Our Staff

A native of Tanzania, Asad Lilani has had years of experience working in global health policy advocacy. During his time at The Access Challenge, Asad has successfully advanced Universal Health Coverage at the African Union and UN level, together with leading The Access Challenge’s COVID-19 response that reached over 75 million people across Africa through its One by One vaccination campaigns in partnership with The Africa CDC. In his previous role as the Director of Political Strategy, Asad has led health campaigns across seven countries in various areas such as Universal Health Coverage, COVID-19, polio, cholera, HIV, and pandemic preparedness.    

While completing a Master's in Business and Human Development in Global Emerging Markets at New York University, he worked as research assistant at NYU Africa House & Development Research Institute. There, Asad worked directly with the Former President of Tanzania, H.E Jakaya M. Kikwete doing high-level research and had the rare opportunity to be a ghost-writer for his upcoming book: The Journey of My Life: From Barefoot Schoolboy to President, which is based on the Former President’s 40+ years of leadership experience and active public service.

Prior to NYU, Asad graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a Bachelor’s in Business and Engineering, and has worked at multinational corporations such as Sunoco Inc, Exelon-Peco, and TE Connectivity in business development and corporate strategy.

These broad experiences have provided Asad with an expertise in emerging markets, business strategy, sustainable investing, high-level presidential research, presidential book writing, government affairs, diplomacy and policy planning.

To Asad, “Access means hope. Hope for a better future, for all people, everywhere.  Access to healthcare, education, and adequate living standards, is essential for the development of any nation.” 

Banafsheh joined The Access Challenge in September 2018 and is a certified public accountant in the State of New York.  She has over ten years of experience in public accounting and has supervised audits of companies of all sizes, including non-profit organizations. Banafsheh volunteers time with her local little league as a grant writer and advisor and has been successful in obtaining grants from different organizations in order to further youth sports.

Banafsheh oversees and manages our finances and implements our budget process. She believes that all people should have access to healthcare and free education as these are basic human rights and is working with us to help achieve these goals. 
 

Flera Chimango Kulemero is a Malawian Social Behavior Change and Communication (SBCC) Specialist with over 10 years of experience in implementing public health interventions in rural communities. Flera holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, both from the University of Malawi. His role as Campaign Lead is to manage all on-ground program interventions, stakeholders, reporting, and fundraising for the One By One: Target Routine Vaccination Campaign in Malawi. In addition to serving as the Campaign Lead, Flera is also the Social Behavioral Change and Government Engagement Lead, where he is the driving force in advancing government and implementing partners’ engagement. 

Flera's experience spans various international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malawi, where he held the position of Project Manager to implement several successful programs in nutrition, vaccination, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and COVID-19 response. He is a certified SBCC Trainer of Trainers with vast experience in building capacity across SBCC disciplines. Additionally, Flera possesses strong skills in resource mobilization through proposal development and pitching. He is an active volunteer for the British Council BabyWave project in the Zomba district of Malawi and for the Rotaract Club of Blantyre.

For Flera, universal access signifies providing context-specific, needs-based health interventions to everyone, even those in the most remote areas. It's an agenda that prioritizes interventions designed based on local data, reflecting the unique needs of the targeted communities. Flera believes universal access can only be achieved if each community actively participates in the design of interventions that consider their specific dynamics and daily challenges.

Maziko Matemvu is a Partnerships and Communications expert with over 9 years of work experience at national, regional, and global levels. Through feminist leadership principles, Maziko has co-produced award-winning documentaries and led the development of over 2,000 creative media outputs and knowledge synthesis products including, but not limited to films, animations, advocacy briefs, Television and radio programs, and success stories. Maziko also has extensive programming experience building partnerships and working with adolescents, youth, and communities across Africa, Asia, Latin America with efforts that have led to advocacy wins in 142 countries and empowered the well-being of over 3 million adolescents and youth across the globe. In her current role, Maziko leads all partnership and media interventions to meet the country’s designed objectives.

Maziko is currently the Vice Chairperson for Partner engagement at the Adolescent and Youth Constituency (AYC) for the World's largest alliance for women, children, and Health- PMNCH. She was recently appointed as a Lancet Commissioner for 21st Century Global Health Threats. Maziko also sits as a member of the Global Advisory Youth Council (GYAC) for the USAID in Malawi. In Her former role, Maziko was appointed as the first Health and communications Country coordinator for MIET AFRICA in Malawi, to support the SADC secretariats regional program in 5 African countries by providing technical support to Ministries of Education and Health. Maziko also served for two terms as the Vice President of the Young Feminist Network.

Maziko believes that she is not free if others are unfree even though their shackles are different from her own. This is why she leads a foundation that has fed over 40,000 orphans and children who live on the streets as well as provided 6,000 people with to access clean water by drilling bole holes in hard-to-reach communities.

To Maziko ; Access means demolishing social and political constructs that barricade people (especially the most vulnerable and marginalized) from accessing basic and dignified wellbeing services through distinctions such as race, sex, language, religion, political, social, economic, or other status. Maziko believes true access requires a paradigm shift that means decolonizes interventions and shifts the power and solution making to communities and local partners.

Lawrence Odala Mfutso is a dedicated community development professional with over 12 years of experience in public and community health programs. He is studying for a Master of Science in Public Health from New York University and a Bachelor of Science in Family Science from the University of Malawi, along with an Associate Degree in Environmental Health from the Malawi College of Health Sciences. Throughout his career, Lawrence has demonstrated expertise in resource mobilization, capacity building, and mentorship, driving socioeconomic development and enhancing community resilience.

In his current role as the Community Engagement and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Lead at The Access Challenge, Lawrence develops and implements M&E strategies and community engagement plans across Malawi and Africa. His work has been instrumental in fostering partnerships with local universities and other entities, ensuring structured accountability and effective campaign management. Previously, as a Community Development Specialist with UNICEF, Lawrence successfully established the global Child and Youth Friendly Communities Initiative (CYFCI) in Chikwawa and Nsanje District Councils, aligning local development plans with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Malawi Vision 2063.

His previous work experience has been with World Vision International, ICAP at Columbia University as well as Malawi's Ministry of Health where he spearheaded programs in adolescent girls and young women as well as HIV response.

Volunteer work has always been integral to Lawrence's career. He has partnered with civil society organizations to enhance local governance and support youth networks. To Lawrence, "universal access" means ensuring that everyone, especially marginalized groups, have equitable access to essential health services and educational opportunities. This commitment to universal access fosters inclusive and resilient communities, driving progress and improving health outcomes for all.

Oliver Lee Ndayisaba is a Rwandan media professional with more than 20 years of experience in media management, consultancy, and production. He has managed media outlets in East Africa including Clouds TV of Tanzania, and has held the roles of Program Manager at Choice FM Tanzania and Head of Programs and Production at Clouds TV International based in Abu Dhabi UAE. He also executively produced East Africa’s Got Talent, which is a part of Got Talent Global. As Executive Producer, his work spanned across Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya and was broadcasted to more than 130 million people across these regions.

Currently, Lee Ndayisaba is the General Manager of Kiss KM, Rwanda’s top urban FM radio station. He is passionate about youth and the future of African youth, and dedicates his efforts to bridging the gap of information across many divides.

“Universal access, to me, means timely availability of healthcare and related information. It means a level field for everyone, irrespective of geographical location, level of education, family background, age, gender, religion, etc…It means leaving no one behind.”

Sherly is a recent Master of Public Health Graduate from Boston University School of Public Health majoring in Community Assessment, Program Development, Implementation, and Evaluation along with Sex, Sexuality, and Gender. She is a medical practitioner from Indonesia with special interests and expertise in Adolescent Reproductive Health, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, and Gender Equality. She has an excellent track record in advocating for Sustainable Development Goals specifically on good health and well-being, quality education, and gender equality as she was part of CIMSA (Center for Indonesian Medical Students' Activities) and INAHA (Indonesian Association for Adolescents Health Association). Throughout her graduate degree career, she has worked as a project consultant with multiple organizations, such as Mass NOW, OhioHealth, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Activist Lab BUSPH.

She is experienced in advocacy and has a tremendous loop in her career as she achieved successful projects with UN agencies. Sherly focuses her work on social justice and equity, bringing stories from the margins and emphasizing the voices that have been disempowered. She talks about #Women #CSE #SRHR #GenderEquality #Pleasure #Sex&Sexuality.

To her, access means equality. There is no doubt that access must be universal, for everyone.

As the Global Communications Strategist, Anna works to elevate TAC local leaders onto the global stage. She spearheads efforts to showcase TAC’s “surround sound” and global advocacy approaches to a worldwide audience, driving positive change and recognition. Prior to joining The Access Challenge, Anna worked with the Child Health Equity Center at UMass Memorial Health to enroll Massachusetts families in a pilot project to combat food insecurity.

Anna is a recent graduate of Boston University, where she received a BS in Health Science. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health Program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

To Anna, access means meeting people in their local contexts and embedding health improvements within community dynamics. It’s one thing to develop and distribute the next lifesaving vaccine, but true access empowers individuals to adopt health-seeking behaviors into their day-to-day lives.