Marianne Tellier

Co-founder / Board Chair

Marianne has worked full-time on WoMena’s activities in Uganda and now supports WoMena’s executive arm. She currently works on health financing in low income settings at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria and has worked on grant management on 8 African portfolios since 2011. Marianne has done research and published in the areas of Family Planning and Menstrual Management and brings research, management, health policy, health care financing, and health programming experience to WoMena. In addition to the Global Fund she has worked and done research in Benin, China/Tibet, Tanzania & Uganda for UNFPA, GIZ, DANIDA, the University of Copenhagen and other NGOs.

Maria Hyttel

Co-founder and Board Treasurer

Maria is a Public Health professional from University of Copenhagen with a holistic view on health and strong dedication to improve the lives of the most vulnerable. She has conducted research and published in the areas of Family Planning and Menstrual Management and strives in her work to link research to impact-oriented health programmes. Her work experiences with NGO partnerships, research and development assistance in Tanzania, Niger, Uganda, and Benin has provided her strong competencies in project implementation, monitoring & evaluation, trainings, advocacy, programme analysis, youth policy, HIV/AIDS and health insurance for rural populations.

Sylvie Anne Genier

Board Secretary

“I have been fascinated by Africa since I was a child. My private life as well as my professional environment including studies is now focused on Africa.” In Uganda and Ghana, Sylvie had insights into the country’s health systems as a midwife, and she has visited other countries on the continent privately. With her Msc studies in Global health, Sylvie currently focuses on the health system of different LMICs. Since a few years ago, Sylvie spends most of her time in Uganda.

Theresa Wesseler

Youth Representative

Theresa studied Sinology in her Bachelor’s and spent longer periods of time working and studying in China. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Business and Development studies, focused on business opportunities in emerging economies. Theresa has been engaged in various social organisations and projects in the past and is extremely passionate about making a change in the world.

Lene Østergaard

WoMena Board Member

Lene has worked with development programming with the UN, CARE, and Rainforest Foundation as researcher, project coordinator, Technical advisor, Program Director and ED. She has worked in the fields of economics, poverty eradication, natural resources management, civil society strengthening, human rights and gender equality.

Eimi Watanabe

Advisor

Eimi’s international career spans over thirty years of progressively senior posts in UNICEF, UNDP and the World Bank Inspection Panel, in field offices and headquarters. Among others, she has been UNICEF Representative in India, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Bangladesh, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of Policy Bureau in UNDP, and Chair of the World Bank Inspection Panel. Eimi has worked on a wide range
of development issues including child health, girls education, women’s health and empowerment. Educated in Japan and UK, Eimi holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the LSE in London.

Keith Diniz

WoMena Board Advisor

Keith has over 20 years’ experience in senior management roles specialising in Process Reengineering, Productivity Improvements and Organizational Development undertaking assignments for a of number of international and Pan African organisations as well the NGO and United Nations sector. Keith has two teen age children and his great passion is talking about rugby, rugby union of course.