Executive Committee

The Executive Committee oversees the management of the network and ensures it is meeting its objectives in line with its terms of reference. 

Steering Committee

  • Chair: Dorin Brener Turgeman (NALA)
  • Vice-Chair: Aparna Barua-Adams (Unlimit Health)
  • Immediate Past Chair: Gilbert Baayenda (The Fred Hollows Foundation)

Secretariat

  • Kat Gulyas - Network Coordinator
  • Katerina Pagura - Secretariat Support

Disease-Specific Groups

Trachoma / International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC)

  • Chair: Michaela Kelly (Sightsavers)
  • Vice-Chair: Sarity Dodson (Fred Hollows Foundation)
  • Alternate: Sangjan Newton (International Coalition for Trachoma Control)

Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) NGO Network

  • Chair: Deborah Mensah (Hope Rises International)
  • Vice-Chair: Fikre Hailekiros (National Podoconiosis Action Network (NaPAN) )

Onchocerciasis NGOs for Elimination (ONE)

  • Chair: Lindsay Rakers (The Carter Center)
  • Vice-Chair: Juliana Amanyi-Enegela (CBM)

Leprosy NGO Group 

  • Chair: Geoff Warne (International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations - ILEP)

Soil-Transmitted Helminths/Schistosomiasis (STH/SCH) NGO Group

  • Acting-Chair: Cosmas Ndellejong  (Sightsavers)
  • Vice-Chair: Chrispin Owaga (Evidence Action)

Cross-Cutting Groups

Communications Working Group

  • Chair: Subin Adhikari (The Leprosy Mission Nepal)

Disease Management Disability and Inclusion (DMDI) 

  • Chair: Maya Semrau (Brighton and Sussex Medical School)
  • Vice-Chair: Bahadir Celiktemur (Leprosy Mission)

Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) 

  • Chair: Geordie Woods (Sightsavers)
  • Vice-Chair: Fikre Seife Gebretsadik (NALA)

Skin Related NTDs 

  • Chair: Dr. Rie Yotsu (Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine)
  • Vice-Chair: Dr. Niraj Parajuli (MoHP Nepal)

Conflict and Humanitarian Emergencies

  • Acting Chair: Angelia Sanders (The Carter Center)
  • Chair (on sabbatical): Xavier Badia (Mentor Initiative)

Ensuring Sustainable Systems

  • Chair: Kate McCracken (Evidence Action)

One Health

  • Chair: Dr. Gabrielle Laing (Unlimit Health)
  • Vice-Chair: Hamisi Msagama (One Health Society Tanzania)

NNN Representation

  • Uniting to Combat NTDs Consultative Forum
    • Nisan Zerai Kesete (NALA)
  • ESPEN Steering Committee
    • Juliana Amanyi-Enegela (Christian Blind Mission)
    • Lyndsay Blair (Unlimit Health)

Elections

The Chair shall serve a one-year term and will then move to the position of Past-Chair for an additional year.  Similarly, the Vice-Chair shall serve a one-year term and then move to the position of Chair. During an election year and prior to the annual meeting, the Executive Committee will invite nominations for the incoming NNN Vice-Chair through the NGO Coordination Groups. Each nominee must accept the nomination and be fully informed of the voluntary nature of the position. Nominations will be supported by a brief summary of the nominee’s eligibility for election. 

The Executive Committee will circulate the final nominations prior to the annual meeting during which election of the new Vice-Chair will take place. The successful candidate will be determined by a clear majority of votes (one vote per individual NGO) and the new Vice-Chair will take up the position from the announcement at the meeting.

OUR ANNUAL MEETING

The NNN meets annually (typically in September); the disease-specific and thematic working groups will continue to meet separately at will. See our conference page for more information.