Nadine Nanji
Johannesburg
Summary
Nadine has a background in Public Health with over 7 years work experience in fields such as HIV/Aids, GBV, health finance, health systems, public policy, health insurance and mental health. Nadine did her MPH in Health Systems and Policy from University of Cape Town (completed in 2022), where she attained three scholarships. She has experience in grant funding applications and the management of the Bongani Mayosi Grant. Furthermore, she has published her Masters thesis on: "Providing mental health care for faith-based entities in Africa: a systematic review." She has also published grey literature such as reviews and information sheets on youth mental health and their responses during the pandemic. Recently, she has acquired a research interest in public health and law and has commenced a PhD through University of Kwazulu-Natal on mental health, law, human rights and gender based violence in South Africa.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of Health
Aga Khan Council
02.2026 - Current
- Head of management of health insurance memberships
- Research specialist for the Council
- Conducted many mental health seminars and workshops
- Coordinated events on diabetic screening, BMI and sugar testing for Aga Khan members
Consultant & Steering Committee Member
EQUINET/TARSC
06.2021 - 08.2025
- Worked on pandemic preparedness and prevention, and strategic planning for Covid-19 in a consultancy role to support the Director, Rene Louwenson.
- Project management to enhance health systems strengthening in the East and Southern Africa region through desk-based research and as a consultant.
- Contributed to public engagement initiatives such as webinars on climate change, public health, and other related topics.
- Taking minutes, spearheading webinars, and performing other administrative duties at steering committee meetings.
- Liaising with and managing internal stakeholders at meetings and for projects, and then external stakeholders such as funders.
- Experience in collaboration and establishing partnerships with organisations within the steering committee, and pivotal in creating a partnership between IWG, EQUINET, and Tarsc.
- Produced information sheets (reports) in a consulting role on youth experiences during Covid-19, focusing on socio-economic responses, surveillance, projects, and financial mechanisms.
- Published a large desk-based review on youth mental health in the context of COVID-19 in East and Southern Africa, and provided evidence-based recommendations.
- Research projects on youth mental health and climate resilience.
- Grant funding applications as part of a steering committee role.
Secretary
Public Mental Health Special Interest Group
05.2023 - 05.2024
- Social media campaigns.
- Funding applications.
- Minutes for meetings and organising webinars.
- Mental health campaigns.
Research Associate
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
05.2023 - 10.2023
- Helped out with many initiatives to get young people into jobs in South Africa through skills building.
- Content creation of infographics for Coach Me (an AI chatbot)
- Working with government entities on funding reports.
- Spearheaded the largest employers' project, examining the hiring practices of 32 employers in Johannesburg, and focusing on youth employment.
- Facilitated focus group discussions (FGDs) with young people to understand their experiences.
- Administration tasks such as organising files.
Consultant
Health4Development Initiative
10.2022 - 02.2023
- Conducted research on pharmacerticals.
- Research was integral to this role, including health finance and funding mechanisms.
- Worked on grant funding applications for Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Mental Health, and other related areas.
- Analysis of public policy in the health finance space across Africa/
- Worked and conducted research on supply chain management, health finance, and surveillance research on post Covid-19.
- Performed research on antiretroviral (ARV) funding, and assessing health economic impacts.
- Investigated the intersections between Gender-Based Violence (GBV), mental health, and HIV.
- Created a comprehensive funding mechanisms document in healthcare for small and medium enterprises, and reviewed policies in this arena in Africa.
Research Assistant
Children's Heart Disease Research Unit
10.2021 - 04.2022
- Working on a partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Managed meetings and agendas, as well as instillation of the projects.
- Provided comprehensive administrative support, including maintaining CV updates, processing membership applications, and handling correspondence.
- Assisted with grant funding applications for RHD in collaboration with the WHO.
- Compiled informative newsletters on rheumatic heart disease (RHD).
- Designed pamphlets and letters for the unit.
- Helped improve their data management systems.
- Assessed applicants for the Bongani Mayosi Scholarship Grant, and the outcomes of the scholarship.
Secretary & Health Systems Lead
International Working Group for Health Systems
05.2020 - 12.2021
- Formulated partnerships with Public Health students across the six WHO regions, mainly on Covid-19 projects, and was a founding member.
- Was an integral part of contributing to the formulation of the vision, mission, and goals for the group.
- During my role as Secretary, I performed administrative duties such as taking minutes, and used communication as well as my creative skills to develop weekly newsletters.
- Assisted with grant funding, donor projects, and other related finance activities.
- Presented many webinars for the group and pitches for funding competitions.
- As Health Systems Lead, was pivotal in content creation of a digital mental health toolkit, and the creation of a health systems for front line workers.
Intern
Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI)
09.2017 - 02.2018
- Compiled research, literature reviews and reports on HIV/Aids, STIs, sexual behaviour and intimacy and female sex workers (FSWs).
- Attended and compiled reports on child psychosocial and sexual abuse.
- Conducted policy briefs on Gender Based Violence.
- Grant funding applications.
- Created a mobile health application prototype for HIV PrEP with zero data fees.
Intern
The Health Development Initiative
02.2016 - 06.2016
- Conducted rigorous research and data analysis on HIV/AIDS initiatives and incidents of gender-based violence.
- Engaged in advocacy efforts in rural areas, and devised innovative mobile health project proposals.
Business Development Analyst
AAA HealthCare
02.2015 - 08.2015
- Helped solve business problems using a solution-focused approach through the development of PowerPoint presentations and Excel documents.
- Contributed to enhancing financial management, and propelled mobile health technology initiatives.
- Assisted in compiling research proposals and creating impactful projects focused on healthcare management strategies.
Intern
Aga Khan Hospital
11.2013 - 02.2014
- Worked in the department daily, and with doctors, to create the system. Managed outpatient systems through project management and a working proposal.
- Comducted interviews with outpatients at the hospital.
- Managed outpatient systems through project management and a working proposal.
- Implemented the outpatient record system to improve outpatient waiting times.
Education
Masters - Public Health, Health Systems and Policy
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa12.2022
Honours - Public Health
Monash University
Johannesburg03.2018
Bachelors - Public Health
Monash University
Johannesburg11.2014
Pre-Med - Pre-Medicine
Pace University
New York, USA01.2012
Skills
- Reports
- National Health insurance
- Health Systems
- Policy analysis and briefs
- Governance
- Research
- Evidence-based healthcare decisions
- Law
- Literature reviews
- Desk-based reviews
- Systematic reviews
- Qualitative analysis
- Quantitative analysis
- Governance
- Board roles
- Strategic leadership
- Project management
Accomplishments
- Collaborated and project management of a team of 80 members under the International Working Group for Health Systems Strengthening (IWG).
- Webinars, mental health workshops and consultancy experience with EQUINET/Tarsc.
- Health insurance membership activation project through Head of Health role with Aga Khan Council in South Africa.
- Published many articles on mental health, menstrual hygiene and Eskom impacts on South African health systems
- Social media marketing through all work experience and board roles
Certification
- Covid-19 courses
- Best-all rounder at Red Drop Monash, Public Health Club.
- Most Organised at Monash University
- President & Founder of Red Drop Monash
Languages
English
Proficient
C2
French
Intermediate
B1
References
- Iain Barton (Founding Principal of Health4Development): iain@health4development.com
- Jill Olivier (Supervisor for Masters thesis): jill.olivier@uct.ac.za
- Liesl Zuhlke (Director of CHDRU): dr.liesl.zuhlke@gmail.com
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Head of Health
Aga Khan Council
02.2026 - Current
Secretary
Public Mental Health Special Interest Group
05.2023 - 05.2024
Research Associate
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator
05.2023 - 10.2023
Consultant
Health4Development Initiative
10.2022 - 02.2023
Research Assistant
Children's Heart Disease Research Unit
10.2021 - 04.2022
Consultant & Steering Committee Member
EQUINET/TARSC
06.2021 - 08.2025
Secretary & Health Systems Lead
International Working Group for Health Systems
05.2020 - 12.2021
Intern
Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI)
09.2017 - 02.2018
Intern
The Health Development Initiative
02.2016 - 06.2016
Business Development Analyst
AAA HealthCare
02.2015 - 08.2015
Intern
Aga Khan Hospital
11.2013 - 02.2014
Honours - Public Health
Monash University
Bachelors - Public Health
Monash University
Pre-Med - Pre-Medicine
Pace University
Masters - Public Health, Health Systems and Policy
University of Cape Town