Healthcare Leadership

WASD has a long and distinguished history of promoting sustainable development (SD) through research, policy engagement, capacity building, and international collaboration. Over the years, WASD has developed into a trusted consultancy provider, supporting institutions, governments, and organisations in addressing complex global challenges. Through its specialist institute (LISD), WASD offers expert consultancy services to strengthen Healthcare Leadership and enhance leadership capacity across health systems and organisations. Healthcare Leadership is increasingly critical in today’s complex and rapidly evolving health environment. Healthcare systems face growing pressures from rising demand, workforce shortages, financial constraints, technological change, and the need for integrated, patient-centred care. Strong leadership is essential to navigate these challenges, drive transformation, and ensure the effective delivery of high-quality healthcare services. Effective Healthcare Leadership improves strategic decision-making, organisational performance, workforce engagement, and service innovation. It enables health institutions to build resilient systems, respond to crises more effectively, and foster cultures of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Through our consultancy, WASD and LISD support countries and organisations in developing healthcare leadership strategies, executive development programmes, leadership competency frameworks, organisational transformation plans, and governance enhancement initiatives. We help clients build the leadership capability required to manage change, improve performance, and deliver sustainable health outcomes. What makes our services unique is our interdisciplinary and strategic approach, combining expertise in healthcare, leadership development, policy, governance, and organisational transformation. Our consultancy is delivered by world-class experts, academics, and senior practitioners with extensive international experience in healthcare leadership and health systems management. This enables WASD and LISD to provide tailored, high-impact solutions that empower organisations and governments to build strong, visionary, and future-ready healthcare leadership.

Prof. Hongmei (Mary) He (University of Salford) UK

Prof. Hongmei (Mary) He (FHEA, SIEEE) is Professor of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Robotics in the School of Science, Engineering, and Environment at the University of Salford (Mary He | University of Salford) and Turing Liaison Academic for membership of the Salford Turing University Network. She is a passionate advocate...

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Prof. Dhiya Al-Jumeily OBE (Liverpool John Moores University) UK

Prof Dhiya Al-Jumeily OBE has 30+ years experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning. In 2020, Prof Al-Jumeily was appointed by her majesty “THE QUEEN to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, “OBE- Ordinary Officers of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order” for the “Services...

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Philip Luce (Cromwell Hospital) UK

Philip Luce Chief Executive Officer, Cromwell Hospital, Former Director of Bupa's Nationwide Network of Health and Dental Centres UK. Philip started his career at Cromwell Hospital in 2011 as the Cardiology & Medical Directorate Manager, before becoming Operations Director a couple of years later – heading up the refurbishment of all wards,...

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Dr Nisrine Slitine (Institute of Advanced Paramedical and Health Studies) Morocco

Nisrine Sounny Slitine has always been attentive to the needs of the Moroccan society. As a doctor with a great entrepreneurial spirit, she quickly became aware of the importance of paramedical professions in the provision of health care at the national level, and the great deficit that the Kingdom knows...

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Dr Emad AlJaaly (Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) UK

Mr. Emad AlJaaly is a distinguished consultant cardiac and minimally invasive surgeon based at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, in the Hammersmith Hospital. With an impressive career spanning over two decades in the United Kingdom and more than a decade internationally, he stands out as a refined surgeon, a confident...

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Claire Hook (Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) UK

Claire Hook Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Claire joined the Trust in 2013 as divisional director of operations for medicine and integrated care, before moving into the executive team as director of operational performance in January 2019. In July 2021, Claire was appointed chief...

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Prof. Muhammad Aziz Rahman (Federation University) Australia

Professor Dr Muhammad Aziz Rahman is an experienced academic, a medical doctor and a public health professional. Following completion of medical graduation (MBBS), he completed his post-graduation in Public Health (MPH, PhD). Currently, he is working as the Associate Dean of Research at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing and...

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Dr Mayada Abu Affan (Director of Public Health) UK

Dr. Mayada Abu Affan is the Interim Director of Public Health at Hammersmith and Fulham Council. She was the Former Director of Public Health and Wellbeing and Consultant in Public Health with Dudley Local Government leading on maternal and child health, reproductive health, healthy ageing and the lead for Public Heath training...

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Prof. Caroline Ayad (Sudan University of Science & Technology) Sudan

Prof. Dr. Caroline Edward Ayad Khilla, the Professor of Diagnostic Radiology at College of Medical Radiological Science -Sudan University of Science and Technology Born in 1975. She is the Secretary of Academic Affairs- Sudan University of Science and Technology. In 1997 she was awarded the B.Sc. in Diagnostic Radiological Technology,...

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Dr Andrew Chukwuemeka (Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust) UK

Mr Andrew Chukwuemeka Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Hospital Medical Director – Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He qualified from the University of London (St Thomas' Hospital Medical School) in 1992 and trained in London (Royal Brompton, Hammersmith, Guy's and St Thomas, King's College hospitals). He completed a fellowship at the University...

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Dr Joyce Capelli (Instituto Melhores Dias) Brazil

President and executive director of Instituto Melhores Dias, expert in the formation of collaborative public-private partnerships that leverage the unique skills and resources of corporations, government and community groups to sustain vital education, health and community development programs in Brazil and other countries. Degree in dental sciences, master’s in dentistry,...

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Dr Muna Abdel Aziz (Former Director of Public Health Manchester) UK

Dr Muna Abdel Aziz is a retired Director of Public Health in the UK who now freelances as an Executive Coach and Mentor. She is a Fellow of the global Institute of Leadership, a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health UK, and the International CPD Adviser for the Faculty. Together with...

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Dr Andrew Murray (Antelope Health) UK

Andy earned his PhD from the University of Aberdeen and completed postdoctoral training at Columbia University. In 2016, he established his neuroscience lab at the Sainsbury Welcome Centre, UCL, and pioneered technologies at the intersection of neuroscience and biotechnology. As Founder and CEO of Sania Therapeutics, he led the company...

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Dr Christian Ehiobuche (Stockton University) USA

Dr. Christian Ehiobuche is currently the Chair of Stockton University’s MBA in Healthcare Administration & Leadership program. With over 15 years of college-level teaching experience. He has published 8 books, over 50 peer-review journal publications, and multiple awards for excellence in teaching and scholarship As a consultant, Chris Ehiobuche has an...

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Dr Ihab Tewfik (University of Westminster) UK

Ihab is a Registered Nutritionist and UNICEF-UN consultant with significant expertise in planning, implementing and evaluating sustainable public health nutrition intervention programmes at population level. Ihab has developed an independent research career that underpins the pivotal role of medical nutrition in regulating complications of chronic diseases through Tailored Functional Recipes...

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Dr Manal Elnour (SMC Healthcare Hospital) KSA

With more than 12 years in Saudi Arabia, Dr Manal is currently working as Diagnostic Radiologist and Fetomaternal Sonolgest. She completed a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Gezira in Sudan as well as Master Degree on Diagnostic Radiology. She recently completed successfully OBE and Gynae Ultrasound Diploma, American...

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Dr Christian Ehiobuche (New Jersey - USA) is currently the Chair of Stockton University’s MBA in Healthcare Administration & Leadership program. With over 15 years of college-level teaching experience. He has published 8 books, over 50 peer-review journal publications, and multiple awards for excellence in teaching and scholarship As a consultant, Chris Ehiobuche has an outstanding record in corporate training, capacity building, and has delivered over 5000 hours of training workshops in over 30 different topics around the world.As an entrepreneur, he has co-founded 2 companies, and he saw one of them grow from New Jersey to the Caribbean, Central America, and West Africa. He seats on board for 2 major cooperation in US and Mexico. He is affiliated with over a dozen professional organizations and has won over 5 International Awards.
Claire Hook (London - UK) Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Claire joined the Trust in 2013 as divisional director of operations for medicine and integrated care, before moving into the executive team as director of operational performance in January 2019. In July 2021, Claire was appointed chief operating officer, and in January 2024, she became deputy chief executive. Prior to this, Claire spent over 10 years working in senior roles in the NHS and the independent sector and has experience in both informatics and operational management. Claire obtained MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management from the London School of Economics. In 2017 she won a leading and developing people award from the London Leadership Academy and was recognised as the Director of the Year for the third/public sector in the Institute of Directors London and South region awards in 2020. Claire also has several years of experience as a charity Trustee.
Professor Dhiya Al-Jumeily OBE (Liverpool - UK) has 30+ years experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning. In 2020, Prof Al-Jumeily was appointed by her majesty “THE QUEEN to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, “OBE- Ordinary Officers of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order” for the “Services to Scientific Research”. Within healthcare field Prof Al-Jumeily developed SMART applications for disease diagnosis and management that are currently used by patients in the UK, UAE and Iraq. On the scientific community level, Prof Al-Jumeily established the eSystems Engineering Society (eSES) that has contributors from researchers and scientists at worldwide. The eSES activities include intelligent patient management system; datasets and databanks; DeSE annual and international conference; accredited professional courses; and the International Journal of Data Science and Advanced Analytics. On the research funding level, Prof Al-Jumeily attracted more than £7.5M of funding and published >350 publications.
Dr Nisrine Slitine (Morocco) has always been attentive to the needs of the Moroccan society. As a doctor with a great entrepreneurial spirit, she quickly became aware of the importance of paramedical professions in the provision of health care at the national level, and the great deficit that the Kingdom knows in this matter. As a result, Dr Nisrine went into the business world, before supporting her doctoral thesis, and enrolled in the continuing education cycle of the Institut Supérieur de Commerce et d'Administration des Entreprises (ISCAE), a Business Management specialty, in order to equip itself with all the tools necessary to meet this crucial need that it has identified in the paramedic market.
Professor Muhammad Aziz Rahman (Melbourne - Australia) is an experienced academic, a medical doctor and a public health professional. Following completion of medical graduation (MBBS), he completed his post-graduation in Public Health (MPH, PhD). Currently, he is working as the Associate Dean of Research at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing and the Professor of Public Health at Federation University Australia in Melbourne. Professor Rahman has been working in the areas of public health research and teaching for more than 20 years, both in Australian and international settings. He has an excellent track record of providing leadership in completing different research and community projects successfully, focusing on different aspects of public health, securing funding, producing high-quality research publications, supervising higher degree research students, assisting in capacity building and providing supportive supervision to the early/mid-career researchers and collaborating successfully with experienced researchers. Professor Rahman has published more than 200 research papers in multidisciplinary journals with more than 135,000 citations. Due to his extraordinary track record of research citations, he has been ranked amongst the world’s top 2% scientists for the last five years (2020-25), ranking done by Elsevier BV and Stanford University, USA. He has contributed to generating over $13 million in funding in his professional career. He has extensive international research collaborations with over 25 countries and has successfully led several multi-country research projects with significant outputs. Professor Rahman is also actively engaged with professional communities through different leadership roles. He is the Vice President at the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), the largest organisation for public health professionals in Australia.
Dr Emad AlJaaly (London - UK) is a distinguished consultant cardiac and minimally invasive surgeon based at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, in the Hammersmith Hospital. With an impressive career spanning over two decades in the United Kingdom and more than a decade internationally, he stands out as a refined surgeon, a confident operator, and a pioneer in the field of cardiac surgery.He has a remarkable journey commenced with his graduation as the best-performing student in medical university, setting the stage for his pursuit of excellence. He honed his skills during years of basic surgical training across different countries. In 2010, he was promoted to a role of registrar in Cardiothoracic Surgery. His accomplishments reached new heights in 2014, when he secured the only prestigious Cardiothoracic Surgery Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) post part of the National Training Number (NTN) in the United Kingdom, demonstrating his exceptional talent.
Professor Allam Ahmed (London - UK) is a Professor of Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development; Co-Founder of SMART KM MODEL: An Integrated Knowledge Management Framework for Organizational Excellence and led the implementation of the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa Knowledge Management Framework Musharaka. Founding President of WASD; SDGs Universities Initiative; Middle Eastern Knowledge Economy Institute; Fellow Faculty of Public Health, UK; Fellow Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK; and Fellow Academy of World Business, Marketing and Management Development, Australia. Prior to QMUL, Prof. Ahmed spent 15 years at the University of Sussex Science Policy Research Unit (1st science and policy think tank in the UK) where he established and led Sussex’s most successful postgraduate programme MSc International Management.
Dr Ibrahim Alfaki (UAE) is an Associate Professor of statistics in the Department of Statistics and Business Analytics at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). His research focuses on applied econometrics, spatial and statistical modeling, and data-driven policy analysis, with particular applications in road safety systems, economic and financial analytics, and the measurement of knowledge-based economies. His work emphasises the use of quantitative and data analytics methods, such as time series and econometric modeling, to support evidence-based decision-making and institutional performance evaluation. Professor Alfaki has contributed to national policy research, including the UAE Human Development Reports, in collaboration with government and international organizations. He has also served on the Scientific Committee of the Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre. In addition, he is a member of editorial advisory boards of several international journals, including WJEMSD, WJSTSD, and IJIKMMENA. His work reflects a sustained contribution to statistical applications in sustainable development and public policy.

Dr Andrew Chukwuemeka (London - UK) is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Hospital Medical Director – Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He qualified from the University of London (St Thomas' Hospital Medical School) in 1992 and trained in London (Royal Brompton, Hammersmith, Guy's and St Thomas, King's College hospitals). He completed a fellowship at the University of Toronto prior to appointment as a consultant in 2006. His expertise includes surgery for ischaemic heart disease, aortic valve surgery (including TAVI and futureless AVR), surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysms.
Dr Muna Abdel Aziz (Manchester - UK) is a Former Director of Public Health in the UK who now freelances as an Executive Coach and Mentor. She is a Fellow of the global Institute of Leadership, a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health UK, and the International CPD Adviser for the Faculty. Muna continues to engage globally on initiatives that affect countries and regions with a special interest in maternal and child health, public health information systems, and mobile health. Re-elected by the UK Faculty of Public Health to the role of International CPD Adviser, and previously Training Programme Director for Public Health Specialty in Cheshire and Merseyside, Muna retains her passion for education and continuing professional development. She firmly believes that system leadership and multi-disciplinary working across sectors will be key to achieving the transformation needed to meet the sustainable development goals.
Philip Luce (London - UK) Chief Executive Officer, Cromwell Hospital, Former Director of Bupa's Nationwide Network of Health and Dental Centres UK. Philip started his career at Cromwell Hospital in 2011 as the Cardiology & Medical Directorate Manager, before becoming Operations Director a couple of years later – heading up the refurbishment of all wards, and overseeing the clinical teams in the day to day running of the hospital. In 2015, Philip took on the role of Director of Bupa's nationwide network of Health and Dental Centres, during which time Bupa acquired the Oasis chain of dental centres, making it one of the biggest providers of dental services in the UK. His extensive career in private healthcare began as a Cardiac Physiologist before taking on the Cardiology Manager role at HCA, working across a number of hospitals including the Lister and London Bridge.
Dr Mayada Abu Affan (UK) is the Interim Director of Public Health at Hammersmith and Fulham Council. She was the Former Director of Public Health and Wellbeing and Consultant in Public Health with Dudley Local Government leading on maternal and child health, reproductive health, healthy ageing and the lead for Public Heath training and workforce development. She graduated from Khartoum Medical School in the Sudan, completed foundation training and the MD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the Sudan. During her working in obstetrics and gynaecology she became convinced that a combination of population and clinical perspectives are the most powerful approaches to improving health and achieving a bigger impact on health and health service quality, as a resulted she entered the Public Health higher specialist training programme in Scotland and obtained the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in 2006. Following the attainment of the membership of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in 2009, she became one of few people who are dually accredited in Public Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health in the UK. She also works as a community gynaecologist on part time bases and as an honorary lecturer at the University of Birmingham. She has worked in different systems and diverse settings in the England, Scotland, the Sudan and Uppsala in Sweden. This has given her the opportunity to experience the impact of culture, resources and political stability on population health. She is passionate about effective system leadership and its impact on developing health systems. In recognition of the importance of effective leadership in developing countries, she co-authored a leadership course for developing countries. The course focuses on System Leadership and addresses challenges facing effective leadership in developing countries such as resource constraints and lack of political engagement. She has been taking part in teaching this course, with colleagues in the Sudan, for the past five years.
Ambassador (Ret) Dr Petru Dumitriu (Geneve - Switzerland) is a Former Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the Council of Europe to the United Nations in Geneva. Currently Senior Fellow and Lecturer on Multilateral Diplomacy postgraduate courses, Diplo Foundation/University of Malta. Former member of the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit and Editor of numerous reports including: Strengthening the policy research uptake in service of the 2030 Agenda for SD, Role of PPPs in the Implementation of Agenda 2030, Knowledge Management in the UN System
Dr Andrew Murray (London - UK) is the Co-CEO & Co-Founder of Antelope Health which brings healthcare solutions to those who need them most. Andy earned his PhD from the University of Aberdeen and completed postdoctoral training at Columbia University. In 2016, he established his neuroscience lab at the Sainsbury Welcome Centre, UCL, and pioneered technologies at the intersection of neuroscience and biotechnology. As Founder and CEO of Sania Therapeutics, he led the company from inception to clinical development. 
Professor Arshi Naim (London - UK) is recognised among the Top 2% Scientists globally by Stanford University and Elsevier, is a distinguished academic with over 23 years of experience in business management, digital marketing, higher education, quality assurance, and academic leadership. A prolific researcher, she has published 115+ Scopus-indexed papers in high impact journals and contributed to academic books with leading publishers such as Wiley, Springer, Elsevier, Emerald, Taylor & Francis, IGI Global, Nova Science, and Bentham Science.
Miryem Salah (London - UK) is the director for Digital, Data & AI Transformation, Managing Director for the MSP sales channel of Vodafone Business IT hubs at VodafoneThree.Having led on major transformation across IT, digital, data, analytics and AI globally in private, public sectors. Miryem operates at the intersection of strategy, execution, culture, and impact-the space where she has consistently delivered the greatest value. She brings end‑to‑end ownership: setting direction, aligning capital and talent, and taking full accountability for outcomes. Her experience spans sectors and geographies, with leadership across the full enterprise agenda. Miryem brings strong financial and commercial acumen, with deep expertise in capital allocation, business case development, operating model design, and benefits realisation. She has led complex, multinational organisations through change under pressure-modernising infrastructure, integrating cultures, and delivering measurable improvements in customer experience, efficiency, and profitability. Building high‑performing, inclusive leadership teams with clarity, pace, and accountability. She is deeply committed to sustainability, diversity, and developing future leaders. Miryem is known for authentic leadership, decisive action, and strong stakeholder engagement at the shareholder, board & investor level.