Our Team

Alaa Ben Abdallah

The Inquirer

Analyst, Rwanda

Alaa asks the right questions—because the right questions lead to better solutions. At IHI, she brings a sharp analytical mindset to health system research, data collection, and program design, always digging deeper to understand the full picture. Before joining IHI, she worked as an analyst at Dalberg Advisors, where she helped shape a national strategy for pharmaceutical research and vaccine manufacturing in South Africa. Her work identified key technology platforms and partners to strengthen the vaccine supply chain. Passionate about making healthcare more effective and equitable, Alaa holds a BA in International Business and Trade from the African Leadership University in Rwanda.

Andrea Cutherell

The Master Weaver

Partner, Kenya

Andrea sees the big picture, but more importantly, she knows how to connect the threads to make it work. Whether it’s bringing together partners, ideas, or resources, she weaves together solutions that drive real impact. With two decades of experience in global health, she specializes in market systems approaches that strengthen health outcomes. She has worked across Africa and South Asia in sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health, malaria, and more. She thrives on untangling complex challenges, designing partnerships that work, and turning research into action. Andrea once led a global effort to help organizations tell better stories with their data—turning dry reports into compelling narratives that influence policy and practice. She holds a Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins University, was a professor with Hopkins in Afghanistan, where she helped design the country’s first HIV/AIDS surveillance system.

Dr. Sarah Bury

The Pathfinder

Senior Associate, Kenya

Sarah is a navigator in the world of global health, always finding new and better ways to strengthen health systems. With a background as both a doctor and a strategist, she is skilled at charting the best course for impactful healthcare programs. At IHI, she applies her expertise in primary healthcare and health systems strengthening to help organizations find practical, effective solutions. Before joining IHI, she was the Medical Director of a Kenyan NGO, overseeing service delivery and health programs. She holds a Diploma in Tropical Medicine from the London School of Tropical Medicine, has completed postgraduate specialization exams with the Royal College of Anaesthetists, and is currently pursuing an MSc in Public Health at King’s College London.

Victory Musuviwa

The Reporter

Analyst, Kenya

Victory is always chasing the story—the real story behind the data, policies, and programs that shape public health. She believes that clear, compelling communication can drive change, and at IHI, she brings that mindset to program development and health research. From documenting vaccine hesitancy trends to amplifying community voices, Victory has experience translating complex health issues into actionable insights. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked on vaccination data management and research with CIHEB-Kenya. She taught at Kenya Medical Training College, helping shape the next generation of public health professionals. Victory holds a BSc in Public Health from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and has an MSc in International Public Health from the Liverpool John Moores University.

Nikki Charman

The Magician

Partner, Scotland

Nikki has spent nearly three decades making the impossible happen in global health. Whether it’s untangling market challenges, transforming provider networks, or designing new strategies, she has a way of making complex systems work—seamlessly. Before IHI, she spent years at PSI, leading private provider networks and designing groundbreaking health programs in Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Kenya. As VP of Marketing at PSI, she created a global design framework that changed how organizations approach program investment. With deep expertise in private sector engagement, market systems, and behavior change, Nikki turns bold ideas into lasting impact—like magic.

Coltrane McDowell

The Architect

Lead Information Designer

Cole is a builder—not of structures, but of ideas, narratives, and solutions that stand strong. At IHI, he designs the blueprints for how complex health information is communicated, ensuring that data isn’t just presented but truly understood. With a background in architecture and visual communication, he crafts compelling visuals that drive action. Before IHI, Cole worked at Herzog & de Meuron, translating intricate architectural concepts for diverse audiences. He has also contributed to health and human rights initiatives in Kenya, including film festivals and social justice campaigns. Cole holds an MA in Social Design from Design Academy Eindhoven and a BA in Studio Arts and Cultural Studies from Concordia University.

Katherine Jennings

The Gardener

Senior Associate, Kenya/Canada

Expert Consultants

Katie nurtures everything—and everyone—around her to thrive. At IHI, she blends emotional intelligence, intellectual rigor, and a love for frameworks to ensure that ideas don’t just take root but flourish. She has brought together global stakeholders to align on critical health challenges, designed roadmaps for introducing new family planning products in the private sector, and orchestrated new organizational structures for leading public health institutions. Before IHI, she worked as a policy analyst at Health Canada, protecting vulnerable populations from environmental risks. She holds an MSc in Public Health from McGill University and a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Ottawa.

Gabrielle Appleford

Gabrielle Appleford has over twenty years of experience in humanitarian and development programs. She has specific subject experience in health financing, sexual and reproductive health/family planning, community and health systems strengthening, private sector engagement, and monitoring, learning and evaluation (MLE). She possesses strong management, leadership, creative and analytical skills and has employed these in a wide range of organizational contexts.

Justine Fisher

Justine supports Impact for Health in our quest to make technical information visually comprehensive. She holds a degree in graphic design at the Ontario College of Art & Design University in Toronto, during which she was given the opportunity to explore animation, packaging design, wayfinding systems, and more. Her thesis was an 8-month exploration into mental health, cognitive behaviors and emotional processing, which is collectively known as “Emotional Architecture”. Through this work she uncovered a passion for combining health and information design, which is what makes her so well-positioned to foster efficient and effective understanding of what we do here at Impact for Health.

Sara Gibson

Sarah Gibson is a results-oriented, global health practitioner with over 18 years of experience in striving to improve health. A skilled communicator, highly effective at: Strategy development and planning; Project design, implementation and evaluation; Consumer and social behavior change; Private sector engagement; Facilitation and workshop development; Organizational change management and capacity building; and Leadership alignment, mentorship and coaching talent. Sarah has extensive experience across sub-Saharan Africa and has served as a USAID Chief of Party, and Country Director and Senior Country Director with Population Services International in Malawi and Tanzania, respectively. Sarah holds a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and was awarded the Top Thesis Award for Health Communication by the International Communication Association on graduating.

Kim Whipkey

Kimberly Whipkey is an accomplished professional with 18 years of experience in family planning (FP) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) policy, advocacy, communications, and program management in low- and middle-income countries and in the United States. Ms. Whipkey has expertise in advocacy strategy, policy and data analysis, program design and evaluation, instructional design and facilitation, capacity building, knowledge management, and strategic communications for a wide variety of stakeholder audiences. Ms. Whipkey is a skilled project and people manager with a track record of providing technical assistance and collaborating with local partners to propel evidence-informed policy, program, and health product interventions globally and in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the United States. She holds a Master of Public Health from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Bates College and was recognized in 2023 as a top 40 under 40 professional in Northern Virginia.

Larry Barat

Lwarence (Larry) has 30 years experience at multilateral, government, non-profit, and public health agencies in policy guidance and design, and program development, implementation, and evaluation. Global expert in malaria case management and elimination, child survival, tropical disease control and elimination, and COVID/pandemic threat response. Recognized for supporting countries in translating global policies into successful programs, as well as using lessons learned to inform global forums. Extensive experience managing large multidisciplinary teams and bringing stakeholders together from impacted countries, bilateral/multilateral agencies, research/academia, non-profits, and private sector to produce key products and deliverables.