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Leadership

Executive Leaders

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Sarah Bouchie

  • President and Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Bouchie became President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2024. In this role, she collaborates with Helen Keller Intl’s Board of Trustees, leadership team, and staff, along with partner organizations and global leaders, to advance Helen Keller’s mission around the world.
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Sarah Bouchie

President and Chief Executive Officer

Sarah Bouchie became President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2024. In this role, she collaborates with Helen Keller Intl’s Board of Trustees, leadership team, and staff, along with partner organizations and global leaders, to advance Helen Keller’s mission around the world.

With nearly three decades of international development leadership, Sarah has sat at both sides of the table – as an implementer and advocate with prominent global nonprofits and as a leader of the philanthropic investments that shape humanitarian and development impact. Prior to joining Helen Keller, Sarah served as Chief Impact Officer at the LEGO Foundation. Under her leadership, the LEGO Foundation deepened its commitment to children in vulnerable circumstances, expanded its footprint, and more than tripled its philanthropic investments. Prior to her time at LEGO Foundation, Sarah has led institutional fundraising, advocacy, and program efforts for organizations including ChildFund International, CARE USA, Save the Children, and the Aga Khan Foundation.

Sarah has served on steering groups for the multi-lateral investment funds at Education Cannot Wait, the Education Outcomes Fund, and the World Bank, as well as serving as Vice-Chair of the Steering Group for the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies.

She is a mother of two creative, inquisitive daughters and lives in Harare, Zimbabwe with her family.

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Shawn K. Baker, MPH 

  • Executive Vice President, Programs and Partnerships
Shawn Baker leads Helen Keller’s efforts to support our world’s most vulnerable communities through strengthening food and health systems using scientifically proven solutions that are feasible, scalable, and equitable.
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Shawn K. Baker, MPH

Executive Vice President, Programs and Partnerships

Shawn Baker leads Helen Keller’s efforts to support our world’s most under-resourced communities through strengthening health and food systems using scientifically proven solutions that are feasible, scalable, and equitable. He joined as Chief Program Officer in 2023 and became Executive Vice President, Programs and Partnerships in 2025.

Prior to re-joining Helen Keller, Mr. Baker was the inaugural Chief Nutritionist at USAID and first Director of Nutrition at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He has more than 35 years of experience in global public health and nutrition, including 19 years at Helen Keller Intl in previous roles and 30 years living in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

While at USAID, Mr. Baker chaired the Agency’s Nutrition Leadership Council and the US Government’s Senior Nutrition Champions group. He served for over eight years on the Technical Review Panel for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, which he chaired until November 2014. He was previously chair of the Executive Committee of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, later serving as special advisor, and served on the board of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition from 2013-2016. He was awarded the Officier de l’Ordre du Mérite du Niger by the Presidency of the Republic in 2001.

Mr. Baker serves as Chair of the Board of The Micronutrient Forum. He was Chair of the Paris Peace Forum’s Independent Expert Panel on nutrition for the 2025 Nutrition for Growth Summit and on the Summit’s International Advisory Group. Shawn has a master’s of public health from Tulane University, with concentrations in international health and nutritional epidemiology and a bachelor’s of science in biology from the University of Miami. He is based in Dakar, Senegal.

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Fatoumata Diouf

  • Managing Director, Central and West Africa
As Managing Director, Central and West Africa, Fatoumata leads the development and execution of a vibrant pipeline of high-quality programs across Central and West Africa including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
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Fatoumata Diouf

Managing Director, Central and West Africa

Fatoumata Diouf joined Helen Keller in 2024 as Regional Director for West Africa, and currently serves as Managing Director, Central and West Africa. In this role she leads the development and execution of a vibrant pipeline of high-quality programs across Central and West Africa including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.

Fatoumata brings a wealth of experience including strategy development, execution, and monitoring; program development and delivery; policy formulation; and advocacy. She has extensive experience interacting with high-level external stakeholders such as governments, multilateral agencies, parliaments, media, and donors. Prior to joining Helen Keller, Fatoumata was Regional Director at Sightsavers in charge of 13 countries in West and Central Africa.

She holds an MBA in strategy and is currently pursuing a PhD in health economics and policy at Lancaster University. Fatoumata is fluent in French and English and is based in Dakar Senegal.

Peter Kariuki, Vice President, People & Culture

Peter Kariuki

  • Vice President, People and Culture
Peter Kariuki leads Helen Keller’s efforts to strengthen its global workforce and cultivate an inclusive, equitable workplace culture. With more than 20 years of experience in strategic human resources, Peter has built and led global human resources teams, managed organizational change, and advanced talent management strategies to enhance employee engagement and impact.
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Peter Kariuki

Vice President, People and Culture

Peter Kariuki leads Helen Keller’s efforts to strengthen its global workforce and cultivate an inclusive, equitable workplace culture. With more than 20 years of experience in strategic human resources, Peter has built and led global human resources teams, managed organizational change, and advanced talent management strategies to enhance employee engagement and impact.

Before joining Helen Keller, Peter served as Associate Vice President of Global Human Resources at Corus International, where he oversaw a multinational team across 22 countries. Additionally, he has held other leadership roles at ChildFund International, IntraHealth International, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Duke University, and Barclays Bank in Kenya.

Peter holds a master’s degree in Learning and Organizational Development and certifications as a Franklin Covey facilitator and Employee Relations Mediator. He is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

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Susan Kotcher

  • Chief Growth and Branding Officer
Susan Kotcher is a seasoned senior leader, creative fundraising strategist, and external relations expert who has built, restructured, and led high-performing teams for major international and national nonprofits. Susan joined Helen Keller Intl in 2020 as Chief External Relations Officer and in 2025, became Chief Branding and Growth Officer, leading the organization’s flexible funding, visibility-raising, and US program strategies.
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Susan Kotcher

Chief Growth and Branding Officer

Susan Kotcher is a seasoned senior leader, creative fundraising strategist, and external relations expert who has built, restructured, and led high-performing teams for major international and national nonprofits. Susan joined Helen Keller Intl in 2020 as Chief External Relations Officer and in 2025, became Chief Growth and Branding Officer, leading the organization’s flexible funding, visibility-raising, and US program strategies.

Susan brings decades of experience to Helen Keller from the Rubin Museum, Pro Mujer, International Rescue Committee, UNICEF USA, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. In her various roles, Susan has helped  organizations grow their philanthropy, rally new donors, advance their media and thought leadership, and strengthened brands and missions. Earlier in Susan’s career, she was an advocate and political organizer for voting and reproductive rights. Susan is based in New York.

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Patricia Manyari

  • Chief Financial Officer
Patricia Manyari oversees all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities of the organization. In her role, she ensures that Helen Keller Intl has strong financial and accounting systems in place in order to provide transparency, accountability and efficiency in all financial transactions of the organization. Patricia started at Helen Keller in January 2012. She brings 23 years of experience in financial management of international nonprofit organizations, implementing sound accounting practices and high financial standards, both in the field and at the headquarters level; and has extensive experience in compliance with various governmental regulations.
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Patricia Manyari

Chief Financial Officer

Patricia Manyari oversees all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities of the organization. In her role, she ensures that Helen Keller Intl has strong financial and accounting systems in place in order to provide transparency, accountability and efficiency in all financial transactions of the organization. Patricia started at Helen Keller in January 2012. She brings 23 years of experience in financial management of international nonprofit organizations, implementing sound accounting practices and high financial standards, both in the field and at the headquarters level; and has extensive experience in compliance with various governmental regulations.

She comes to Helen Keller from the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) in Washington, DC, where she served as Director of Finance for over six years, three of them in Bogota, Colombia. At PADF headquarters, Patricia managed the organization’s annual budget of $55 million and monitored approximately forty projects in seven different countries in Latin America.

Other prior experience includes serving as Deputy Chief Financial Officer at CHF International’s headquarters in Washington, DC, for five years and as Vice President for Finance at PACT Inc.’s Washington headquarters for ten years, three of them in Peru.

Senior Leaders

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Rahul Ali

  • Vice President, Eye Health
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Rahul Ali

Vice President, Eye Health

Rahul Ali has over 25 years of clinical and international experience as an ophthalmologist, with a strong passion for public health and a deep commitment to ending avoidable blindness. He provides technical oversight and strategic leadership for Helen Keller Intl’s global vision work.

Previously Rahul was Head of Global Programs and Grants at the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. There he provided strategic leadership and oversight to the grant management team and nine regional teams worldwide, focusing on implementing programs and partnering with governments and local organizations to tackle uncorrected refractive errors. At Orbis, Rahul was the Country Director of India, later the Vice President, Asia and Africa Programs, and conceived and implemented numerous projects focusing on the eye health of children and healthcare quality assurance. He has also been a faculty member at the International Center for Advancement of Rural Eye Care (ICARE) at L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad, India and served on the Board of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight India.

Rahul holds an MPH and MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a MS in Ophthalmology and MBBS from Christian Medical College, Vellore and Ludhiana respectively. He is based in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

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Sarmento Júlio Armando 

  • Country Director, Mozambique
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Sarmento Júlio Armando

Country Director, Mozambique

Sarmento Armando serves as Helen Keller’s Country Director in Mozambique, bringing over 20 years of experience in program management, community development, and health systems strengthening. He has led major public health initiatives focused on malaria and HIV/AIDS, partnering with government ministries and international NGOs to drive sustainable impact at the community and national levels.

Prior to joining Helen Keller, Sarmento held senior leadership roles with Malaria Consortium, Jhpiego, Chemonics International, and Food for the Hungry, managing multi-million-dollar programs funded by USAID, CDC, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. His work has consistently focused on building local capacity, strengthening governance systems, and improving outcomes through evidence-based planning and monitoring.

Sarmento holds a Ph.D. in Project Management and is completing a second doctorate in Community and Social Development. He also earned a master’s degree in International Development and a bachelor’s degree in Social and Human Sciences. He is based in Maputo, Mozambique.

 

Dr. Ndèye Astou Badiane, County Director, Senegal

Dr. Ndèye Astou Badiane

  • Country Director, Senegal
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Dr. Ndèye Astou Badiane

Country Director, Senegal

Dr. Ndèye Astou Badiane serves as Country Director for Helen Keller Intl in Senegal, based in the capital city of Dakar.

She is a trained medical doctor who drives strategic initiatives and champions operational excellence to advance organizational goals. Ndeye Astou has demonstrated experience in program management, including design, implementation, and evaluation from UN entities and iNGOs.

Prior to joining Helen Keller Intl, she was leading PATH’ respiratory care work in Senegal collaborating with the Ministry of Health to improve oxygen availability and utilization in Senegal. During this period, she had the opportunity to coordinate the development of an oxygen scale-up strategy, to provide health entities with oxygen piping systems, oxygen devices and strategic guidance to reduce mortality due to oxygen failure in Senegal. She also coordinated malaria pediatrics vaccines and pediatric praziquantel rollout in Senegal, an initiative Helen Keller supports.

At Save the Children, where she served as health and Nutrition Manager before PATH, she led proposal development and quality program implementation.

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Yves Ilunga Banze

  • Country Director, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Yves Ilunga Banze

Country Director, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Yves Ilunga Banza is a seasoned public health professional with more than 20 years of experience leading large-scale health programs across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As Country Director for Helen Keller Intl in the DRC, Yves provides strategic direction, technical guidance, and operational oversight to ensure the quality, impact, and sustainability of the organization’s programs. He represents Helen Keller to government counterparts, partners, and donors, cultivating strong collaborations that advance national health priorities.

Yves joined Helen Keller in 2024. Prior to this role, he spent 19 years in progressively senior leadership positions, including serving as Chief of Party for the USAID-funded Country Health Information System and Data Use (CHISU) Program at RTI International; Strategic Information Director for the PEPFAR-funded Strategic Information Project at ICAP at Columbia University; Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor for the DFID-funded DHIS2/Health Information System implementation project at IMA World Health; and Health Technical Specialist for the USAID-funded Integrated Health Project at the International Rescue Committee. Earlier in his career, he spent six years as a Health Zone Manager within the Ministry of Health of the DRC.

Yves holds an MD from the University of Kinshasa and an MPH in Community Health and Epidemiology from the Kinshasa School of Public Health.

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Volkan Cakir

  • Head, Center for Strategic Partnerships
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Volkan Cakir

Head, Center for Strategic Partnerships

Volkan Cakir heads Helen Keller’s Center for Strategic Partnerships, responsible advancing locally-led development and leading collaborative relationships with institutional donors and investors and global, regional, national and local partners. He previously served as Regional Director of Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa, providing management and program oversight to Helen Keller’s work in six countries – Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania – ensuring our programs operate with high standards to fulfill Helen Keller’s mission.

Volkan is a skilled health economist and manager, with almost 30 years of experience in health sector reform and has worked in more than 10 African countries over the past 20 years to create policy change that achieves better development outcomes on the ground. He has managed large and complex health programs and built effective working relationships with U.S. Agency for International Development and European Union missions, the World Bank, United Nations agencies, various global development funds, and host country counterparts across Africa. Volkan has MSc in economics and speaks English, French, and Turkish. He is based in France.

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Georges Dimithe, PhD

  • Country Director, Burkina Faso
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Georges Dimithe, PhD

Country Director, Burkino Faso

Georges Dimithe is an accomplished agricultural economist with more than three decades of experience advancing food security, agricultural innovation, and sustainable development. He holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University and joined Helen Keller Intl in 2024 as Country Director for Burkina Faso.

Over the course of his career—including eight years in research and nearly three decades providing technical assistance—Georges has focused on driving the adoption of improved agricultural technologies, strengthening food systems, and fostering policy environments that support private sector investment. His work has consistently emphasized evidence-based solutions, capacity strengthening, and collaboration with government, community, and industry partners.

As Country Director, Georges leads Helen Keller’s strategy and operations in Burkina Faso, representing the organization with national and international stakeholders and guiding the expansion of its programs and reach. He oversees technical and operational excellence across all activities, ensuring that initiatives meet grant objectives and advance Helen Keller’s mission to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable communities.

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David Dolédec

  • Director, Vitamin A
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David Dolédec

Director, Vitamin A

David Dolédec is Helen Keller Intl’s Regional Program Director for Vitamin A Supplementation, providing strategic and technical leadership across 14 countries to strengthen health and nutrition systems and expand the reach of life-saving interventions such as vitamin A supplementation. Since joining Helen Keller in 2014, he has led the integration of empirical evidence, cost-effectiveness modeling, and robust data systems into program design and policy dialogue with governments and donors.

Before joining Helen Keller, David worked with USAID/FANTA, UNICEF, and Action Against Hunger across Africa, Asia, and at global level, advancing research, program quality, and capacity development in humanitarian and development settings. A former critical-care nurse, he holds Master of Public Health from the University of Liverpool. David is passionate about translating evidence into sustainable, locally led solutions that enable every child to thrive.

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Craig Evans

  • Vice President, Individual Giving
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Craig Evans

Vice President, Individual Giving

Craig Evans is a seasoned fundraising leader with years of experience driving revenue growth and deepening donor engagement across national and global nonprofits. He brings extensive expertise in major gifts, individual giving, strategic planning, campaign management, events, board engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Craig joined Helen Keller Intl in 2021 as the Director of Major Gifts and, in 2025, was appointed Vice President of Individual Giving. In this role, he leads the organization’s flexible funding from individuals and families to power Helen Keller’s worldwide programs.

Prior to Helen Keller, Craig held senior development positions at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Marie Stopes International, the Parkinson’s Action Network, and GLAAD. Throughout his career, he has consistently grown revenue, launched high-impact campaigns, expanded regional fundraising markets, strengthened donor stewardship systems, and led high-performing teams. He holds a Master of Nonprofit Leadership (MNPL) from Seattle University.

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George Kabona

  • Country Director, Tanzania
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George Kabona

Country Director, Tanzania

George Kabona became Country Director of Helen Keller Intl Tanzania in 2024. In this role, he leads program design, implementation, and strategic partnerships to advance Helen Keller’s mission in nutrition, eye health, and neglected tropical diseases (NTD).

With more than 15 years of leadership experience in Tanzania’s health sector, George has served as NTD Program Manager at the Ministry of Health, Regional Coordinator for NTD and Eye Health Programs, and Senior Eye Specialist at regional referral hospitals. He has played a pivotal role in national initiatives such as Vision 2020, the elimination of trachoma, and the delivery of eye health outreach programs, surveys, and professional training across the country.

George is widely recognized for his expertise in program strategy, policy development, and multisector collaboration, working closely with communities, government, NGOs, and international partners to drive impactful public health outcomes. He is based in Dar es Salaam, while his family resides in Iringa.

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Rolf Klemm, DrPH, MPH

  • Vice President, Nutrition
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Rolf Klemm

Vice President, Nutrition

Rolf Klemm has more than 25 years of professional experience in international public health nutrition with expertise that spans nutrition efficacy and effectiveness research and program design, management, and evaluation.

He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer (Philippines, 1979-81), Indochinese Refugee Program Supervisor (1982-84), Program Manager and Country Director for Helen Keller Intl (Philippines, 1986-98), Senior Technical Advisor and Technical Director of USAID’s flagship A2Z micronutrient program (2009-11), and Johns Hopkins University faculty member and principal and/or co-investigator (1998-present) for studies in Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Philippines) and Sub-Saharan Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya,  Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zambia).

He currently serves as Vice President for Nutrition with Helen Keller and holds a faculty appointment at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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Hou Krouen

  • Country Director, Cambodia
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Hou Krouen

Country Director, Cambodia

Hou Kroeun, MPH has served as Country Director for Helen Keller Intl in Cambodia since 2022, following more than two decades of leadership within the organization—including roles as Deputy Country Director, Senior Program Manager, and Program Coordinator. Throughout his tenure, he has helped shape high-impact nutrition, food security, and community development programs that strengthen government systems and improve the well-being of vulnerable communities nationwide.

Mr. Kroeun is the Vice-Chair of the National Steering Committee for the Innovation Initiative on the Integration of Nutrition, Agriculture, and Education Sectors (INAS), where he supports multisectoral collaboration to advance national nutrition outcomes. From 2015 to 2022, he chaired the Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance in Cambodia, leading civil society efforts to promote evidence-based policies, strengthen accountability, and foster alignment among government and development partners.

A prolific contributor to the scientific and development fields, Mr. Kroeun has authored or co-authored nearly 30 publications on nutrition, maternal and child health, public health, and climate-smart agriculture. His leadership and service have been recognized with multiple national honors, including the Royal Order of Sowathara awarded by His Majesty the King of Cambodia.

Today, Mr. Kroeun continues to guide the Helen Keller Cambodia team in expanding life-saving nutrition programs, strengthening local systems, advancing eye health services, promoting climate-resilient food production, and scaling community-driven solutions that support healthier, more resilient futures for Cambodian families.

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Robert Mba, PhD

  • Country Director, Cameroon
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Robert Mba, PhD

Country Director, Cameroon

Robert Mba, PhD, joined Helen Keller Intl in August 2023 and serves as Country Director for the Cameroon office. He brings more than 18 years of experience in international development, including 11 years with the German Development Bank (KfW) and several years with international organizations such as the IFRC and IOM. His background spans public health, community nutrition, reproductive health, and neglected tropical diseases, with field experience in Cameroon, Gabon, and Togo.

Before joining Helen Keller, Dr. Mba held senior roles at KfW in Frankfurt and Cameroon, where he led major multi-country health and nutrition programs across the CEMAC region and worked closely with partners such as UNICEF, UNFPA, PSI, and national ministries. Driven by a commitment to serving vulnerable communities and bringing his expertise closer to field impact, he joined Helen Keller to support programs that improve the lives of people affected by poverty, malnutrition, and disability.

As Country Director, he oversees all Helen Keller activities in Cameroon, ensures strong technical and operational performance, represents the organization with government and donors, and fosters a supportive environment for staff.

Dr. Mba holds a PhD in Health Sociology, a Certificate in Community Health, and has authored numerous scientific publications. He is fluent in French, English, and German.

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Aliyu Mohammed (Jabo)

  • Country Director, Nigeria
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Aliyu Mohammed (Jabo)

Country Director, Nigeria

Aliyu Mohammed joined Helen Keller Intl in 2015 and currently serves as Country Director, Nigeria. In this role, he provides strategic leadership for the design and implementation of integrated health and nutrition programs that advance Helen Keller’s mission across Nigeria.

He brings over 25 years of experience in public health programming, with a deep expertise in eye health, neglected tropical disease (NTD) elimination and control, immunization, and maternal and child health. His career spans leadership roles in both government and non-governmental sectors.

For a decade, Aliyu spearheaded the development and implementation of the Sokoto State Eye Care Program—widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most sustainable, state-led eye health initiatives. He successfully led the program from inception to sustainability, coordinating a multi-partner collaboration between the state government, a tertiary institution, and a non-profit (Sightsavers).

Since joining Helen Keller Intl, Aliyu has held several leadership roles, including Program Manager for NTDs and Eye Health, Head of the NTDs Program, and Head of Programs, before assuming his current role as Country Director.

Peter O. Ofware, Country Director, Kenya

Peter O. Ofware

  • Country Director, Kenya
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Peter O. Ofware

Country Director, Kenya

Dr. Angela Weaver is a public health professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, developing, and leading domestic and international health programs and initiatives. She provides technical oversight and strategic leadership for Helen Keller Intl’s neglected tropical disease program.

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Augustine Okoruwa

  • Regional Program Manager, Food Fortification
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Augustine Okoruwa

Regional Program Manager, Food Fortification

Augustine Okoruwa leads Helen Keller’s Food Fortification programs to reduce micronutrient deficiencies and improve public health outcomes. With over 30 years of experience in food science and technology, he specializes in training, capacity building, food safety, and quality management systems. Augustine is recognized for his collaborative leadership, stakeholder engagement, and ability to navigate complex challenges.

Before joining Helen Keller, he served as Head of Country Programs–Food Safety at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), where he led teams in Nigeria and Ethiopia. He also held leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline, Flour Mills of Nigeria, UAC of Nigeria, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

He played a key role in forming OTACCWA and APFSAN and in revising and launching Nigeria’s National Policy on Food Safety and Quality in 2023. A Certified Bromatologist, Augustine holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Food Science and Technology. He is based in Ibadan, Nigeria.

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Philomena Orji

  • Program Director, Transforming Lives Through Nutrition
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Philomena Orji

Program Director, Transforming Lives Through Nutrition

Dr. Angela Weaver is a public health professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, developing, and leading domestic and international health programs and initiatives. She provides technical oversight and strategic leadership for Helen Keller Intl’s neglected tropical disease program.

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Pooja Pandey

  • Country Director, Bangladesh and Nepal
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Pooja Pandey

Chief of Party, USAID Integrated Nutrition

We look forward to sharing more about Pooja’s background and experience soon.

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Ric Plaisance

  • Vice President, Information and Operations Systems
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Ric Plaisance

Vice President, Information and Operations Systems

Ric Plaisance has worked with Helen Keller Intl since 2004. He is responsible for the development and management of systems that support the work of headquarter operations and Helen Keller’s international network of field offices.

Previously, Ric served for ten years as the Executive Director for Settlement Health where he managed the operations and services of this community health center providing primary health care to the East Harlem community. In addition, Ric created and led the NinthBridge program of EngenderHealth, providing information system consultation services to the international NGO community.

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Bonaventure Rakotomalala

  • Country Director, Madagascar
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Bonaventure Rakotomalala

Country Director, Madagascar

Bonaventure Rakotomalala leads program implementation for Helen Keller Intl’s Country Office in Madagascar. With more than 30 years of experience in rural development, he has played a pivotal role in establishing community health and nutrition programs in the country.

Before joining Helen Keller Intl, Bonaventure served as In-Country Coordinator for a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health team providing technical assistance to a World Bank-funded nutrition project. Earlier in his career, he contributed to two USAID-funded health projects, focusing on community health activities and community health financing. He also led a World Bank-financed dairy production development project in the late 1990s.

Bonaventure holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and an engineering diploma in Agronomy.

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Maria Fatima Dolly R. Reario

  • Country Representative, Philippines
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Maria Fatima Dolly R. Reario

Country Representative, Philippines

We look forward to sharing more about Dolly’s background and experience soon.

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Ouassa Sanogo

  • Country Director, Mali
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Ouassa Sanogo

Country Director, Mali

Ouassa Sanogo is the Country Director for Helen Keller International in Mali, bringing over 20 years of experience in public health. She has extensive expertise in supporting health systems, maternal and child health, youth reproductive health, and nutrition.

Before joining Helen Keller, Ouassa held several leadership roles with INGOs and bilateral organizations, including Deputy Project Director at Santé Monde, Health and Nutrition Program Coordinator at the Aga Khan Foundation, and Senior Health and Nutrition Advisor for the Canada-Mali Cooperation Program for over 10 years.

As Country Director for Helen Keller in Mali, Ouassa has been instrumental in enhancing the quality and outcomes of country programs, particularly in expanding the Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) program. She has also played a key role in increasing the organization’s visibility in Mali and strengthening partnerships within the INGO ecosystem.

Ouassa holds a Doctorate in Medicine, a Master’s in Public Health with a focus on Health and Development, and a Certificate in Policy and Strategic Management of Health Systems.

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Angela Weaver, PhD, MPH

  • Head, Center for Program Impact
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Angela Weaver, PhD, MPH

Head, Center for Program Impact

Dr. Angela Weaver is a public health professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, developing, and leading domestic and international health programs and initiatives. She provides technical oversight and strategic leadership for Helen Keller Intl’s neglected tropical disease program.

Angela joined Helen Keller in 2020. Previously, she served as the Senior Advisor for Neglected Tropical Diseases at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) where she was instrumental in launching USAID’s program and leading its expansion from 5 to 25 countries. During her 11-year tenure at USAID, she also served as the Agency’s technical lead for lymphatic filariasis and trachoma elimination. Throughout her career she has worked to advance policies and promote partnerships to reach more people in need of neglected tropical disease treatment and care. She is also an advocate for comprehensive neglected tropical disease control efforts including morbidity management and disability prevention.

Angela earned an MPH from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and a PhD in tropical medicine from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

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Mohamed Lamine Yattara

  • Country Director, Guinea, Niger, and Sierra Leone
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Mohamed Lamine Yattara

Country Director, Guinea and Niger

Mohamed Lamine Yattara is the Country Director for Helen Keller Intl in Guinea and Niger, where he provides strategic leadership and oversees health and nutrition programs aimed at reducing malnutrition and controlling neglected tropical diseases, including vitamin A supplementation initiatives. With over 20 years of experience in West Africa, he is recognized for his ability to manage complex programs and foster strong partnerships.

Previously, Mohamed served as Deputy Country Director in Mali, where he contributed to strengthening health systems and expanding life-saving interventions. Earlier in his career, he led monitoring and evaluation efforts and supported a regional vitamin A supplementation program across five countries, in addition to conducting numerous national health surveys.

He holds a Master of Science in Agroeconomics from the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute in Rabat, Morocco. Based in Guinea, Mohamed brings a collaborative leadership style and a deep commitment to Helen Keller’s mission in the region.

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Dr. Hubert Zirimwabagabo

  • Country Director, Côte d’Ivoire
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Dr. Hubert Zirimwabagabo

Country Director, Côte d’Ivoire

Dr. Hubert Zirimwabagabo serves as Country Director for Helen Keller in Côte d’Ivoire, where he provides strategic oversight for all program implementation and represents the organization to government partners, donors, and stakeholders. He ensures programs are aligned with Helen Keller’s mission and deliver measurable impact.

Dr. Zirimwabagabo brings extensive experience in public health leadership. Prior to joining Helen Keller, he served as Country Representative for The Carter Center in Chad and held technical leadership roles in the organization’s Guinea Worm Eradication Program.

He holds a Master’s in Public Health from Boston University, a Bachelor of Science in General Medicine from the University of Rwanda, and a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance from Fordham University.