CHFI Management

Dr Catherine Hamlin was an Australian obstetrician-gynaecologist who went to Ethiopia over 65 years ago to train midwives with her husband Dr Reg Hamlin. Their attention soon turned to the plight of the obstetric fistula patients. Together, the Hamlin’s perfected the modern technique for obstetric fistula surgery and set up a network of hospitals in Ethiopia to help these women. So far, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia has helped more than 82,000 women.

Dr Catherine Hamlin passed away in March 2020, at age 96. She was a Companion of the Order of Australia and was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Nigel is an experienced Businessman and Entrepreneur in Life Sciences & Biotechnology having lived and worked in Europe, USA and Africa. A Chairman and Director of several companies in both the Private & Public Sector. He is a Trustee of the LouLou Foundation Global Charity and a past President of the British Pharmaceutical Industry leading the industry in support of Water Aid (Africa) and Women’s Aid.

Julie is the Executive Chair of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia) t/as Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation. An experienced Chair and not-for-profit director in both Australia and UK, Julie’s portfolio focuses on health and women’s issues. Alongside this, Julie provides strategic advice to businesses on social investment and staff engagement, and to not-for profits on strategic planning, corporate governance, and corporate and community engagement. Julie is passionate about maternal health and the eradication of fistula.

David is the Deputy Chair of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia) t/as Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation. David is one of Australia’s most experienced restructuring and turnaround executives. David is a Chartered Accountant and has more than 30 years’ experience working with organisations to solve financial, operational, and strategic problems. David is currently also the Chief Financial Officer of Australia’s largest charitable organisation, the Paul Ramsay Foundation.

Jenny has successfully combined raising three daughters within a family with deep roots in the Medical Profession, together with being a director of a leading global Food Safety organisation.  She has an extensive network of influential business leaders in the Food Industry and Aviation World.  Her company audits the supply chain of Europe’s leading Grocery and Food Service Retailers, plus major Airlines.  This audit trail takes her global team into all corners of the world, including Africa.

Alison is a senior advisor and Non-Executive Director with over 30 years' experience in marketing/communications, stakeholder engagement and public affairs. Alison has held various senior roles in the UK and Australia, including at Columbia Threadneedle Investments (where she established and chaired the Columbia Threadneedle Foundation), Macquarie Group and HM Treasury. 

She is currently a Non-Executive Director of JP Morgan Emerging Markets Growth & Income plc and the Association of Investment Companies, Trustee of women's charity Clean Break Theatre Company, Patron of children's mental health charity AT The Bus and former member of the National Gallery's Development Committee.

Melissa Jefferies is a Managing Director and Head of Middle East Energy Sales within Macquarie’s Commodities and Global Markets (CGM) group. With almost a decade of experience at Macquarie, She plays a pivotal role in driving the energy sales strategy across the Middle East, leveraging her deep expertise in commodity markets and client solutions. Melissa works within CGM’s Commodity Markets and Finance (CMF) division, a global business specialising in agricultural commodities, energy, metals and mining, freight, and environmental products. 

Melissa is recognised for her strategic leadership and client-focused approach, contributing to Macquarie’s presence in the region. Based in Dubai for nearly a decade, she is committed to advancing energy solutions and fostering strong partnerships in the UAE and Middle East one of the world’s most dynamic markets. 

Ayelech was born in Ethiopia and has lived in the UK since 1980. She worked as a senior theatre nurse at Hammersmith Hospital in London, where she worked alongside Professor Gordon Williams, a specialist in fistula surgery. Through him, she had the opportunity to return to Ethiopia and meet Dr Catherine Hamlin and learn more about their remarkable work helping women affected by obstetric fistula.

After retiring, Ayelech continued to dedicate her time to helping others. Now living in Portsmouth, she is involved with an African Women’s Forum, where she and other members raise awareness about women’s health and important issues such as child marriage, arranged marriage and female genital mutilation. They have spoken in schools and to police and community groups, encouraging greater understanding and cultural sensitivity.

She has also volunteered with St Thomas Cathedral and Life House Charity Forum in Portsmouth.Ayelech’s journey has always been about caring for people. Whether through nursing, volunteering, or speaking up for women and girls, she has continued to give her time, experience and compassion to others.

Cristina is a nurse, midwife and senior research fellow at King’s College London with clinical, academic, and research experience across both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. She holds a Diploma in Tropical Medicine, a Master of Public Health (MPH), and a PhD in Public Health. Cristina has led and contributed to clinical and applied health research in infectious and tropical diseases, as well as innovations and complex interventions in maternal, child, and adolescent health, with a focus on addressing health challenges and inequities. Her collaborative work has informed local and international guidelines and policy and she is passionate about community-driven innovations, the responsible use of AI, and research capacity exchange in global health.