Dr. Annette Ofunne Akinsete MBBS, DTM&H, MPH, FMCPH has been the CEO/National Director of Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria for the past several years, where she continues to propel successful innovative strategies for the prevention, management, care, and support, as well as cure for sickle cell disorder through – inter alia – Public Private Partnerships, Arts in Medicine and Family Support Systems.

Annette Akinsete is a woman of many parts; she is – among many things, a Consultant Public Health Physician, an astute Administrator, a Teacher, and a Broadcaster. A distinguished Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, she was Director of the Public Health Department of the Federal Ministry of Health for many years (where she was known as “The Leader of Leaders”), and has represented the Federal Government of Nigeria at several multi-lateral and bilateral engagements all over the world.

As a Public Health Physician, Akinsete has worked in every level of government in Nigeria – from local, State to Federal levels. At the global level, she has contributed to World Health Organisation (WHO) publications on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), served as a WHO Fellow in Geneva, and as UN Cares Facilitator at the United Nations HQ in New York.