SPEAKERS & PRESENTERS

Jackie Abbott,  Resource Development Manager, Corporate Relations, Mercy Ships (Facilitator)

Jackie originates from Texas and has had a passion for Africa and serving others since childhood. She is honored to work with an organization that meets the needs of those with little or no access to health care. She joined Mercy Ships in 2006 at the International Support Center based in Texas, USA, and managed the Procurement team for more than 9 years.

Jackie moved into the role of Resource Development Manager, Corporate Relations in July 2015 with a specific focus to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with Mercy Ships current corporate partners while engaging new partners. The Corporate Relations team is tasked with sourcing all items to equip the new hospital ship currently under construction in China.

Jackie has gained extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of International Procurement, Logistics, and Corporate Development, and focuses her time engaging multinational corporations to help them achieve their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals.

Jackie has been married to her husband Jim for 40 years, and they currently reside in East Texas, USA. She has one son, Jarod, married to Emily, and two grandchildren, Layla and Luke. Jackie enjoys spending time with her family, music, travel, nature, photography, and crafts.

Eben Amstrong, Director of Biomedical Engineering Training and Technical Services, MedShare International, USA (Presenter & Facilitator)

Eben Amstrong is the Director of Biomedical Engineering Training and Technical Services at MedShare International, USA. His primary duty is to ensure that all medical equipment to be shipped or donated are in excellent working condition in accordance with the World Health Organization Guidelines. Eben also travels out of the United States to evaluate, train, and install medical equipment to recipient Countries. Eben has 22 years of International Professional experience as a Biomedical Engineer.

So far, Eben has worked, repaired medical equipment, and trained Engineers, Technicians and Healthcare Professionals in over 39 Countries in the World including Germany, Spain, Colombia, Honduras, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Africa, Spain, Germany, Ecuador, Guatemala, D.R Congo etc.

He obtained City and Guilds of London and Advance Certificates in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from FESS Technical College Muyuka and Government Technical High School (GTHS) Kumba, Cameroon respectively. He got his Higher National Diploma (HND) in Electrical electronics from College of Management and Technology Aba. He received with Distinction Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Medical Electronics Engineering, Physics, Anatomy, and Physiology from University of London and specialized as a Biomedical Engineer. Because of his brilliant performance, he was offered 1 year by the University to do master’s degree in biomedical engineering.

Before moving to the United States of America in 2004, Eben worked as a Senior lecturer and Head of Electrical Electronics Department of FESS TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL in Cameroon for two years. He worked with the PRESBYTERIAN MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS in Cameroon as a Biomedical Engineer. He was the Coordinator/Technical Adviser of 6 Presbyterian Hospitals and 18 Health Centers of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon for 7 years. During this period, he organisezed in-service training for local Technicians, repaired, serviced, ordered and Installed Medical Equipment.

He served as a Biomedical Engineer in ECHO INTERNATINAL in England and St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London where he was awarded best Worker of the Millennium in year 2000.

Because of his excellent skills in training, repairing, and servicing varieties of different types of equipment and educating college Students, Technicians and Engineers; Eben was awarded Biomedical Engineer of the year 2008/2009 in the State of Georgia. And in 2012 Eben was recognized as one of the top 50 biomedical Professionals in US by 24×7 Organization.

Elizabeth (EJ) Ashbourne, Executive Director, PQMD  (Presenter & Moderator)

As Executive Director of PQMD, Elizabeth (EJ) Ashbourne is responsible for furthering PQMD’s commitment to championing and advancing standards in medical supply and service donations by developing the vision, strategy, and execution of the organizations five pillars of work.

Prior to joining PQMD, EJ was most recently the Managing Partner for EJA Consulting, a small private firm specializing in strategic planning, fundraising, international development and joint venture support, mission driven event management, and all aspects of non-profit turn-around. Prior to that, EJ spent 17 years at the World Bank in a number of senior level positions, in the areas of private sector partnerships, global public health, infectious disease, and health management information systems.

Additionally she was a senior operations officer in the Office of Corporate Reform and Human Resources. In the area of health, EJ held the position of Lead, Global Health Information Programs for the World Bank and the Health Metrics Network at the World Health Organization; led the work on eHealth and mHealth in the Health Anchor of the Bank, and contributed to research on a common metric for donor agencies, development partners and countries to measure their investment in health information. At the World Bank, she also spent many years working closely on issues specific to engaging the private sector in the fight against HIV/AIDS as the focal point for private sector partnerships with the World Bank’s Africa Region HIV/AIDS programs. Her role was to develop and implement the mechanisms through which the private sector can access financial and technical resources from the Bank’s initial 2billion dollar investment in HIV/AIDS.

She has also worked for World Learning as a Country Director, overseeing a wide range of USAID capacity building programs in Eastern Europe and served as senior coordinator for international cooperative education programs at American University among other positions. EJ holds an MA in International Education, with an emphasis on Organizational Management from American University in Washington, DC and a BSc in Communications and History from Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY.

Michelle Bullington, Senior Programs Design Director, Mercy Ships  (Presenter & Facilitator)

Michelle Bullington is the Senior Programs Design Director for Mercy Ships. She has a passion and drive is to see African health systems transformed to provide high-quality safe surgery, improving the quality of life for patients served by those systems. Michelle currently leads a team that help organize and plan each project Mercy Ships implements in Africa.

She has worked for the organization in various roles for 12 years.  This work included assessments in seven African countries and more than 50 hospitals, primarily in west and central Africa; interviews and planning meetings with ministries of health, local hospitals, local and international organizations; budgeting and planning project activities and reporting; creating internal processes for approvals and proper project management – all in support of Mercy Ships medical professionals.

Michelle has a master’s degree in International Relations from Baylor University, and lives in Texas with her husband and two small boys.

Dennis Cherian, MHA, MS, BHMS, Associate Vice President for Health and Nutrition, Corus International (Facilitator)

Dennis Cherian, MHA, MS, BHMS is the Associate Vice President for Health and Nutrition at Corus International. Prior to that position, Dennis was the Senior Director of New Program Development for Jhpiego and was the Senior Director of Health for World Vision. He also served in senior advisor roles with the New York State Department of Health, Division of Tuberculosis, Medical Care Development International and Plan International. He has extensive experience designing and implementing a range of innovative public health interventions to include child survival, polio eradication, tuberculosis, HIV, neglected tropical disease, health systems strengthening, community health, and digital technologies for health in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. He is the Co-Chair on the Board of CORE Group and Secretary on the Board of Christian Connections in International Health (CCIH). He is a physician with a keen interest and specialization in alternative systems of medicine.

Coleen Curry, Curry Consulting Company (Facilitator)

• 25+ years experience developing social impact strategies in the private and nonprofit sectors as a leader and consultant.
• Deep expertise in understanding complex social and business objectives and developing the detailed strategies, plans, and measurable goals needed to be successful.
• MBA from the University of Virginia and B.A. from Colgate University.

Meg Densmore, Director, Program Support East Africa, Corus International (Facilitator)

With over 10 years’ experience in international development, Meg Densmore is the Director of Program Support for East Africa overseeing South Sudan and Tanzania livelihoods and health portfolios of Corus International. Previously Meg was the Chief of Party with IMA World Health based in Goma, DRC on the BHA-funded Ebola response project that closed at the end of 2020. Meg has extensive experience in program management, strategic positioning, and operations management, primarily supporting or working in Francophone Africa. She holds an MPH from George Washington University, and when she’s not deployed in complex emergency settings she focuses on her triathlon training and racing!

Amanda Fowler, Senior Director, Global Corporate Giving and Executive Director, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation (Presenter & Facilitator)

Amanda C. Fowler is senior director, global corporate giving of Edwards Lifesciences, the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. She is also executive director and an officer of Edwards Lifesciences Foundation.

Fowler was appointed to this role in 2011 to create and lead the company’s global corporate giving department. She is responsible for executing the company’s global philanthropic strategy including its signature Every Heartbeat Matters initiative, overseeing approximately $80 million in charitable assets, inspiring more than 15,000 global employees to volunteer in their communities, and donating thousands of medical technologies each year to support indigent care.

Prior to this role, Fowler served the company in global communications focusing on external corporate and executive communications, the critical care business unit and corporate philanthropy. She joined Edwards in 2000 to help establish the investor relations department when the company spun-off from Baxter International. Fowler has also previously been assistant vice president, investor relations for New Century Financial Corporation, and investor relations analyst for PacifiCare Health Systems.

Fowler is currently on the board of directors of the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals and a member of the School of Social Sciences Dean’s Leadership Society at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She has also served on the advisory board of Orange County Grantmakers, on multiple fundraising boards and held several roles leading up to president for the Orange County chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute. She received a bachelor’s degree in social science with an emphasis in economics from UCI where she the university’s honorable Lauds and Laurels Award as a distinguished alumni.

Matt Goldman, Director, ESG, Amgen (Presenter & Facilitator)

Matt Goldman has been at Amgen for 7 years, during which time he led the development of Amgen’s Corporate Responsibility program, which has evolved into the current Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) program. As Director, ESG, Matt provides technical, analytical and strategic support to all the functions across Amgen that implement various parts of the ESG Program, while also serving as a key resource for Executive Management in their governance of ESG. Prior to joining Amgen, Matt spent 30 years in the consulting world, developing and leading a sustainability consulting practice.

Matt holds a Bachelors of Engineering Degree from the University of New Mexico.

Lori Hunt, Executive Director Transformation, Amgen (Facilitator)

Lori Hunt has been at Amgen for 18 years. After 9 years in Global Regulatory and Safety, she moved into the newly formed Amgen Transformation Office designed to drive and deliver change across the enterprise. In that role, Lori led several large cross-functional initiatives and provided training to hundreds of Amgen staff on managing change and building resilience. In early 2021, Lori moved into a new role leading Amgen’s Environmental Social Governance work.

Lori holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of California, Irvine and a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Julie Jenson, Chair, PQMD and Director International Product Donations, Global Health & Social Impact, Pfizer, Inc. (Keynote)

Julie Jenson has been with Pfizer for 20 years and is responsible for managing product supply and NGO partnerships for Pfizer’s social investments, primarily the International Trachoma Initiative and emergency relief donations. In addition to her work in Global Health, Julie has held several positions within Pfizer’s manufacturing and commercial supply organization working at internal plants and with external suppliers. In January 2005, Julie was a Global Health Fellow in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, assisting UNICEF and WHO manage emergency drug donations.

Julie holds a B.A. in Supply Chain Management from Michigan State University and an MPH in Health Policy from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. She is APICS certified.

John Lagus, Managing Director of Business Development, Tanner Pharma (Presenter & Facilitator)

John is currently the Managing Director of Business Development for Tanner Pharma Group. In this role he is responsible to help grow Tanner’s MAP business, focusing on identification and implementation of strategic partnerships that help expand access to medicines globally.

John has worked in the rare disease or expanded access space for over 25 years in various development, operational, and commercial roles. Before joining Tanner Pharma, John was most recently the Head of Managed Access at Clinigen Group.

Over the past 13 years he has had extensive experience with design, implementation and execution of over 200 global access programs spanning small to large companies, and a wide array of therapeutic areas including oncology, hematology, infectious diseases, and rare diseases. John originally began his career in pharma as a statistician at 3M Pharmaceuticals, and then joined Orphan Medical in 2004 to oversee the development and FDA approval of Antizol for toxic alcohol poisonings. John has a BA in mathematics from St Olaf College, and a MS in statistics from Iowa State University.

Megan Lum, P.E., Director of Environmental Programs and Sustainability, Baxter International (Facilitator)
Megan Lum, P.E., is Director, Environmental Programs and Sustainability for Baxter International.  In that capacity she is privileged to lead the company’s environmental compliance and sustainability functions.  Megan is a registered professional engineer and has worked for several Fortune 500 companies in advancing their environmental/sustainability programs.   She has served as an officer on the National Association of EHS&S Management’s NAEM’s Board of Directors and currently is on their Board of Regents.  Megan is also a Senior Life Member of the Society of Women Engineers, for which she has served on the Board of Directors and is currently active on their ethics committee.

Megan has a Bachelor of Applied Science in chemical engineering from the University of Windsor and an Executive MBA from the University of Washington. In her spare time, she is an unabashed AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO), and (when safe to do so) enjoys traveling to international LEGO events.

Charles Redding, President & CEO, MedShare (Presenter & Facilitator)

Charles Redding served as MedShare International, Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) for two years before being named President and CEO by the MedShare Board of Trustees in May 2014. As COO, he was responsible for all three of MedShare’s locations: Operations, Distribution, Biomed Training & Services, Programs, and Procurement. Charles led the company’s efforts to expand into the Northeast United States by opening a Sorting and Collection Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. Before joining MedShare, Charles held a number of senior management positions with Johnson & Johnson (J&J), including the first Plant Manager for Ethicon in Juarez, Mexico and Director of Asia Pacific Operations, where he was based in Shanghai, China, managing facilities in China and India. His latest role at J&J was that of Vice President of Global Operations for its Aesthetic Medicine Business. He was responsible for 1,200 employees in the U.S., France, The Netherlands, and Mauritius, managing a $200 million dollar budget. An Atlanta, GA native, Redding graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech, and received a certificate in Team Management from the Daniel School of Management at the University of South Carolina. Charles’ time abroad has increased his sensitivity to the global need for health and human services. He is very passionate about improving the quality of life of those most in need. Charles lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area with his wife of 27 years and his son. He enjoys reading, sports, teaching and developing people.

Ozzy Samad, President, Brother’s Brother Foundation (Presenter & Facilitator)

Ozzy Samad is the President of Brother’s Brother Foundation (BBF) based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). BBF’s mission is to help bridge the gap between aid and sustainability by supporting localized programs and providing essential resources in the areas of Healthcare, Infrastructure, Disaster Response, and Education (H.I.D.E). Our vision is A World where Aid leads to Sustainable Development. Ozzy joined BBF in 2017 as COO and became President in January of 2019. His prior career focused on the securities industry where he worked as a fixed income and derivatives trader and then founded an institutional equity trading and investment management firm.

Working in collaboration with the Board and executive team, Ozzy implemented a seamless management transition, helped create BBF’s new vision and mission statements, unveiled a new strategic plan and website, formalized its programs under the H.I.D.E. umbrella, and streamlined operations for greater efficiency and cost savings. BBF works globally with partners on-the-ground to understand and help address their needs while also responding to natural and humanitarian disasters. We do this by sending relief shipments of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and supplies, along with supporting physician led Med-Surg teams, educational programs, and projects such as mobile clinics, maternal care facilities, and solar power systems for emergency shelters.

Ozzy is a Pennsylvania Representative for the U.S. Global Leadership Council and member of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. He is also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Shady Side Academy and Fund for the Advancement of Minorities through Education and was the organization’s COO prior to joining BBF. He resides in Murrysville, PA with his wife, Lisa, and has two adult children. Marina is an avid equestrian and works in the equine industry and Harris is the Assistant Director of the Asia Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington D.C.

Jenny Sia, Director, Global Health and Social Impact, Pfizer Inc. (Presenter)

Jenny Sia is Director, Global Health and Social Impact, and leads global health grant making and impact investing for Pfizer Inc and the Pfizer Foundation, key elements of Pfizer’s strategy to improve access to medicines and healthcare. Through this she is responsible for the Pfizer Foundation’s health system strengthening efforts to improve access to quality healthcare for underserved populations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Jenny has been a member of Pfizer’s corporate responsibility team since 2003 and has worked in several areas including public reporting, stakeholder engagement and investor outreach, and policy development. She spent a year in Beijing developing a Corporate Responsibility strategy for Pfizer China.

Jenny received a Masters in Public Policy with a specialization in international economic policy at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs. She earned a BS from Tulane University.

Tanya Smith-Evans, Curry Consulting Company (Facilitator)

• 25+ years experience managing strategic initiatives and providing engaging thought partnership and executive coaching to non-profit leaders and board members.
• Extensive expertise in evaluating revenue strategies across multiple industries including community development, education, housing, employment, and social services.
• MBA from Kellogg School of Management and B.S. from the University of Virginia.

Kavita Sood-Isaacs,  Senior Manager, Global Community Relations, Baxter International, Inc. (Presenter)

Kavita Sood-Isaacs is the Senior Manager, Global Community Relations at Baxter International Inc. In this role, she supports Baxter’s Mission to Save and Sustain Lives through management of Baxter International Foundation signature partnerships, product donations and employee volunteerism and giving initiatives.

Prior to joining Baxter Kavita spent years working in the international non-profit sector forging cross-sectoral philanthropic partnerships. She has worked with organizations such as RefuSHE, the United Nations Foundation, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, she has lived and worked extensively in developing countries and knows international development from the ground up.

Larry Sthreshley, County Director DR Congo, IMA World Health (Presenter)

Dr. Larry Sthreshley is the Country Director for IMA World Health (IMA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo and served as Chief of Party for FCDO’s Access to Primary Health Care Project (ASSP) and the follow on project Support to the Health System in the DRC (ASSR). These programs began in 2012 and were designed as health systems strengthening programs that emphasized improving reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health by increasing coverage of essential health services for a population of over 10 million in five provinces. Dr. Sthreshley has over 30 years of experience in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with technical expertise in integrated health systems strengthening, health financing, primary health, malaria, water and sanitation, nutrition, and health management information systems.

Dr. Sthreshley was born in the Congo to Presbyterian missionaries and his expertise was built during the 80s and 90s when he worked within the health system itself, supervising faith-based health center programs and working in the Protestant Church of Congo Medical Office. He holds a doctorate in international health policy and planning from Tulane University, a master’s degree in public health from UCLA, and an undergraduate degree in public health from the University of North Carolina.

Arian Timoti, Program Design Manager, Mercy Ships (Facilitator)

Arian Timoti is a development and humanitarian professional who serves as a Programs Design Manager within the International Programs department at Mercy Ships. During her four years at Mercy Ships, she has led and participated on teams for assessment and evaluation in Mercy Ships partner countries in Africa. Her work at Mercy Ships primarily involves developing project plans and final reports; creating agreements for project specific partnerships; improving program design policies and procedures; conducting assessments at local hospitals, local and international organizations, and medical institutions; developing and implementing evaluations plans and conducting field-based interviews.

Arian has committed her life to serving underserved populations and is passionate about Mercy Ships’ goal to transform lives and health systems through the provision of quality surgery and medical capacity building.   Prior to serving with Mercy Ships, Arian worked with an International disaster relief organization serving southern Africa. She later went on to teach International Development, Policy, Program Design and Evaluation at Andrews University in Michigan.

Arian is an alumnus of Oakwood University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and a Master of Science in Community and International Development at Andrews University. She originates from New York but grew up on the Caribbean island of Antigua. She currently resides in the Dallas area with her husband.

Julia van den Bergh, Strategy & Market Intelligence Fellow, Brother’s Brother Foundation (Presenter & Facilitator)

Julia recently joined Brother’s Brother Foundation as a fellow in Strategy & Market Intelligence. Julia came from the pharmaceutical industry, where she worked in consulting and as a Global Competitive Intelligence Manager at Roche.