February 8, 2020 – The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) is pleased to announce Onome Ako, Executive Director of Amref Health Africa in Canada, as the new Chair of the CanWaCH Board of Directors.
Julia Anderson, the Chief Executive Officer of CanWaCH, made the announcement today. “I am thrilled to welcome Onome as our new Board Chair. Onome has contributed significantly to CanWaCH since joining the Board in 2019, helping to drive a renewed strategic direction for the organization.” Added Anderson, “She brings to CanWaCH a unique and essential perspective acquired through over 15 years of experience in partnership building, resource development and program design, management and expertise. This will advance our ability to navigate complex partnerships to achieve our shared goal of equitable health outcomes around the world.”
“I look forward to taking on this new role and working with my Board colleagues, CanWaCH staff and member organizations to maintain focus on the health of women and children, particularly with the added challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Onome Ako. “I see value in the partnerships and in the work CanWaCH is undertaking to energize and champion Canada’s leadership in global health at this pivotal moment in history.”
Through her role at Amref Health Africa, the largest African-led international organization on the continent, Onome has gained in-depth knowledge of women and children’s health. Before joining Amref Health Africa, Onome worked for World Vision Canada and AfricaRecruit, a program of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Born in Nigeria, Onome has an MSc in Management of NGOs and Social Policy and Participation in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics, United Kingdom. She is an Associate of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and a and member of the advisory committee for the Centennial College International Development program. In 2020, Onome was named to the 2020 Canadian Women in Global Health list.
