About Lenias Hwenda
|
|
Lenias Hwenda is the Founder and CEO of Medicines For Africa. She is a renowned international health affairs expert on the global politics of improving access to quality medical products by underserved communities.
Lenias has contributed to several international negotiations including on global pandemic influenza preparedness and co-chaired World Health Organisation global negotiations on the transparency of markets for medicines, vaccines and other health products during the 2019 World Health Assembly. Lenias frequently contributes her thoughtful analysis of developments in global health and international health affairs through her Global Health Briefings on multiple digital platforms. She runs a weekly international health affairs YouTube podcast called "Conversations About Health." This is a go-to forum for global health leaders, policymakers and thought leaders that provides insights from community health leaders, academics, NGOs, development partners, corporate leaders and public figures. Lenias has published her work in policy and scientific journals and makes regular commentary on critical global public health issues and how they impact the future of health in Africa. Prior to her tenure at Medicines for Africa, Lenias worked as a health diplomat in Geneva focusing on multi-lateral negotiations at the WHO. Before this, she was a post-doctoral immunologist in the University of Oxford, UK, and the Rockefeller University, USA, specializing in the development of novel vaccines and anti-infectives. Lenias earned a first class bachelor of science degree in Biochemistry/Immunology and a doctorate in Medicine (Ophthalmology) from Aberdeen University, UK, and a Masters Degree in International Affairs, Negotiation and Policy making from the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland. |