Womeninleadership | Womanity

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Helen Nabwera, a paediatrician, physician-scientist, and global health leader whose work bridges clinical care, community empowerment, and pioneering research in maternal and child health. Currently based at Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya, she works in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Centre of Excellence for Women and Child Health, the Co-PI PRETERM Africa Study, and is a Physician Scientist and MRC/FCDO African Research Leader. Dr. Nabwera shares her personal journey from growing up in rural western Kenya, where exposure to childhood illness and community hardship shaped her calling, to becoming a leading advocate for vulnerable newborns and a mentor to emerging researchers across Africa and beyond. She takes us through the heart of her work in preterm birth and early childhood development, highlighting the systemic and psychosocial factors that affect maternal and infant health in low-resource settings. Hear about her groundbreaking research on mother-to-mother peer support for families with low birth weight babies, and the vital role of nutrition in long-term child survival and development. She emphasizes that sustainable child health cannot be achieved through clinical care alone; it requires integrated community action, maternal wellbeing, and addressing societal misconceptions. We also explore Dr. Nabwera’s experience navigating the complexities of career, motherhood, cultural expectations, and leadership as a woman in science. She offers honest reflections on guilt, balance, and the importance of asking for help, while also advocating for structural changes in academic and research spaces to better support women’s advancement. Her thoughts on the role of culture, family, and resilience reveal a leader grounded in compassion and driven by purpose. Dr. Nabwera also pays tribute to key women in her life including her mother and fellow trailblazing scientists who inspired her journey and now fuel her mission to support the next generation. She leaves us with a powerful message to young women across the continent: “Find your inner peace—your dreams will emerge from there. An then you know you're going to get to where you need to get.” Whether you are in medicine, science, education, or simply navigating your path, this conversation with Dr. Nabwera is a moving testament to courage, humility, and impact. Tune in for more…

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July 24, 2025

Dr. Helen Nabwera – Paediatrics & Child Health – Aga Khan University – Network Growth

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Helen Nabwera, a paediatrician, physician-scientist, and global health leader whose work bridges clinical care, community empowerment, and pioneering rese...

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr June Fabian, Director of Clinical Research at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, whose journey from pharmacist to nephrologist and researcher exemplifies determination, passion, and a fierce commitment to advancing kidney health across Africa. From Pharmacy to Medicine Dr. Fabian reflects on the obstacles she overcame, from financial hardship and familial resistance to self‑doubt to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. She shares how her grounding in pharmacy first ignited her love for research, and how that early laboratory experience sharpened her resolve to bring hands‑on clinical care to patients with complex conditions Dreams, Determination and Agency Listeners will hear Dr. Fabian’s insights on nurturing ambition in the face of discouragement: the value of identifying non‑negotiables, leaning on a supportive circle, and finding creative routes when traditional pathways seem blocked. She offers practical advice on overcoming self‑sabotage, choosing environments that empower you, and the transformative power of when someone has helped you that your thanks could be to help another and “pay it forward”. Navigating Gender Dynamics In a candid discussion of gender in male‑dominated spaces, Dr. Fabian recounts both blatant and subtle biases she’s encountered, from dismissive comments in clinical wards to the unspoken expectation that women handle administrative tasks. She explains how she has reshaped her leadership style to challenge territoriality, foster inclusive mentorship, and advocate for tailored career‑development support for early‑career women. Kidney Disease in Africa: Silent, Deadly, Misunderstood Dr. Fabian unpacks why kidney disease remains under the radar, including confusion over its causes in African contexts, limited funding, and the high cost of treatment that may deter screening. She highlights new therapies that can delay disease progression and argues for integrating simple, low‑cost kidney screening into routine care for high‑risk groups (hypertension, diabetes, HIV, and pregnancy‑related conditions), even in resource‑constrained clinics. Gendered Nuances of Renal Health Delving deeper, she explores how physiological factors (e.g., pregnancy‑related hypertension and diagnostic formulas based on muscle mass) and socioeconomic barriers (access to dialysis and transplant) uniquely affect women. Dr. Fabian urges healthcare workers to use every patient interaction as an opportunity for health education. Sustaining the Self Behind the Scientist Drawing on her own burnout during the HIV epidemic’s peak, Dr. Fabian discusses the importance of firm boundaries, “quiet time” habits (her adaptation of the 5 AM Club), and a self‑care toolkit that preserves long‑term resilience. She shares how learning to slow down, rather than quit, has been crucial to sustaining both personal wellbeing and professional momentum. Words of Encouragement As the conversation closes, Dr. Fabian delivers a rallying cry to girls and women everywhere: hold fast to your dreams, don’t let anyone shut you down. Work out how to achieve your dreams and you can do it. Tune in for more

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July 10, 2025

Dr. June Fabian – Director of Clinical Research at Wits DGMC – Personalisation

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr June Fabian, Director of Clinical Research at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, whose journey from pharmacist to nephrologist and researcher exemplifies ...

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Natalie Africa, a leading advocate for women’s economic empowerment and Interim Director for Economic Opportunity at the Gates Foundation. The conversation offers listeners a deep dive into how economic transformation on the African continent can be accelerated through inclusive financial systems, agricultural innovation, and the dismantling of institutional and cultural barriers to women's progress. The Gates Foundation’s Role in Africa Ms Africa reflects on her five-year journey at the Foundation, starting in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares how the crisis deepened her understanding of the Foundation's agility and its extensive networks, particularly in health. Since then, the Foundation has significantly expanded its presence on the continent to work closer with partners, tripling its staff in Africa and opening new offices to better respond to development challenges. Economic Opportunity and Women’s Empowerment Now leading the Economic Opportunity division, Ms Africa explains the Gates Foundation’s integrated approach to development. Her portfolio spans agricultural development, digital public infrastructure, financial inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment. She emphasizes the importance of breaking silos - such as linking agricultural projects more intentionally with women's economic participation and financial access. For more than a decade the Gates Foundation has supported the Women’s Empowerment In Agriculture Index https://www.ifpri.org/project/weai/ , which is a tool that gives a comprehensive understanding of real issues and how to address them Barriers to Financial Independence for African Women The conversation delves into the major barriers facing women - legal constraints, cultural norms, and patriarchal systems. While South Africa and other countries have revised discriminatory laws, Ms Africa stresses that cultural change often lags behind legal reform. Women remain disadvantaged in accessing land, capital, skills, and equal pay. Even where women contribute significant unpaid labour, their economic value often goes unrecognized, women are still not paid on equal terms to men. Despite legislative changes, culture still needs to reform for gender equality to take effect in society. Historically we come from a patriarchal history, where the means of economic production like land, property, capital and skills are still limited for women. Systemic Approaches to Policy and Institutional Change The Gates Foundation does not implement projects directly but works through partners, including UN Women, academic institutions, and advocacy groups. Ms Africa outlines the Foundation’s support for governments adopting national women’s economic empowerment policies, reforming agricultural laws, and improving access to credit—especially for women-led small enterprises. She highlights collaborations with central banks and ministries of finance to lower the cost of capital and foster financial inclusion. We discuss how technology enables economic inclusion and advancement. For instance how climate smart technologies such as solar powered milling equipment and irrigation systems not only contribute to production efficiencies but also more nutrient rich foods cultivated by women. We also hypothesise how a digital ID and appropriate data collection could radically benefit women in accessing facilities. Natalie Africa’s insights underscore the urgent need for a multi-layered approach to women’s economic empowerment. Legal reform, policy innovation, cultural transformation, and institutional inclusion must go hand-in-hand. As African economies recover and rebuild post-pandemic, women must be placed at the centre of economic opportunity and prosperity. Tune in for more…

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April 5, 2025

Natalie Africa – Interim Director, Economic Opportunity, Africa Team, Gates Foundation – Collaboration

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Natalie Africa, a leading advocate for women’s economic empowerment and is Interim Director, Economic Opportunity, Africa Team, Gates Found...

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March 27, 2025

Dr. Tamaryn Morris – SAEON Physical Oceanographer – Interconnecting Oceans & Climate

This week on Womanity – Women in Unity, we explore the fascinating world of oceanography with Dr. Tammy Morris, a physical oceanographer with extensive in-field experience in the Southwest Indian and South Atlantic Oce...

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Tag: Womeninleadership

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Dr. Helen Nabwera – Paediatrics & Child Health – Aga Khan University – Network Growth

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Dr. June Fabian – Director of Clinical Research at Wits DGMC – Personalisation

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Natalie Africa – Interim Director, Economic Opportunity, Africa Team, Gates Foundation – Collaboration

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Dr. Tamaryn Morris – SAEON Physical Oceanographer – Interconnecting Oceans & Climate

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Tag: Womeninleadership

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Dr. Helen Nabwera – Paediatrics & Child Health – Aga Khan University – Network Growth

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Dr. June Fabian – Director of Clinical Research at Wits DGMC – Personalisation

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Natalie Africa – Interim Director, Economic Opportunity, Africa Team, Gates Foundation – Collaboration

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Dr. Tamaryn Morris – SAEON Physical Oceanographer – Interconnecting Oceans & Climate

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