale’s Hoek District

Lesotho, where Makeletso lives, is a beautiful mountainous country—but people face many challenges accessing healthcare, and too many young people do not have access to sexual and reproductive health services and education. Makeletso was only 18 when she found out she was living with HIV as part of a routine HIV test during her pregnancy. Makeletso is fortunate to have a supportive family, and she adhered to her treatment and delivered an HIV-free baby. When Makeletso saw that mothers2mothers (m2m) was recruiting women living with HIV to become Mentor Mothers, she knew she wanted to become part of the change her community needed. Today, Makeletso is an HIV Testing Services Mentor Mother—providing HIV and Syphillis counselling and testing services in her community, working alongside m2m Nurses. In this way, Makeletso is key to ensuring that no one in Lesotho is left behind—bringing lifesaving health care services directly to those most in need.

Meet Makeletso

Millicent Magwa – South Africa

Community Mentor Mother Coordinator, Western Cape

Diagnosed with HIV at the height of the pandemic in South Africa in 2002, Millicent relied on a television programme that aired once a week to access information about how to live a healthy and positive life. At the time, HIV treatment was very expensive; most people could not afford it and many died from AIDS-related illnesses. Now, 17 years later, Millicent is working as a Community Coordinator for mothers2mothers and is dedicating her life to providing the health education and services she wished she had access to when she first tested positive. Based at m2m’s Innovation Hub in Cape Town, Millicent and her team are delivering integrated primary health care services that go well beyond HIV.  She is now actively screening clients and their families for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. With her kit bag, Millicent conducts blood pressure and blood glucose checks and links clients to health services at the nearby Ikhwezi Community Clinic. She monitors progress, encourages her clients to adhere to treatment, and offers lifestyle education and advice to help them better manage their health and well-being.

Meet Millicent

Esther Mamba – South Africa

CHAMP Programme Linkage Assistant, Mpumalanga 

Esther met mothers2mothers (m2m) after she was diagnosed with HIV during her first pregnancy. She was fearful for the future, but fortunately, her Mentor Mother, Colile, reminded her that ‘there is life after HIV.’ Through the support she received from Colile, Esther went on to give birth to an HIV-free baby. This experience inspired Esther to become a Mentor Mother herself. Esther has steadily climbed the ladder at m2m, and today works in Mpumalanga as a Linkage Assistant where her role includes identifying orphaned and other vulnerable children living with or exposed to HIV in her community. Esther also ensures that they receive health care services, remain in school, and link them to other social services to ensure they get the additional support needed to thrive.

Meet Esther

Jessie Mzemba – Malawi

Adolescent Mentor Mother, Lilongwe District

Jessie is a community health worker with a focus on adolescents. She goes door-to-door in her community delivering health services and ensuring adolescent girls and young women have access to sexual and reproductive health information. She holds a Diploma in Public Health and a certificate in Disaster Risk Management. Jessie has a personal connection to her work—she found out she was living with HIV when she was 15 years old, after deciding to test because many of her peers were doing so. It took Jessie three years to come to terms with her diagnosis. In time, she found the courage to open up about her status to her aunt who she was living with, who gave her the care and support she needed to finish school and go to college.  After graduating college, Jessie worked as a filing clerk at Mitundu Hospital in the viral load testing department, where she met mothers2mothers Mentor Mothers. They encouraged Jessie to apply, and she joined m2m in 2021.

Meet Jessie

Faustina Ocansey – Ghana

Mentor Mother Team Lead, Ashaiman Community

Faustina’s story is one of strength and determination to overcome adversity. She found out she was living with HIV after both her husband and her six-month-old baby tested positive for both Tuberculosis and HIV. At the time, HIV treatment was not readily available in Ghana, and both passed away as they could not access the treatment they desperately needed. Left to care for her five surviving children on her own, Faustina faced many challenges—including stigma and discrimination in her community. Determined to help others in a similar position, Faustina spent close to a decade volunteering at a community hospital, where she helped people who were newly diagnosed with HIV to accept their status and find hope for their future. When mothers2mothers opened in Ghana in 2019, Faustina was employed as a Team Lead and Mentor Mother—finally earning a salary and recognition for the work she had been doing for years. In her role, she provides vital health education and services to pregnant and breastfeeding women and adolescents.  With her team, she also provides integrated early childhood development services designed to support the critical period of a child’s development. As a paid Community Health Worker, Faustina says she is able to better support her own family, while being a beacon of hope and healthy living in her community.

Meet Faustina

Bupe Sinkala - Zambia

Site Coordinator, Chaisa Community

Bupe is a community health worker, who is also trained to deliver some clinical services. This includes dry blood spot testing—a quick and effective method to test babies for HIV. This means that she can support stretched clinical staff, and ensure HIV-exposed infants are tested on time. As a Mentor Mother, Bupe says she dedicates her life to ensuring her clients have the information they need to make positive choices and stay in care for the long term. Bupe was diagnosed with HIV as she was preparing to get married. While her partner initially promised he would support her, he eventually left. Bupe felt broken and hopeless. One of her biggest fears—rejection—had come true. With support from her aunt, Bupe found the strength to recover. When she heard that mothers2mothers (m2m) was recruiting women living with HIV to become Community Health Workers, she felt that her experience could support others, and joined m2m in 2019.

Meet Bupe

Patrons and Ambassadors

mothers2mothers (m2m) is grateful to these inspiring supporters who have joined us to make noise and raise funds to end HIV and help create healthy, thriving families and communities across Africa. m2m Patrons promote our work globally, putting the spotlight on health and social challenges facing African women and families. m2m Ambassadors amplify our messages by promoting campaigns and spreading the word.

Patrons

Annie Lennox, OBE – Singer-Songwriter, Human Rights Activist

“It is an absolute honour and privilege to be able to contribute to supporting mothers2mothers, whose outstanding work has transformed the lives of almost 1.5 million HIV-positive mothers across nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa to date. With their visionary and innovative Mentor Mother Model, the m2m methodology is a gold standard for the education and support of mothers living with HIV. While one in three pregnant women are HIV-positive in Southern Africa, m2m’s work continues to be absolutely essential.”

Meet Annie Lennox

Salma Hayek Pinault – Academy Award Nominated Actress, Producer, Director

“One of the things I found very impressive about mothers2mothers when talking to women who have gone through the mothers2mothers process is that at some point they all find themselves feeling almost like dust – like nothing – like dust that the wind can come, blow away and they can disappear; because their situation is so bad and they are so helpless – they can see no future and many of them thought about taking their lives. Then this sisterhood comes along and supports them, and these particles of dust become mountains. These girls that thought they had absolutely no worth can look themselves in the mirror and realise that they have not only changed the lives of many women but have saved thousands of children. Thousands of lives. And this is literal; I spoke to one Mentor Mother and we calculated that over 7000 HIV-negative kids have been born into this world because of her work alone, her work preventing the mother passing HIV to her baby.”

Meet Salma Hayek Pinault

Candice Swanepoel — South African Supermodel & Fashion Entrepreneur

“Motherhood and South Africa are two of my passions, so serving as an m2m Patron is a perfect fit for me. I am inspired by the incredible work done every day across eight nations by the HIV-positive women mothers2mothers employs as Mentor Mothers to end childhood AIDS and help women and their families to stay healthy and thrive. I fully understand just how daunting it can be to be pregnant for the first time. But I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have to deal with a life-changing diagnosis like HIV at the same time. Thankfully mothers2mothers and its sisterhood of Mentor Mothers are there to support women and families to get the lifesaving medical care they need.”

Meet Candice Swanepoel

Samantha Bond – Actress

“I am honoured to be a Patron for mothers2mothers and to join the 1,600 Mentor Mothers that are committed to creating a generation free from HIV. I have had the opportunity to spend time with several Mentor Mothers since supporting m2m, and have continuously been astounded by their strength and resilience. It is clear that they are a force to be reckoned with and are advocates for change not just within their own communities, but beyond.”

Meet Samantha Bond

Rochelle Humes – Television & Radio Host

“I am so honoured to join mothers2mothers as a Patron, having seen their invaluable work first-hand in Kenya in 2016. There, HIV-positive mothers told me about the anxious wait of finding out if their child was HIV-free but also about the hope and support they were given by m2m. Mentor Mothers, like the lovely Dorcus whom I met, have walked in their shoes and stand shoulder to shoulder with them by sharing knowledge and experience. As a mum of two little girls, my priority is that they grow into healthy teenagers. I’m excited to represent these inspiring women who help other mothers make this hope a reality.”

Meet Rochelle Humes

Ambassadors

The Gill Family – Dancer, Musician and Family of Four

Our family connects deeply with mothers2mothers (m2m) focus on supporting families across sub-Saharan Africa to help them to be healthy and thrive. And we’re inspired by the unique way they do this, by training and employing amazing, resilient women living with HIVMentor Mothers—who deliver life-changing health services to their communities. It’s women supporting women, mothers supporting mothers. Women who once faced stigma and fear, being role models and pillars of strength for their communities today. What a powerful example that is to show our children that anything is possible. We are honoured to join the m2m family and play a part in their journey.”

Meet the Gill Family

Giovanna Fletcher – Author, and Podcast Host

“The work of mothers2mothers (m2m) has always spoken to me deeply, as I know first-hand the importance of empathy and connection, especially for women and parents. The power that m2m Mentor Mothers have to connect with their peers, to meet them where they are, and to use their own experiences and understanding of their communities to help their clients overcome challenges and emerge with hope, has always inspired me beyond measure. By bravely sharing their personal stories and creating trust, m2m Mentor Mothers are able to support women and entire families to get the health education, support, and services they need. In a world where it can be so easy to feel disconnected and isolated, the work of m2m Mentor Mothers is more important than ever, and I am so pleased to be playing a small part in their journey as an m2m Ambassador.”

Meet Giovanna Fletcher

Sabrina Elba – Producer, Model, and Activist

“I am deeply passionate about gender equity and working with organisations that help foster opportunities for, and raise the voices of, women and girls across the African continent. mothers2mothers (m2m) embodies these goals, and so I am thrilled to be invited to join m2m as an Ambassador. m2m’s model of employing local women living with HIV as frontline health workers is so inspiring because it not only delivers health and well-being for communities—it also creates employment and empowerment opportunities for some of the most vulnerable and marginalised women in the world. By helping to share m2m’s work and impact, I hope that together we can show that when the power and leadership of local women to drive change is unlocked, their potential to change the world is endless.”

Meet Sabrina Elba

Christian Brassington - Actor

“It’s so exciting to join mothers2mothers as an official Ambassador. Over the past few years I have really enjoyed becoming a part of the m2m Family, from co-hosting The Big Quiz, reading at the Carols by Candlelight, attending their Winter Gala, to being on the Carols and Gala Host Committees. It’s been an inspiring journey getting to know m2m’s work in more detail and I’m looking forward to continuing this. What they have created through their Mentor Mother model is real, sustainable change. These women, the Mentor Mothers, employed as community health workers are quite literally changing and saving lives in the nine countries where m2m works.”

Meet Christian Brassington

Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Singer and Songwriter

“As both a mother and a woman, I am delighted to officially join the mothers2mothers Family as an Ambassador. By employing women living with HIV as Mentor Mothers – frontline community health workers, m2m is helping to build a strong and resilient network of women, a network I want to be a part of. These women are changing the lives of children, adolescents, and entire families in the nine countries where m2m works. It’s extremely inspiring! I’m proud to support m2m Mentor Mothers as they continue their work, ensuring healthy families thrive, not just survive.”

Meet Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Stephanie Phair – Chief Customer Officer at Farfetch

“It is an honour to join the mothers2mothers Family as an official Ambassador. I have supported m2m for a very long time and I am so happy to continue supporting them as they work to deliver health, hope, and a future free from HIV. I recently shared my Instagram, platform with mothers2mothers Mentor Mother, Nobuntu Ma Awu from South Africa, as part of the #ShareTheMicUK campaign and it was incredible to learn more about her personal life, and her lifesaving work as an m2m Mentor Mother. Here’s to raising the voices of women like Nobuntu, and the powerful sisterhood of Mentor Mothers that is enabling women, children and entire communities to access the health education and services they need to build a bright and healthy future.”

Meet Stephanie Phair

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