Bridging the Gap: From Data Analysis to Evidence in Action

Omera Naseer is the Team Lead and Senior Scientist of the National AMR Program at NIH Pakistan. With extensive expertise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and immunization research, she plays a pivotal role in policy development, surveillance, and research to combat AMR and enhance immunization strategies at the national level. she has diverse working experience in both public and private sectors, spanning primary and tertiary healthcare levels, as well as national research and academic institutes of Pakistan. Additionally, Dr. Omera has contributed to numerous scientific initiatives, including participation in international conferences and collaborations with key stakeholders, such as civil societies and gender experts, to advance AMR and immunization awareness and action in Pakistan. 

Sunu C. Thomas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health at the School of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala, India. Dr Thomas's research interests encompass gender and health, bioethics, sexual and reproductive health, and health policy. Her work primarily focuses on infertility issues and their intersection with gender. She is also a founding member of the South Asian Bioethics Community (SABC), a forum established in January 2023 that brings together early-career researchers working in bioethics from South Asia.

Tein Wan is a dedicated humanitarian professional with over 10 years of experience in project development and management, specializing in gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment in humanitarian and development sectors. Currently serving as the Women's Voice and Leadership Advisor at CARE Myanmar, Tein Wan has been working extensively in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar with different Organization: Oxfam, IOM,ICRC and MSF,  for gender equality, GBV prevention, SRHR, and disability inclusion. Holding a Master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies at Asian Institute of Technology, Tein Wan is deeply committed to advancing women’s empowerment in crisis and conflict settings. 

Suresh Jungari is Assistant Professor in Department of Public Health & Mortality Studies, Centre of Demography of Gender, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai. He has Master and Ph.D. in (Population studies) from International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai. His areas of research interest are Tribal health, maternal health, public health, gender issues in reproductive health, violence against women, health inequities and maternal mental health. He teaches subject of population and health, Gender issues in reproductive health, mortality, historical demography and social concept in health to Master students and guiding PhD students. He is having eight years of teaching and 10 years of research experience. He is working with various large-scale data such as National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), and Census for further analysis. He has published 60 research articles in national and international peer reviewed scientific journals.

Tricia Basdeo-Gobin is an International Independent Consultant and Gender, Social Inclusion, and Development Specialist with over a decade of experience advancing gender equality, social justice, and policy reform across the Caribbean. She is the Regional Director of the Caribbean Male Action Network (CariMAN) and serves on multiple influential boards, advocating for gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and social protection.  A respected researcher and technical expert, Tricia has co-authored critical reports and policy briefs that inform national and regional strategies. She has worked extensively with governments, UN agencies, and civil society organizations, leading high-impact programs and policy interventions. Her expertise in Caribbean masculinities, gender-responsive budgeting, and institutional strengthening has shaped transformative initiatives across the region.  Tricia holds an MSc in Gender and Development Studies and a BSc in Psychology and Gender and Development Studies from the University of the West Indies. Passionate about driving intersectional, evidence-based solutions, she continues to be a key voice in shaping gender and development discourse.  

Akinyemi Ayoola Helen is a fellow of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Centre for Women's Global Health, Gender and Gender-Based Violence Accelerated Cohort; a Gender and Youth Manager, TechnoServe for Nigeria Country Office; and a former Gender Lead for Oxfam in Nigeria. She is an inclusion specialist with over a decade of experience in the field of gender and development interventions. She has worked with international and national NGOs and implemented developmental and humanitarian projects. She is a PhD Candidate in Gender and Development Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She holds a Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies; a Master's in International Relations (MIR) from Obafemi Awolowo University; and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Philosophy from Ambrose Alli University. She is a Feminist Researcher, a Gender Responsive Program Specialist, and a Policy Influencing and Advocacy Specialist. 

Nada Ben Jemaa is a postgraduate student of Politics at the University of Cape Town under the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship. She graduated from the American University of Beirut (AUB), where she completed a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with a Minor in Political Studies as a MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholar. Nada started her career in international development working with The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs in Lebanon. She later joined the international human rights organization “Avocats Sans Frontières” in Tunis and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) where she developed her expertise on gender equality and gender-based violence. Beyond work and academia, Nada co-founded Lebanon’s first Roller Derby team and was invited to represent it at the 2017 Roller Derby World Summit in Manchester, UK, where she gave the keynote speech. She was also a speaker at the 2017 Global Youth Forum where she presented the UN General Assembly with her assessment of gender equality in Tunisia and the challenges facing the Sustainable Development Goal #5 

Lusine Aslanyan is a researcher and advocate specializing in public health, gender and health equity. She is currently a fellow at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on gender-based violence, particularly in low- and middle- income settings. With a strong background in public health and field research, she recently led studies on the accessibility of violence prevention services, specifically targeting marginalized and vulnerable communities. She is also currently working on a community well-being project aimed at supporting displaced populations. Lusine is passionate about using data-driven insights to inform policy and improve access to essential services. 

Abigael Malelu-Gitau is a gender and education consultant, researcher, and doctoral student in Gender studies. She is the founder of Scars of Resilience CBO, dedicated to gender equality through advocacy, resilience training and safe spaces for leadership. Her work focuses on GBV, women’s empowerment, and gender-responsive policy, with a special focus on help-seeking behaviors among IPV survivors. Through collaborations with Akili Dada and civil society organizations, she has mentored young women and girls in leadership, soft skills, and STEM, while establishing safe centers for support and growth. She has presented her research internationally, trained policymakers and development practitioners, and continues to shape gender equity policies. 

Mobolaji M. Salawu is a faculty member, a senior lecturer and Public Health Physician.  at the Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She holds an MD degree and a Masters of Public Health. Her research focus is infectious disease and reproductive epidemiology with particular focus on sexual and reproductive health and prevention of violence against women and girls. She is a member of the inaugural cohort of the Gender equity/GBV evidence accelerator fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Women’s Health and Gender Equity. 

Ayodeji Adebayo is a Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, one of the foremost medical schools in West Africa. He is an Honorary Consultant at the University College Hospital, Ibadan in the Department of Community Medicine. Ayodeji has more than a decade of experience in implementing qualitative and qualitative research and evaluation studies in the field of sexual and reproductive health, including the context of GBV. He has authored/co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications for research and policy audience. He has served as Principal/Co-Investigator and Lead Evaluation Researcher on several reproductive health studies. Adebayo was a Co-investigator in a multi-pronged female empowerment intervention in Nigeria, funded under the Gates Foundations Grand Challenge mechanism. He was the PI of the WBG/SVRI grant that explored the impact of female empowerment program on violence and coercive behaviors. Ayodeji is a Fellow of the Population Reference Bureau Policy Communication Program. He is the Nigeria study partner in the research consortium of the What Work 2 Program, and the Board Chairman of FreeTribe Network, Nigeria, a newly established GBV Prevention Organization.

Lorato Palesa Modongo is a Psychologist from Botswana, with interests in Social Psychology Research, Knowledge Production, Social Policy, and Gender Justice in Africa. She is currently a Gender Research and Policy Analyst at the African Union - International Center for Girls & Women's Education in Africa based in Burkina Faso; a technical office of the African Union mandated to advance girls’ education in the continent. Ms. Modongo is also a PhD candidate at Stellenbosch University, and her current work interrogates intimate femicide and constructs of masculinities in Botswana. She holds an MA Psychology completed under the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, BA (Hons) Psychology both from Stellenbosch University, BA Social Sciences (Psychology and Accounting) from the University of Botswana and a Certificate in Civil Society Law from the University of Pretoria. She was selected for President Barack Obama’s YALI completed under Civic Leadership at Tulane university, New Orleans. Ms Modongo has served on Youth-led international executive committees, including the Commonwealth Students Association, and Women Deliver Alumni Committee.