Our Speakers
Meet our esteemed conference speakers, industry leaders and innovators who will share their insights and expertise to inspire and inform.
Bahaa Eddine Sarroukh
Bahaa Eddine Sarroukh is Innovation and Impact Investment Lead at the Philips Foundation with
over 23 years of experience in technology development. He works closely with social entrepreneurs develop impact investment pipeline. The Philips Foundation has the mission to reduce inequality in access to healthcare for underserved communities through meaningful innovation. Prior to this role, Bahaa Eddine served as Senior Advisor in Innovation & Technology to the UN system. He also built and headed the Philips Africa Innovation Hub, based in Nairobi. Bahaa Eddine developed several innovations to enable access to primary care in remote areas. He is an active promotor of innovation for the underserved, supported by his roles and memberships in leading industrial institutions. His multidisciplinary skills allow him to work with different competencies and co-create in a diversified ecosystem. He holds a PhD in Technology from Eindhoven University of Technology.
Dr Esther Anyango is the program coordinator for the R&D Policy and Advocacy team at PATH. She coordinates the team’s activities around local/regional manufacturing of health products, regulatory and clinical trials strengthening in Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, and across the region of Africa. Esther is a pharmacist by profession registered by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board with experience in global health, project management in health, regulatory affairs, clinical research, and clinical pharmacy.
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Esther serves as a member of the clinical trials technical working group of Kenya, is a board member of the African Pharmaceutical Network, and currently pursuing a master’s degree in clinical Trials.
Dr Esther Anyango
Maureen Awuor Okoth
Maureen Awuor Okoth is the Programme Manager for Global Health Research, Development and Innovation at Amref Health Africa, HQ.
Maureen is a seasoned humanitarian and development professional passionate about health research, development and innovation. She has enjoyed a long and successful career as a programme management professional across different public health and nutrition programs, HIV and Tuberculosis prevention, care and treatment programs working on multiple projects in succession liaising with internal and external, public and private sector partners and stakeholders across multiple countries. She is quick to identify untapped opportunities and develop strategic roadmaps that enable effective performance.
Maureen holds a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics and has been a speaker in several highly competitive international scientific conferences.
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She is the current Co- Chair of the Global Health Technologies (GHTC) Equity Working Group where she drives the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) agenda in Health Research and Development.
June Madete is an enthusiastic and dynamic engineer, researcher and senior lecturer, with over 16
years of experience in biomedical engineering training and research. Dr. Madete's specialty is
biomechanics, looking at the body as a machine. She received her PhD in Medical engineering
specializing in Biomechanics, motion capture, imaging studies and patient data collection and seeks to develop biomedical engineering in Africa through knowledge and skill transfer.
Dr. Madete in the current Head of Department and the Coordinator of Biomedical Engineering at the School of Engineering and Architecture, Kenyatta university, where she lectures Biomechanics,
Biomaterials, Biomedical device Design, quality management. She supervises projects at Kenyatta
university, JKUAT, AMREF university and partner universities such as TU-Delft in the Netherlands and
DKUT in Nyeri. In her 16 years in the field, Dr. Madete has trained students, teachers, lecturers,
engineers, and medical professionals at atanford university, Rice university, Cardiff University in the
United Kingdom, Villgro Africa, Egerton and Kenyatta Universities in Kenya, and Addis Ababa Institute of Technology in Ethiopia. She has mentored students in Engineering across the region and continues to do so through the Chandaria Business and Incubation Centre, Kijenzi and the African Biomedical Engineering Consortium (ABEC).
As a qualified biomedical engineer, Dr. Madete’s passion lies in innovation and capacity building. As
such, she is involved in several project including the invention education project with Rice 360, the
University Based Open Biomedical Engineering Platform (UBORA) and the African Biomedical
Engineering Mobility (ABEM) project, that aims to capacity build students and staff on biomedical
engineering across Africa. Dr. Madete has collaborated with various universities to carry out curriculum development, organise various design workshops and schools, and bring together BME universities for networking though the BMEIdea Meetings. As a complex and exciting field, BME holds great potential for research and innovation, and June aims to be at the forefront of its exploration, armed with the theoretical knowledge gained from her doctoral studies, and her 16-year experience in practice.
As a consultant, June has combined the theory with the strong analytical and observational skills to
contribute to ongoing efforts to develop curriculums for Muranga University, Technical University of
Mombasa, Kenya Medical Training college in Nairobi and reviewed the Kenyatta University curriculum. In addition, she has worked as a mentor and a judge at for Total Kenya, American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ISHOW), Makerspace hackathon, a mentor at Villgro Africa, and a Technical advisor to the NEST360 project, and through these opportunities, Dr. Madete has expanded her network and knowledge of the BME ecosystem in the region.
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June Madete
Wambui Nyabero, chair of the TAMC organizing committee, is a passionate advocate for the development of homegrown African innovations, especially in the medtech space. She is an inventor and patent-holder, an innovator who led development of a COVID-19 ventilator winning the 2021 Kenya American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Innovator Showcase award. Wambui is a serial entrepreneur who has founded several companies in the U.S and Kenya. Her experience in technology leadership includes ten years at St. Jude Medical (now Abbott). Wambui holds Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Systems Engineering degrees from Stanford University.
Eng. Wambui Gachiengo Nyabero
Winnie Kibiru is an experienced and resourceful expert in the MedTech industry, specializing as an auditor, assessor, and trainer of ISO 13485. She leads a thriving team of MedTech enterprises and innovators, helping them develop robust quality management systems and medical device processes and practices.
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Throughout her career, Winnie has also worked in mechanical engineering, gaining a diverse skill set in metal fabrication, 3D designs, machinery maintenance, training, ISO 13485 internal auditing, and medical device design reviews.
Winnie Kibiru
Dr. Kamau Gachigi
Dr. Kamau Gachigi Kamau is the is the Founding Executive Director of Gearbox, a non-profit organisation that provides members with access to CNC and analogue machines for prototyping and low volume manufacture, including PCB fabrication. Gearbox also avails training, and incubation/ acceleration services in order to broaden access to manufacturing in Kenya. Dr. Kamau was contracted by UNDP to design the UniPods under the timbuktoo project which are entities modeled on Gearbox now implemented in 13 African countries and growing. He is also a founding Director of Gearbox Europlacer, a world class PCB contract manufacturing plant in Nairobi, known for its global clients such as Raspberry Pi. Until recently he Chaired the Board of the National Industrial Training Authority and served as a member of the Global Council on the Future of Production under the World Economic Forum. He was also a member of the Consultative Advisory Group of the Partnership on Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (World Bank and select African Governments), and board member of Numerical Machining Complex. He currently serves on the Board of Wildlife Direct. He earned his Ph.D. in Solid State Science from the Pennsylvania State University (USA) and worked in Japan for TDK in R&D for over two years after earning his doctorate. He holds a US patent for an energy storage device and has 10 academic and many more non-technical publications.
Dr. Stanley Aruyaru is a general & laparoscopic surgeon and health policy & quality advisor with over 13 years of experience in the Kenyan healthcare space. He is an internationally recognized surgeon, a public speaker and an award-winning healthcare leader. Dr Aruyaru holds an MBChB from Moi University, Master of Medicine (General Surgery) from Aga Khan University and is currently a Global Surgey doctoral scholar in University of Cape Town. In addition, Dr Aruyaru is a fellow of College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and Fellow in Healthcare Management (FeHSM).
Dr. Aruyaru is passionate about advocacy for effective and responsive quality healthcare delivery systems and his works can be found across various platforms in digital, broadcast and print media. He is also the author of The Chronicles of a Village Surgeon, where he passionately documents the memoirs of a dedicated surgeon in rural Kenya.
In 2021, Dr. Aruyaru was among the Winners of The Business Daily’s Top 40 Under 40 Men in Kenya, an award that recognizes young people making significant impact in various spheres of life in Kenya. He is also an award winning public speaker, a youth mentor and an avid advocate for charity work in health and education. He serves as Secretary General of The Surgical Society of Kenya as well as a member of numerous international professional bodies. In addition, he sits in boards of various public and non-profit organizations and institutions.
He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at PCEA Kikuyu Hospital.
Dr. Stanley Aruyaru
Naom Monari, the founder and CEO of Bena Care, is a visionary leader with a commitment to social justice. In 2017, working as a student nurse, Naom embarked on a transformative journey to redefine healthcare accessibility in Kenya. Bena Care delivers affordable home-based nursing and inhome therapy for chronically ill patients of middle to low income families. Bena Cares impact reverberates across communities significantly reducing healthcare costs for thousands of families. Through Bena Care, Naom is building a movement of thousands of healthcare workers who are disrupting healthcare systems that allow for extreme poverty to exist in Kenya and beyond.
Naom Monari
Sewu-Steve Tawia is the Managing Partner of Jaza Rift Ventures, a target $50M seed stage digital health, medtech, biotech and assistive technology VC fund covering Africa and the Middle East, launched to support resilient, impactful and visionary Founders. He has 25+ years experience in investments, angel investing, venture capital and private equity, and value creation, coupled with an extensive network across Europe, UK, Africa and more and more in the Middle East. He's strategic advisor (NED, IC) to various public and private organisations, a public speaker and a fervent advocate of the Africa Opportunity. He is an alumni of London Business School (UK), Audencia Business School (FR), and has executive education from various universities, including Stanford GSB (USA). He holds a number of professional charters: including CDFP (Digital Finance), CAIA (Alternative Investments), CIFE (Islamic Finance), Prince 2 (Project Management), ANDE Investment Management Trainer and Toastmasters (public speaking).
Sewu-Steve Tawia
Professor Sudesh Sivarasu
Professor Sudesh Sivarasu holds the DSI/NRF South African Research (SARChI) Chair in Biomedical Engineering & Innovation and is the Director of UCT’s Biomedical Engineering Research Centre. He is a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Cape Town, Department of Human Biology. He is the creator of the innovative FrugalBiodesign™ methodology and has established award-winning labs under UCT MedTech, producing ground-breaking medical technologies. His research focuses on developing health technologies for low-resource settings, and he has supervised over 75 students in their post-graduate academic journey. Dr Sivarasu has an extensive patent portfolio with over 66 patent applications across various countries, and his innovation has led to the launch of four start-up companies from UCT's MedTech laboratories and several open-source innovations used over 16 countries. He was part of the South African National Ventilator Project, which led to the production of 20,000 ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is leading the efforts on medical devices for future pandemics in the recently formed National Institute for Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention (NIP3). Dr. Sivarasu is an accomplished author with over 125 peer-reviewed publications and has received numerous awards, including the UCT Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Innovation and 23 other awards in 4 different continents. Recently, he edited the textbook on ‘Medical Device Innovation for Africa’.
Will Moyo is a Zimbabwean Stanford University graduate student in Management Science and Engineering & Public Policy. Prior to Stanford she worked as the Engineering Innovation Design Studio Manager for Rice 360 Institute for Global Health Technologies in Malawi. There she worked with clinicians, faculty and students to implement invention education. Prior to joining Rice 360, she worked in soft robotics in the Harvard Biodesign lab where she was a part of a team that designed and fabricated a soft robotic glove for rehabilitation and assistance for individuals with neuromuscular injuries.
Will Moyo
Hiroki Ishida
Hiroki is a seasoned investment professional with over 10 years of experience, specializing in the healthcare and innovation sectors across Africa. He has provided extensive oversight for two funds: the Africa Healthcare Fund (Fund 1) and the Africa Innovation & Healthcare Fund (Fund 2). His expertise covers the entire investment lifecycle, including deal sourcing, due diligence, negotiation, documentation, monitoring, and value creation.
He started his career at Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation. Hiroki has experience in operations, sales, and planning in the corporate sector and has mastered a significant amount of financial knowledge. After completing an M.B.A, Ishida joined Accenture Japan Ltd. and participated in several projects: offshore development for an automobile-related company in emerging Asian countries, merger of foreign financial institutions, etc.
Hiroki holds a Bachelor of Arts (in Managerial Accounting ) from Kobe University, and an M.B.A from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Class of 2012).
Sona’s path to global health entrepreneurship began when she earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech (2011), and subsequently worked as an engineer in Bioprocess Research and Development at Eli Lilly and Company. She followed her passion for service to Kenya, spending time as a teacher and an Engineering Without Borders volunteer. Sona’s interest in aiding under-resourced communities continued during her research involvement with mChip, a point-of-care diagnostic device for HIV and syphilis developed at Columbia University. She also worked at the TB Alliance, both in community engagement and drug discovery for medications that treat tuberculosis. Sona completed a master’s in biomedical engineering at Columbia University (2016) before launching Neopenda, where she works to develop impactful healthcare solutions, and sustainably deliver them to the world’s most vulnerable populations.
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Sona Shah
Eng. Williams Baah
Eng. Williams Baah is a distinguished Electrical and Biomedical Engineering specialist with over 12 years of extensive experience in engineering project implementation across Africa. His career is marked by a profound commitment to advancing technology innovation and education, particularly in low-resource settings.
For the past 5 years, Eng. Baah has dedicated his expertise to invention education, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of young inventors. He has worked closely with African universities for 4 years, implementing technology innovation programs designed to address and solve local challenges. His work is particularly noted for developing low-cost healthcare innovations tailored for low-resource environments, significantly impacting healthcare delivery in these areas.
Currently, Eng. Baah serves as the Rice360 Invention Education Africa Coordinator at Rice University, Houston, Texas. In this role, he leads a network of university design studios across Africa, driving the implementation of invention education programs. His leadership and innovative approach have fostered a culture of creativity and problem-solving among students and faculty, promoting sustainable technological advancements. Eng. Baah's contributions have not only advanced engineering education but also empowered local communities by equipping them with the tools and knowledge to create impactful solutions. His work continues to inspire and cultivate a new generation of engineers and innovators committed to addressing Africa's unique challenges through technology and education.
Dr. Muthoni Ntonjira is the Managing Director & Health Systems District Leader for Philips East Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya. She oversees Philips' operations and drives business growth across Eastern Africa. Dr. Ntonjira holds an MBA in Healthcare Management, a Master of Medicine in Anaesthesiology/Critical Care, and a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery. She is also a PhD candidate in Healthcare Management.
With over a decade of experience in senior leadership positions within healthcare organizations, Dr. Ntonjira has played a pivotal role in advancing digital health and fostering innovation. She has extensive experience working across various healthcare systems and has been actively involved in training healthcare personnel.
Dr. Ntonjira collaborates with diverse stakeholders to promote access to quality, sustainable and affordable healthcare. She is a member of the Kenya Society of Anaesthesiologists (KSA) and the Critical Care Society of Kenya (CCSK).
LinkedIn: Dr. Muthoni Ntonjira MD, MMed(Anaesth), MBA | LinkedIn
Dr Muthoni Ntonjira
Eric M.J. Gona
Eric M.J. Gona is a distinguished Intellectual Property (IP) expert with a robust legal background. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Law from The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, followed by a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property (MIP) from Africa University (AU) in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Complementing his academic achievements, Eric holds an Advanced Certificate in Intellectual Property Management from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy.
Eric's professional journey in IP began in 2016, gaining extensive experience and honing his expertise in the field. In 2020, he further advanced his skills by participating in the Training of Trainers (ToT) course offered by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the University of Dar-es-Salaam, which equipped him to effectively train selected target audiences on various IP issues.
Currently, Eric serves as the Head of Intellectual Property Operations at CKN Advocates LLP in Nairobi. In addition, he consults for major corporations, SMEs, and law firms, guiding clients through complex patent, trademark, and copyright challenges.
Eric's extensive experience and deep expertise make him a valuable asset in the field of intellectual property. His contributions have significantly helped clients navigate the intricate landscape of IP, safeguarding their innovations and brands.
Norah Magero is a Mechanical Engineer and a Renewable Energy Expert with experience in the design and management of off-grid energy technologies. She is passionate about energy access in Africa. She has spent the past 7 years innovating decentralized solutions for use in rural communities and promoting gender inclusion and equality within the space. She is the founder of Drop Access and the project lead of the VacciBox; a portable and IoT-enabled cold chain technology that is being used to store and transport vaccines in rural and off-grid areas in Kenya . Norah is an alumna of the Young African Leaders Initiative, YALI, the Microgrid Academy, the United Nations Institute of Training and Research (UNITAR), Future Females Business School by UK-Kenya Tech Hub and Acumen. She holds several awards and recognitions. She is a Booking.Com Technology Playmaker Social Impact Award 2020 finalist and Women in Energy, Philanthropy Award winner 2017. She holds the 2020 Social Impact Award and the overall award, Energy Champion of the year Award by the World Energy Day-Kenya as well as the Microgrid Academy Award winner 2020 by the Res4Africa Foundation. Norah also won the Innovation Award 2021 by Africa Queen of Energy Awards. Currently, through her innovation: VacciBox, Norah is the first Kenyan and the second woman to win the Africa Prize by the Royal Academy of Engineers, UK, and was recommended by the President of Kenya for her effort to bring energy access in rural communities in Kenya.
Norah Magero
Wilfred is Co-Founder and CEO of Villgro Africa, an incubator and impact investor for innovators working in the African health and life sciences. He holds an MBA from the University of Milan and a BSc. in Computer Science and is well plugged into the African entrepreneurial ecosystem as an Incubator Lead, an Angel Investor and a Transaction Advisor. He brings in a diverse set of experiences having lived and worked in the Middle East, India and East Africa. Following a short stint at the African Venture Capital Association, he was immersed in the startups and incubation world while pitching his idea to a Jordanian-based incubator, OASIS500 in 2012. He went on to do a one-year Villgro fellowship in India (2013/14) after which he took up the challenge of scaling Villgro to Africa. To date he has reviewed over 2,000 entrepreneur pitches and been involved in supporting and mentoring over 100 enterprises.
Wilfred Njagi
Hellen Gitonga is the Regulatory Affairs Specialist for Africa at Philips Health Systems, bringing over eight years of experience in regulatory and compliance, particularly in the medical devices sector. In her role, Hellen ensures that Philips and its channel partners comply with both local and international regulatory frameworks, while also overseeing pre- and post-market compliance. She plays a pivotal role in representing Philips at regional trade associations and regulatory authorities, participating in stakeholder meetings that shape the regulatory landscape across Africa. Hellen’s efforts contribute to improving patients’ access to safe medical care through high-quality medical devices. She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Business Administration from USIU-Africa.
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Hellen Gitonga
Masoud Mnonji is an International Development Executive in the domains of Innovation and Global Health currently holds the position of Director at the innovation hub of Ifakara Health Institute. He holds a Master's degree in Project Planning and Management, Bachelor of Degree in Education, and presently, pursuing an MBA in International Health Management at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.
With over a decade of experience in STEM education, research and innovation commercialization, Masoud plays a pivotal role in enhancing the translation of health research insights into product development that focusing on improving health, wellbeing, and creating a linkage and sustainable collaboration in health innovation among and between the global south and north (Swiss-Africa).