Leadership and Team
Our founding team and advisory board, a diverse group of passionate leaders with over a century of combined experience across the public and private healthcare sectors, saw the immense challenges facing global healthcare
More importantly, they saw an opportunity to make a difference.
Our Leadership Team
Emmanuel Akpakwu
CEO & Founder
Emmanuel is the Founder of Axmed.
He is a seasoned executive with a blend of professional...
Emmanuel is the Founder of Axmed.
He is a seasoned executive with a blend of professional experiences spanning 14 years across finance, public/private partnership, and healthcare.
Emmanuel began his professional journey as an analyst at JPMorgan Investment Bank. He then progressed to Merck KGaA, taking on the role of Associate Director of Corporate Strategy. His leadership continued as he spearheaded the Value Based Healthcare Practice at the World Economic Forum.
In 2019, Emmanuel joined Novartis as a Director of Corporate Strategy, with an immediate mandate to reshape the company's strategy for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). He delivered a Board approved strategic plan, seamlessly integrating innovative commercial models, backed by financial and patient-access metrics as central performance indicators. Emmanuel’s background and passion for access improvement drove him to initiate and co-lead the issuance of Novartis’ Sustainability Linked Bond, a first for both the company, and the pharmaceutical industry, that fortified the company’s access commitments with a EUR 1.85Bn ($2Bn) in financing. Subsequently, Emmanuel stepped into the role of Chief Commercial Officer for the SSA region, where was privileged to lead a 100+ strong organization of passionate associates in improving access to Novartis medicines across 47 countries. Under his leadership, Emmanuel's team collaborated seamlessly with both internal and external stakeholders, with their efforts being instrumental in establishing the Africa Medicines Supply Platform to expedite vaccine distribution across the continent at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Emmanuel holds a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, an M.Phil. in Technology Policy from the University of Cambridge, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the University of Hertfordshire.
Sofia Radley-Searle
COO & Co-Founder
Sofia is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Axmed. From a very young age and...
Sofia is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Axmed. From a very young age and through family experience, she decided she would build a career that could help patients live healthier lives, especially those in areas where access to therapies was most challenging.
During her Pharmacy School years, she undertook several research projects to work on developing new therapeutic assets, but she also spent most of her free time as a volunteer pharmacist in India, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Helping local clinical teams to deliver the care and medicines patients needed in the most underserved areas of these countries, she experienced firsthand the burden caused by a fragmented and unfair access to medicines system.
Sofia then spent 7 years in the pharmaceutical sector. She first joined GSK’s Future Leaders Program after which she transitioned into a diverse set of local and global commercial roles. From sales leadership to global and local marketing lead roles, she was able to see the important role the pharmaceutical industry plays in bringing therapies to market, as well as some of the market failure dynamics sustaining the inequalities still present when patients try to access live saving medicines around the world.
She decided to leave the industry to work on improving this issue. While earning her MBA degree at Harvard Business School she met her two co-founders and started Axmed.
Sofia is the mother of two young boys. She earned her M. Pharm degree at Universidad CEU San Pablo, graduating as #1 of her class and holds a High Distinction Master’s in Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.
Felix Ohnmacht, PhD
CCO & Co-Founder
Felix Ohnmacht is Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Axmed.
Felix is a passionate advocate...
Felix Ohnmacht is Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Axmed.
Felix is a passionate advocate for health equity and transformative change. He held several senior management positions at Novartis, serving as the organization’s Head of Strategy for the sub-Saharan Africa Region, overseeing 47 countries. He also served as Head of Innovation, Digital, and Partnerships, where he spearheaded the creation of The Novartis Biome SSA, a regional innovation hub focused on advancing innovative business models and technology-driven healthcare solutions.
Before joining Novartis, Felix was a core member of Accenture's Precision Medicines Center of Excellence and a subject matter expert for its Global Health unit, leading global strategy services for major pharmaceutical companies. Earlier in his career, Felix worked in the humanitarian sector, where he co-led a venture with Kofi Annan, the United Nations, and the League of Arab States during the Syrian Civil War in 2011. This initiative focused on investigating the profound impact of crisis and war on healthcare and people's lives.
Felix holds a PhD from the Graduate Institute, Geneva, with a dissertation on post-colonialism in medical history. He was an advanced doctoral researcher at Princeton University and the Max Planck Institute. Currently, Felix is a visiting lecturer at the Graduate Institute, Geneva, and co-authored the UN Broadband Commission Report on "Reimagining Global Health through Artificial Intelligence."
Mattia Albergante
CTO
Mattia is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Axmed. He is passionate about technology, customer-centric...
Mattia is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Axmed. He is passionate about technology, customer-centric product development and the public-good applications of Artificial Intelligence.
Mattia held several leadership positions at Frontiers, the leading Open Access scientific publisher. He joined the company in its early years in the technology department and played a key role in its growth during his 10 year tenure, directing the cross-functional teams responsible for the creation and launch of its data and AI platforms. These products were instrumental in allowing Frontiers to become one of the leading publishers and to further accelerate the cause for fair and open scientific dissemination. The work of his teams set new standards for the publishing industry and were recognized in various media, including the New York Times, and at notable conferences like the ACM in 2019.
Prior to his tenure at Frontiers, Mattia has worked as digital consultant in Lausanne and as Agile Coach in Berlin, shaping his approach to successful product development focused on fast iterations and persistent customer-centricity.
Mattia holds a PhD in Physics from EPFL (Lausanne), with a dissertation on the numerical modeling of heating systems for nuclear fusion power-plants. His doctoral work was published in numerous scientific outlets, with more than 10 peer-reviewed articles around his research.
Alejandro Bes
General Counsel
Alejandro is passionate about technology and has focused his career in understanding how it can...
Alejandro Bes
General Counsel
Alejandro is passionate about technology and has focused his career in understanding how it can help improve the lives of people around the world.
He joins from Novartis, where he was Global Legal Head for Immunology, overseeing the legal affairs function of the International Immunology division. Prior to that he was Global Legal Head for Customer Experience, Platforms and Data, in charge of the global legal strategy and implementation for Novartis Pharma on topics related to new technologies and AI applied to the industry. His experience at Novartis includes dealing with large tech companies, start ups and other pharma companies. Alejandro joined Novartis in 2018 and previously was in in charge of legal and regulatory affairs at Apple for Southern Europe, based in Milan. Prior to Apple he was an associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Madrid and Barcelona.
He oversees a wide range of legal topics, navigating the intersection of the tech and the pharma industries, is experienced in complex regulatory and multijurisdictional legal issues.
Alejandro is Spanish, his academic background is in Spain (University of Zaragoza) and US (George Mason University), with postgraduate studies in the UK (King’s College) and Italy (Bocconi University). In the past he has been honored as a leading lawyer in his practice for technology, including in Legal 500’s Top GCs in Italy and has participated as invited lecturer in several leading academic institutions like Bocconi University (Milan) on topics regarding the challenges presented by new technologies. He is currently an invited lecturer in ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, on topics related to pharma and law.
Alex is based in Basel and spends his spare time hiking, cycling and discovering the Swiss Alps. If it gives vertigo, feels cold or makes you sweat, chances are he is around! He is an avid eater and is always curious to try a new recipe.
Temitayo Erogbogbo
GLOBAL HEAD OF CORPORATE & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Temitayo (Tayo) Erogbogbo has over two decades of combined private sector and international...
Temitayo Erogbogbo
GLOBAL HEAD OF CORPORATE & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Temitayo (Tayo) Erogbogbo has over two decades of combined private sector and international development experience, 18 years of which was spent in the pharmaceutical industry occupying multiple roles that include commercial responsibilities in sales, and marketing; other responsibilities including government affairs, patient engagement and communications covering national, regional and global responsibilities. He covered several therapeutic areas that included Infectious Disease (HIV), Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; and NCD.
He recently led Multilateral Organization Engagement at MSD and global advocacy for the MSD for Mothers initiative, where he was responsible for advancing health
equity through programmatic and advocacy collaborations to deliver policies and practice changes to improve health outcomes. As part of his responsibilities, he led various global strategic partnerships for MSD’s $650m flagship philanthropic initiative - MSD for Mothers, contributing to the initiatives impact that includes 30 million+ women reached through programs, 200+ strategic investments and 160 million+ people reached through improved access to quality facilities.
Over the last three years, Tayo has directed and supported MSD’s enterprise-wide engagement with multilateral organizations through the corporate affairs function that includes collaborations with UN agencies, development organizations and financing corporations including the World Bank group, trade and industry associations such as IFPMA and platforms such as the World Economic Forum. In this capacity he also coordinates the enterprise-wide engagement in global forums such as the World Health Assembly and the UN General Assembly.
Tayo is a member of the Governance Board of FP2030, and an inaugural member of the World Health Organization Country Connector on Private Sector in Health Steering Committee, which supports countries’ strategic engagement of the private sector to strengthen equitable and sustainable access to health care. He is an active member of the maternal and newborn donor group and several global health platforms including the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere Management Team and it’s advocacy and country implementation work groups. He served on the Global Technical Working Group for Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance Review co-led by the WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF. He served on the Steering Committee of i3 (Investing in Innovation) a pan-African initiative to support the commercialization and impact of leading startups with grants, introductions to major healthcare organizations and support to close partnerships.
A passionate diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) champion, he co-led the European regional chapter of MSD’s Employee Business Resource Group and externally promote gender and ethnic diversity inclusion through global platforms such as the WEF.
Tayo led the Adolescent and Youth Engagement at Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), an international Non-Governmental Organization hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO); and was Executive Director for the Wellbeing Foundation, Africa between 2012 and 2014.
He earned a BSc in Management Sciences from Loughborough University and MSc Information Technology for Management from Coventry University. Tayo is a father to two amazing children, Seyi and Kayode.
Our Team
Dr. Ebrahim Adamjee
Director of Business Development
Dr Ebrahim Adamjee is Executive Director of Business Development, Africa at Axmed. He is based...
Dr Ebrahim Adamjee is Executive Director of Business Development, Africa at Axmed. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya and is enthusiastic about health system strengthening and manifesting a future where every patient in Africa has access to quality healthcare.
Ebrahim held several leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry, including most recently Medical Head of Specialty Medicines & Programs at Novartis Sub-Saharan Africa (47+ countries). Previously, he served as Cluster Medical Head (East Africa) in charge of the full Therapeutic Areas spectrum. Ebrahim has spearheaded a plethora of large-scale health system strengthening projects and led high value innovative molecule launches across multiple countries, always ensuring that patients are the ultimate beneficiaries of better access.
Ebrahim has an extensive Medicine and Clinical experience, with a deep understanding of restricted access. Prior to joining the private sector, Ebrahim worked as a Medical Doctor at Kenya’s well-known Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. Today, he serves as the Deputy Chair of the Pharmacovigilance and Medical Affairs Sub-Committee at the Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Industry Association (KAPI).
Ebrahim holds two Masters degrees, one in Health Economics/Pharmacoeconomics (UPF Barcelona School of Management) as well as an MBA from Valar Institute. He obtained his MD from the University of Nairobi. As an avid researcher, he has published widely, including a paper on the ‘Cost of Illness of Diabetes in Kenya’ (first of its kind in Kenya). Ebrahim was selected as Kenya’s Top 40-under-40 and was recognized by the Kenya Medical Association for his role in developing innovative healthcare solutions to the medical fraternity despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Charles Kitheka
Director of Supply Chain & Logistics
I am a Logistics, Supply Chain, and Project Management specialist with two decades of experience....
I am a Logistics, Supply Chain, and Project Management specialist with two decades of experience. my expertise spans across procurement, logistics, and enhancing customer experiences. I have honed my skills, knowledge, and experience through engagements with prominent Global Market leaders in shipping and logistics i.e. Maersk Line and Kuehne+ Nagel on the supply side of the supply chain function.
Additionally, I have gained valuable insights from working with Kenya's leading IT and Media Services Provider, Wananchi Group, and KSB Pumps and Valves, a global industry leader in the manufacturing, sales, and maintenance of pumps and equipment for fresh Water and sanitation management, Mining, Oil, and Gas Industries, on the demand side of the supply chain.
This background and experience is pertinent to my current role at Axmed as we are committed to creating a two-sided marketplace to bring together procurers (demand) and commodity suppliers (supply).
Among my notable achievements is successful supply chain management in several turn-key projects from conception to completion. These projects span across in diverse functions and technical fields, from aid and relief, pharmaceutical logistics to network buildups as well as fresh water supply projects. Each involved navigating complex and intricate shipping, logistics, and customs procedures in 11 countries situated in East, Central, and The Horn of Africa.
I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce from The Kenyatta University in Kenya. In addition to this, I have formal training in Kaizen and Green Belt for process improvement, I have also earned certifications in Project Management, further solidifying my expertise in the field.
Anusha Moodley
Executive Committee Administrator
Anusha is a meticulous task driven professional with +10 years of administrative and project experience...
Anusha is a meticulous task driven professional with +10 years of administrative and project experience in managing C-Suites Executives.
With a strong background in office management and administrative support which she gained whilst at GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo and Novartis. At Novartis she has supported and collaborated across Sub-Sahara Africa. Anusha has a proven track record of establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Her professionalism and proactive approach, attention to detail, managing complex schedules and ability to thrive in high-pressure environments make her an essential partner to C-level leaders to ensure they can focus on strategic objectives and decision-making.
She is committed to continuous learning and professional development to stay on top of the latest trends in executive support and project management. Her commitment to excellence and her passion for supporting senior leadership make her a valued member of any executive team.
Anusha holds a diploma in Information Technology from Technikon of South Africa and certification in Project Management from the University of Stellenbosch.
Roudy Tarabay
Senior Fullstack Developer, Frontend Lead
Roudy is an experienced Full Stack Developer based in Byblos, Lebanon. With more than 5...
Roudy is an experienced Full Stack Developer based in Byblos, Lebanon. With more than 5 years of experience working with digital agencies and startups, he has a rich exposure to many business domains and swiftly absorbs new ones.
Primarily specialized in React.js, Laravel and adjacent technologies, Roudy has contributed to and spearheaded multiple projects related to fintech, healthcare, e-commerce, e-learning, marketing and others.
Roudy holds a B.S and M.S in computer science and is fluent in English, French and Arabic.
Christopher Junge
Director of Corporate Projects
Christopher Junge is the Director of Corporate Projects at Axmed. His passion for public health...
Christopher Junge is the Director of Corporate Projects at Axmed. His passion for public health stems from recognizing how one's life can be fundamentally influenced by the country and health system they are born into.
With 14 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Christopher has spent seven years at Sandoz in marketing and sales for Germany, and another seven years at Novartis. Sandoz, the generic arm of Novartis, provided him with a comprehensive view of the pharmaceutical landscape.
At Novartis, Christopher joined the Novartis Access team, which later became Novartis Global Health & Sustainability. He designed and implemented various programs leveraging Novartis' expertise in drug research, development, and access to medicines to address health priorities in underserved regions.
In Ghana, he learned about sickle cell disease, a prevalent genetic disorder in Africa. He led the introduction of hydroxyurea, a life-saving drug, in partnership with the government to ensure its affordability.
His public health efforts continued with the Cancer Access Partnership (CAP), a collaboration between Novartis and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), reducing cancer medicine costs in Sub-Saharan Africa by nearly 60%. He also led Novartis’ Global Health Avoidable Blindness program, addressing blindness in low- and middle-income countries through collaborations with major NGOs.
Christopher's academic background includes a Bachelor's in American Studies from the University of Leipzig and a semester in Business Administration at Ramkhamhaeng University in Bangkok. These experiences paved the way for his entry into the corporate world, starting with Sandoz in 2011.
Claire Ball
Director of People, Wellbeing and Success
Claire is a dedicated and results-oriented Talent specialist with a proven track record of leading...
Claire is a dedicated and results-oriented Talent specialist with a proven track record of leading and developing high-performing teams on a global scale.
Skilled in establishing and nurturing relationships across all levels of an organization, she excels in implementing scalable talent processes and expanding teams across diverse regions.
With experience in hiring both Technical and Non-Technical talent worldwide, she is passionate about sourcing top talent to drive organizational success in multicultural settings.
She thrives in a specialized environment that recognizes the pivotal role of talent in achieving company objectives.
Michael Onyango
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Michael is a passionate pharmacist dedicated to advancing access to quality, affordable healthcare products and...
Michael is a passionate pharmacist dedicated to advancing access to quality, affordable healthcare products and bolstering healthcare systems, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries. With extensive experience in pharmaceutical regulation, supply chain management, and healthcare systems strengthening initiatives, he actively contributes to bridging gaps in healthcare delivery.
With expertise in pharmaceutical regulation, supply chain management, healthcare system strengthening, and global health advocacy, he possesses proficiency in navigating complex regulatory landscapes to ensure compliance and facilitate access to essential medications.
Wilson Nyansah
Director of Business Development
Wilson Bright Nyansah is a seasoned pharmacist and business leader with over a decade of...
Wilson Bright Nyansah is a seasoned pharmacist and business leader with over a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industry across Africa. He has led multinational companies in bringing innovative healthcare solutions to African patients. His diverse roles in operations, sales, supply chain, marketing, global market access, and policy have driven advancements in medicine and improved healthcare access.
Wilson is committed to ensuring no patient is left behind due to financial status or geographical location. He has witnessed the severe impact of diseases like cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases, but also the transformative power of breakthrough medicines. He champions efforts to reduce the time and cost of delivering innovative healthcare solutions to Africa and LMICs through efficient strategies and supply chains.
Starting his career at Sanofi, Wilson enhanced healthcare professionals' understanding of therapeutic solutions. At Roche, he played a key role in improving access to oncology medicines and diagnostics in Africa and later worked on the Global Roche Neuroscience and Rare Disease program in Basel, Switzerland.
Wilson holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy and an MPhil in Pharmacology from KNUST, an MBA from the University of South Wales, and various certificates from INSEAD and the University of Washington. He enjoys traveling, exploring cultures, spending time with family, and is a passionate football fan.
Byeronie Epstein
Chief of Staff
Byeronie is a dynamic and innovative leader, deeply passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex...
Byeronie is a dynamic and innovative leader, deeply passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex global challenges with a focus on healthcare. She grew up in South Africa, where she confronted firsthand the limitations of the healthcare system, unreliable electricity, and unsafe public transport. These early experiences ignited her determination to make a difference and build companies that can create a positive impact. Her unique ability to "think differently" and her relentless focus on solutions have established her as a formidable leader, always pushing boundaries and seeking growth.
Byeronie co-founded and served as COO of Deep Medical Therapeutics, a digital healthcare company, and Docotela, a telemedicine platform in South Africa. Both ventures aimed to make primary healthcare more affordable and accessible through digital solutions and clinic facilities. Under her strategic leadership, they achieved product profit margins of 30-60%, a 113% monthly sales increase over 11 months, and an 18-fold return on the founders' initial investment within six months.
Her career also includes roles as a process engineer and global project manager. Byeronie has been the liaison to the World Bank and spearheaded sustainability projects across five continents, collaborating with over 60 multinationals and managing partners who collectively generated annual revenues exceeding $2 trillion. Throughout her career, Byeronie has raised approximately $4.9 million in combined investments for various initiatives. Byeronie holds a master’s degree in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town. In her spare time, she embraces adventure, whether riding reindeer or horses in outer Mongolia, climbing Kilimanjaro, or kitesurfing along the Kenyan coast.
Chirag Maliwal
Full Stack Engineer
Chirag Maliwal is a highly motivated software developer from India with a strong passion...
Chirag Maliwal is a highly motivated software developer from India with a strong passion for programming and technology. He is dedicated to continuous learning and strives to expand his knowledge and skills every day. Known for his honesty, integrity, and commitment to delivering high-quality work, Chirag brings a strong work ethic to every project.
Throughout his career, Chirag has worked on various projects in web development. He excels in collaborating with teams and sharing his expertise to achieve outstanding results. His enthusiasm for creating practical solutions that benefit people's everyday business operations drives his work. Chirag's dedication to innovation and his drive to develop impactful technology solutions make him a valuable addition to any organization.
Cesar Castares
Cloud Data Engineer
Technology enthusiast. He’s been working as a Data Engineer and Backend Developer for 4+ years,...
Cesar Castares
Cloud Data Engineer
Technology enthusiast. He’s been working as a Data Engineer and Backend Developer for 4+ years, helping multiple businesses transform their data into value. Before that, he was dedicated to solve problems in different Customer Operations positions. He‘s always looking for the latest innovations in Open Source software, machine learning, and programming languages.
Eva Ngigi
Global Finance Executive Director
Eva is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA-K) and holds full memberships with both...
Eva Ngigi
Global Finance Executive Director
Eva is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA-K) and holds full memberships with both the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and the Association of Women Accountants of Kenya (AWAK). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (BCom Accounting) from Egerton University and a Master of Business Administration (MBA Finance) from Kenyatta University. With 12 years of diverse Finance & Accounting experience, Eva has excelled in various financial roles driving strategic initiatives and ensuring operational efficiency.
Previously, Eva served as the Group Director of Finance & Accounting at Chipper Cash, a leading US-based Fintech startup. Eva was instrumental in providing strategic financial leadership, overseeing global teams and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. She developed robust financial strategies, streamlined reporting processes and successfully led audits to enhance transparency and operational efficiency. She also established & managed stakeholders and regulatory financial reporting.
Prior to Chipper, Eva served as the Financial Accountant at Nailab, a tech business incubator. She led the development and execution of strategic financial strategies, oversaw fund management, financial planning and analysis, financial accounting and budgeting & forecasting. She effectively managed donor and investor-funded projects, ensuring adherence to international standards and mitigating financial risks. Eva also collaborated with key partners including the Jack Ma Foundation, UNFPA, Graca Machel Trust and GIZ among others, securing continued funding through transparent reporting and strong stakeholder engagement.
Eva’s professional experience spans the startup ecosystem, with a focus on dynamic, fast-paced environments. Her leadership across multinational contexts in Africa, the US and Europe has deepened her understanding of diverse markets and regulatory frameworks, making her a highly adaptable and strong finance professional.
She is particularly passionate about advancing the mission and vision of ensuring that no geographic or economic barriers prevent access to life-saving medicines.
Joel Anaman
Senior Product Manager
Joel thrives on solving complex challenges that hinder access to essentials like healthcare, employability, and...
Joel Anaman
Senior Product Manager
Joel thrives on solving complex challenges that hinder access to essentials like healthcare, employability, and education through technology and process design. Since 2015, his career has been fuelled by this passion.
He began as a Commercial Pharmacist with Merck KGaA and later at P&G, developing deep insights into the pharmaceutical value chain in Sub-Saharan Africa and its cultural intricacies. Leveraging this expertise, Joel designed B2B software that streamlined supply chain operations across 500+ healthcare delivery points, boosting medication access and cutting patient costs. Beyond healthcare, he has crafted employability solutions that have empowered 1000s of young people and directly unlocked over $2 million in economic opportunities for African talents.
After graduating from the University of Ghana with a Bachelor of Pharmacy, Joel earned an MSc in Business Analytics and Management Sciences from the University of Southampton as a Chevening Scholar, among the top 2.5% of young people recognized by the UK Government for exceptional leadership. As Impact Officer for the Global Shapers Accra Hub, he led the charge to win the Global Shapers Community’s inaugural Innovation Prize.
Need a human Swiss Army knife to get things done? Joel is your guy.
Oleksandra Nahirniak
QA Engineer
My name is Oleksandra. I started my QA path right after graduating from the National...
Oleksandra Nahirniak
QA Engineer
My name is Oleksandra. I started my QA path right after graduating from the National Technical University of Ukraine 6 years ago.
I started as a 50/50 Manual and Automation QA but in 2 years I switched fully to the Manual testing and grew more in the leadership and communication part of the job. I used to work in the largest outsourcing companies in Eastern Europe (Epam and Ciclum), tried myself in different projects (e-commerce, betting, data provider).
Last 2,5 years I lived in Dublin, Ireland where I was working for Frontiers Media, the 3rd most-cited and 6th largest research publisher and open science platform. Here I worked closely with the outsourcing development team, we led the Production office product from the scratch to the MVP release on Prod. Also I performed the quality checks for the Audience Manager, the Lead generator and data provider used by the internal team.
Recently I moved back to my native country so now I'm located in Kyiv, Ukraine
Chinedu Anokwulu
KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER
Chinedu Hilary Anokwulu is a Nigerian pharmacist and a dedicated Market Access Manager at Swiss...
Chinedu Anokwulu
KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER
Chinedu Hilary Anokwulu is a Nigerian pharmacist and a dedicated Market Access Manager at Swiss Pharma Nigeria Ltd. (Swipha). Known for his dynamism, Chinedu was the first to manage Swipha’s Business Development activities, where he pioneered efforts in international business partnerships, new product development, and contract manufacturing. His ability to navigate complex terrains led to the successful commercialization of key products and the creation of new business opportunities.
In addition to his role in Business Development, Chinedu transitioned to managing Swipha’s Market Access efforts, where he led teams in driving public health initiatives and securing significant funding from organizations like MMV/Unitaid and the World Bank's IMPACT project. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing Swipha’s WHO product prequalification and expanding healthcare access in collaboration with key stakeholders such as USAID, UNICEF, and the Global Fund.
Chinedu holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and is now rounding his MBA at Nexford University. His blend of scientific expertise and business acumen has made him a key contributor to the pharmaceutical industry, advancing healthcare and promoting access to essential medicines.
Ebo Turkson
FULL STACK ENGINEER
Ebo is a full stack software engineer with expertise in developing tools for bioinformatics, scalable...
Ebo Turkson
FULL STACK ENGINEER
Ebo is a full stack software engineer with expertise in developing tools for bioinformatics, scalable web applications for medical support services, and complex data-driven projects. He excels in architecting and optimizing performance-intensive systems and event-driven distributed infrastructures. His experience spans both technical leadership and hands-on development, with a particular focus on healthcare technology and engineering data solutions. With an MPhil in Scientific Computing and Industrial Modeling from KNUST - Ghana, he has applied his academic knowledge to provide technical support for research at H3ABioNet and helping drive innovation at mPharma. His collaborative spirit and adaptive mindset reflect both his multicultural experience and commitment to delivering impactful solutions.
John Norris
Talent Acquisition Manager
John is an experienced Talent professional who has a track record of scaling teams for...
John Norris
Talent Acquisition Manager
John is an experienced Talent professional who has a track record of scaling teams for early and growth stage businesses. He has delivered results by shaping recruitment strategies, refining processes and is an advocate of leveraging data to drive decision making. He has a proven track record of attracting top talent in highly competitive markets while ensuring a
world-class experience for candidates. Known for collaborating closely with both stakeholders to build both technical and non-technical teams, he has led recruitment processes across
diverse, global locations and has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to ensure the business objectives are being met.
Angel Jimenez
Senior Back-End Engineer
Ángel is an experienced Senior Back-End Engineer with 7+ years of expertise in designing, developing,...
Angel Jimenez
Senior Back-End Engineer
Ángel is an experienced Senior Back-End Engineer with 7+ years of expertise in designing, developing, and architecting robust and reliable systems. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in leading engineering teams and driving complex technical projects to success, combining strong leadership abilities with hands-on development. His professional journey spans industries such as fintech and healthcare, where he has consistently delivered innovative and tailored solutions.
Deeply passionate about Python programming, clean and maintainable code, and fostering a DevOps culture that prioritizes collaboration, efficiency, and automation. Aims to be a driving force within start-ups, helping them build secure, scalable, and high-performance systems that excel across the entire development lifecycle. With a particular focus on data architecture and management, tries his best to ensure that every project he touches is optimized for both current demands and future growth.
Currently based in Granada, Spain, holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Málaga.
Nanayaa Appenteng
Senior Advisor, Strategy and Partnerships
Nanayaa is a technology policy and government relations strategist and advisor, with experience working on...
Nanayaa Appenteng
Senior Advisor, Strategy and Partnerships
Nanayaa is a technology policy and government relations strategist and advisor, with experience working on emerging technology policy, large-scale innovation programs, thought leadership, and strategic campaigns.
Nanayaa recently worked as a Government Relations Strategist on the European Policy and Government Relations team at TikTok. Prior to joining TikTok, she led policy strategy and engagement on emerging technologies at Meta, as well as Meta’s policy research efforts across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). She has previously worked at the World Economic, where she spearheaded research and innovation programs as a Director of Research and Strategy. She holds a BA in economics from Mount Holyoke College, and a Master of Public Affairs from Sciences Po.
Joyce Njeri
Key Account Manager – Supply Chain
Joyce Njeri is an experienced account management and business development professional with a strong background...
Joyce Njeri is an experienced account management and business development professional with a strong background in pharmaceutical supply chain operations and logistics. Before joining Axmed, she worked at DP World’s Market Access division as an Account Manager, where she played a key role in optimizing supply chain solutions and worked with principals such as AstraZeneca, GSK, Bayer, Pfizer, P&G, and Merck to enhance access to medicines across East Africa. She successfully led market expansion initiatives, managed key stakeholder relationships, and streamlined logistics operations for donor-funded healthcare projects.
At her core, Joyce is a people person who believes life (and work) is better with good vibes and great connections. She’s passionate about getting life-saving medicines where they’re needed and thinks collaboration, resilience, and a little warmth can fix almost anything—except maybe bad coffee.
Liz Van Erp
Partner, Corporate Strategy & Pipeline Development
Liz van Erp brings over a decade of public health and pharmaceutical industry...
Liz Van Erp
Partner, Corporate Strategy & Pipeline Development
Liz van Erp brings over a decade of public health and pharmaceutical industry experience to her role as Partner in Axmed Global Health Advisory and Head of Corporate Strategy and Pipeline Development. An expert in infectious diseases and a seasoned strategist, Liz is dedicated to lower the burden of preventable diseases across the world.
Liz joined from Roche, where she played a pivotal role in the company’s CEO Office and Pharma Strategy Team,developing the company's 10-year strategy. Earlier contributions include roles in Medical Affairs, Clinical Operations and Policy. The latter with a scope for East Africa, where she coordinated cancer screening initiatives and clinical trials in remote areas.
Prior to Roche, Liz made significant impacts at Johnson & Johnson during the COVID-19 pandemic. She contributed to the unprecedented development of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in various roles across the value chain. She was also instrumental as co-lead for the digital transformation initiative at Janssen Vaccines.
Liz began her career at the National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands, earning a PhD in Virology and Immunology with a focus on maternal antibodies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus in newborns. She has (co-)authored 10 open-access publications and holds a master’s degree in biomedical sciences with a specialization in Infectious Diseases & Immunology from Utrecht University.
Annjoy Gitonga
Commercial Associate
Annjoy Gitonga is a licensed and registered pharmacist in Kenya (by the Pharmacy and Poisons...
Annjoy Gitonga is a licensed and registered pharmacist in Kenya (by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board), and a passionate public health advocate currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University. She earned her Bachelor of Pharmacy from USIU-Africa, driven by a lifelong commitment to improving healthcare across Africa. Her journey into public health was inspired by deeply personal experiences and shaped through hands-on work in digital health, supply chain coordination, and remote healthcare systems.
While supporting the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP), Annjoy contributed to the development of tech-driven solutions that connected countries and enabled access to essential health products during some of Africa’s most critical moments. Beyond the technical, Annjoy believes in the power of people. Her work is grounded in community engagement, mentorship, and equity-cantered collaboration. She has deepened her skills through global health training at the University of Washington, with programs in Project Management, Epidemiology, HIV Management, and Global Health Research.
Known for her thoughtful presence, clarity in communication, and strategic lens, Annjoy brings both heart and rigor to every project. Whether coordinating teams across borders or mentoring youth in her community, her mission remains constant: to create healthier, more equitable systems that leave no one behind. Outside work, Annjoy enjoys quiet mornings with a good book, deep conversations, and a warm chocolate chip cookie paired with a hot coffee.
Temitope Coker
Principal
Temitope Coker is a seasoned advisor in global pharmaceutical strategy, with over seven...
Temitope Coker is a seasoned advisor in global pharmaceutical strategy, with over seven years of experience guiding biotech and life sciences companies on access, pricing, and commercialization across a wide range of therapeutic areas. Temitope joined from Trinity Life Sciences, where she served as an Associate Principal and played a key role in shaping global launch strategies, portfolio optimization, and market access plans — supporting decisions that have driven multi-billion-dollar transactions and investments.
Passionate about improving access to medicines in underserved regions, Temitope is the founder of TC Health, a platform dedicated to unpacking the dynamics of healthcare and pharmaceutical systems in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. Her thought leadership has been featured by ISPOR and other prominent industry forums, covering oncology, vaccination strategy, and evidence generation for emerging markets.
Temitope holds a degree in Economics, with cum laude honours, from Columbia University and a certificate in Global Health and Development Policy from the School for International Training in Switzerland, where she trained alongside experts from the WHO, UNDP, and MSF.
Isabelle Ormsby
Analyst
Isabelle is a strategy and investment professional with experience across healthcare consulting and...
Isabelle is a strategy and investment professional with experience across healthcare consulting and private equity, bringing a sharp analytical lens and commercial mindset to complex strategic challenges.
She began her career at L.E.K. Consulting, where she specialised in healthcare, advising pharmaceutical companies, healthcare systems, and investors on market entry, growth, and operational strategy. Isabelle then joined Bain Capital’s private equity deal team, where she worked across the full deal lifecycle, from origination to execution, blending deep commercial insight with rigorous financial analysis to find and evaluate investment opportunities.
Isabelle holds a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, with a focus on biological sciences, and is driven by the opportunity to bridge scientific innovation with real-world impact.
Angela Mayaka
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CEO OFFICE
Angela Mayaka is a seasoned Executive Assistant and strategic operator with over a...
Angela Mayaka is a seasoned Executive Assistant and strategic operator with over a decade of experience supporting executives across the higher education, tech and e-mobility sectors. Known for her holistic organizational insight and ability to drive high-impact initiatives, Angela has consistently elevated executive productivity through meticulous cross-functional collaboration and strategic project execution. Her ability to coordinate C-Suite efforts has resulted in the seamless delivery of mission-critical engagements, positioning her as a key driver of transformative leadership success. She thrives in mission-driven environments where innovation meets implementation.
Maude Schmidt
ASSOCIATE, GLOBAL HEALTH ADVISORY
Maude is a psychologist (FSP) with over 10 years of experience in healthcare specialized in...
Maude Schmidt
ASSOCIATE, GLOBAL HEALTH ADVISORY
Maude is a psychologist (FSP) with over 10 years of experience in healthcare specialized in access to care. Her passion is advocating for actionable, innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions that improve patient care.
Her skillset is unique and shaped by extensive international experiences across Switzerland, the UK, Canada, and California; from care delivery, such as intensive care and sexual health, care management including HR, politics and entrepreneurship, through to both global and national value and access at AstraZeneca and in strategic consulting.
Throughout her career, Maude has worked for and advised a variety of pharmaceutical, medtech, and not-for-profit companies and health providers on access to care globally and with a particular interest for low- and middle-income countries. She has hands-on experience leading access strategies, including reimbursement dossiers and scientific advice submitted to governmental bodies, healthcare system strengthening, and design and management of global health access programs and health-related communication campaigns.
Maude holds a BSc (honors) from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in Psychology and Art History with an exchange year at Concordia University, Canada, a MSc in Psychology from the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, and a second MSc in International Health Management from Imperial College London, UK.
Adobea Adow
COMMERCIAL LEGAL SUMMER ASSOCIATE
Adobea is a pharmacist and lawyer with a growing specialisation in technology and cybersecurity governance,...
Adobea Adow
COMMERCIAL LEGAL SUMMER ASSOCIATE
Adobea is a pharmacist and lawyer with a growing specialisation in technology and cybersecurity governance, risk, and compliance. With nearly a decade of frontline experience in healthcare and a strong foundation in legal advisory services, she brings a unique perspective to complex legal and compliance issues in tech-driven environments. She joins Axmed this summer as a Commercial Legal Associate, where she offers cross-functional legal support, contract management and risk awareness. Certified as an ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and serving as the legal and IT compliance lead at CordTree, Adobea is committed to becoming a well-rounded legal professional in tech, helping organisations meet their business goals while navigating risk responsibly. She also served as a Legal Associate at Bawaa Law Consult, a boutique law firm in the bustling city of Accra. A creative at heart, Adobea enjoys content creation and videography with which she has partnered both local and global beauty brands like Paula’s Choice, Fresh Beauty, Lebenam Skin and The Inkeylist. She often blends this creativity into how she communicates, solves problems, and tells compelling stories through her work. If you’re looking for someone who sees both the details and the big picture, and can bring structure and spark to a team, Adobea is your go-to
Our Advisory Board
Andres Grazios
Managing Partner at Nassa Partners
An accomplished global business leader with a rich track record of delivering remarkable business outcomes,...
An accomplished global business leader with a rich track record of delivering remarkable business outcomes, Andres brings over two decades of experience in the dynamic landscape of the healthcare industry. Throughout his career, he has navigated diverse geographies, leaving a significant impact in America, Asia and Europe.
His journey in the pharmaceutical sector has been marked by the cultivation of multicultural, purpose-driven teams that consistently achieve high performance. Over the years, he held senior roles in different functions, becoming in 2016 a member of the Novartis Pharma Executive Committee as President of the Latin America and Canada (LACan) Region for Pharma, and most recently in the role of Global Head of Pharma Strategy and Commercial Execution, until end of 2023.
Having lived and worked in different corners of the world, including the United States, Switzerland, Russia, and Argentina, he possesses a profound understanding of different healthcare systems and their challenges around the globe. This unique blend of experience has not only enriched his professional acumen but has also allowed him to adapt to highly diverse environments.
As a forward-thinking business leader, he is committed to driving innovation, unlocking faster access to the right treatments to patients in need, by fostering collaboration and achieving sustainable success.
Before working in the Pharma industry, Andres worked for ten years in PwC, mostly in transaction services.
He has a degree in Finance and an MBA from ESEADE in Argentina, and has attended several executive business programs at Harvard school of Business, Babson college, and Tuck school of Business.
Andres is married with three kids.
Ronny Hashmonay, MD
Managing General Partner P 74 Ventures
Ronny Hashmonay has over 20 years of hands on international experience in the healthcare and...
Ronny Hashmonay has over 20 years of hands on international experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry and across multiple functions and disease areas. He has worked with major Pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Novartis in global Vice President level positions, Commercial, Medical Affairs, Drug development and more recently health tech/digital health as Chief Digital Officer at Novartis US.
In 2023, Hashmonay co-founded an innovative Venture Capital firm, P74 Ventures, which is uniquely focused on both founding and investing in technology companies that drive innovation and business model transformation within the $1.5 trillion life sciences industry. P74 Ventures drives investment in the enabling technologies that drive the business & operations of pharma.
Hashmonay is a MD graduated from the Israeli Institute of Technology (Technion) with honors, and serves on Board of Apothems, a healthcare investment firm.
Sarah Cabot
President Cabot Law PC
Sarah Cabot is President of Cabot Law and a former executive in the Biotechnology industry....
Sarah Cabot is President of Cabot Law and a former executive in the Biotechnology industry. She specializes in corporate and transactional law for life sciences companies and has over three decades of experience, having handled some of the most complex discovery and development collaborations, product commercialization alliances, and technology platform licenses in recent years.
Cabot established Cabot Law in 2014, after years as a partner at the boutique Faber Law Group and at Mintz Levin, a large Boston-based law firm. She has held legal and technology management positions in start-up and development-stage companies including Microbia, Inc. (now Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), where she was Vice President, Legal Affairs; DNX, Inc., where she was Director, Corporate Development; and Centocor, Inc. (purchased by J&J), where she was Director of Corporate Technology Affairs.
Cabot was a longtime member of the MIT Sloan Dean’s Advisory Council and North American Executive Board, and has been a member of the Licensing Executives Society since 1986. Cabot is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts.
Leemore Dafny
Bruce V. Rauner Professor of Business Administration Harvard Business School
Prof. Dafny is a leading expert on competitive interactions among payers and providers of healthcare...
Prof. Dafny is a leading expert on competitive interactions among payers and providers of healthcare services, and the intersection of industry and public policy. Her work has been published in academic journals such as The American Economic Review and The New England Journal of Medicine, and featured in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Current projects include studies of prescription drug assistance and coupon programs, organizational structure of the healthcare sector, policy proposals to optimize and contain healthcare spending, and employer- sponsored health insurance.
Dafny was Deputy Director for Healthcare and Antitrust (2012-13) in the Bureau of Economics at the US Federal Trade Commission. She also serves as a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research as well as on numerous editorial boards. She also sits on the Panel of Health Advisers for the Congressional Budget Office and advises companies, government agencies, and nonprofits on a variety of issues including antitrust matters, strategic decisions, and public policy.
Dafny holds a graduate degree from Harvard University and worked at McKinsey & Company prior to earning her PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Dan liljenquist, PhD
Chairman of the Board CivicaRx
Dan Liljenquist is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Intermountain Healthcare, responsible...
Dan Liljenquist is Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Intermountain Healthcare, responsible for the organization’s strategic priorities as well as overseeing its Corporate Development, Government Relations, and Care Transformation teams. Prior to joining Intermountain in 2012, Liljenquist served in the Utah State Senate and was nationally recognized for his work on Medicaid and public-sector pension reforms.
Liljenquist is the architect and current Board Chair of Civica Rx, a new and nationally acclaimed nonprofit generic drug company established to reduce chronic generic drug shortages and price gouging, which have negatively impacted patient care for over a decade. In 2021, he was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” and as one of the “Top 25 Innovators in Healthcare.”
Liljenquist also worked as Bain & Company. He received his Juris Doctorate from The University of Chicago Law School.
Jayasree Iyer
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Access to Medicines Foundation
Jayasree K. Iyer is the CEO of the Access to Medicine Foundation, a non-profit organisation...
Jayasree K. Iyer is the CEO of the Access to Medicine Foundation, a non-profit organisation that stimulates and guides the pharmaceutical industry and other health sectors to do more to close the gaps in healthcare inequity.
She sets the Foundation’s strategy for addressing how the industry can reach the 80% of people worldwide who live in low- and middle-income countries. In her discussions with global pharma leaders, she engages them on the practical proven steps they can take to develop, scale up and supply essential health products to reach more people around the world.
Dr. Iyer’s expertise lies in engaging the industry on the biggest issues in access and health, challenging companies to work within the realities of doing business to translate principles into practice. She connects the Foundation’s research insights with the people, companies, and global health organisations working to improve access to medicine.
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