Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, M.S.M
Chief Executive Officer,
Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, M.S.M., is a globally recognized patient advocate and health leader with decades of experience advancing care, advocacy, patient engagement, and health policy for individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease and other inherited blood disorders. She is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Action Network for Sickle Cell & Other Inherited Blood Disorders (GANSID), where she leads initiatives focused on global advocacy, education, clinical research, capacity building, and equitable access to innovative therapies.
She is also the Founder and President/CEO of the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO) and Co-Founder and Founding President/CEO of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Canada. Her advocacy has contributed to advancing newborn screening, national and provincial sickle cell awareness initiatives, and improved access to care and treatment in Canada.
Lanre is a recipient of the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) and the Senate Canada 150 Award.
Nafanta Fadiga
Clinician Platform Program Administrator
Nafanta Fadiga is a Master of Science student in Family Medicine (Global Health concentration) at McGill University and a 2025 McCall MacBain Scholar. Her work focuses on chronic illness, particularly sickle cell disease, and maternal and reproductive health, with an emphasis on health equity and community-engaged practice.
Nafanta brings experience in research coordination and knowledge translation, supporting initiatives that connect clinical care with community priorities. As GANSID’s Clinician Platform Program Administrator, she supports clinician engagement and program coordination by helping strengthen care pathways, facilitating knowledge exchange, and connecting community-informed insights with frontline practice. Her approach centers on culturally responsive, patient-centered care that recognizes lived experience. She is committed to applied global health practice grounded in partnership, accountability, and equity.
Srijain Man Shrestha
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Advocacy & Medical Education Officer
Srijain is the GANSID Advocacy & Medical Education Officer. In this role he coordinates the development of the Health-Care Providers (HCP) Clinician Modules, the GANSID Global Mentorship Program, and he engages in GANSID-related advocacy work at a national and international level. Srijain has earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of New Brunswick and a Master’s of Management in Applied Sciences in Global Health Systems from Western University. He has worked within the non-profit and clinical trials sectors, coordinating, and implementing programs. Srijain is very passionate about global health issues and seeks to actualize systemic change within global health institutions.
Dr. Robert Kidega (MBChB, MMED Pediatrics)
Journal Club Coordinator
Dr. Robert Kidega (MBChB, MMED Pediatrics) is a compassionate pediatrician dedicated to caring for children and young adults with severe, chronic non-communicable diseases. He works with the Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases (UINCD), supporting the Ministry of Health’s PEN-Plus program. PEN-Plus, a WHO AFRO strategy, expands access to integrated care for people living with severe chronic conditions at first-referral hospitals, bringing life-saving services closer to underserved communities.
Dr. Kidega trained at Kampala International University and specialized in Pediatrics and Child Health at Makerere University, Kampala where he developed a deep commitment to addressing the lifelong challenges faced by families managing chronic illness. He also serves as Journal Club Coordinator for GANSID, fostering global collaboration and critical engagement with emerging research, and is an alumnus of the GANSID Mentorship Program. For him, medicine is about partnership, walking alongside families, listening to their stories, and building sustainable paths to health.
Eqbal Ismail
Information & Client Care
Eqbal Ismail is a second-year undergraduate Medical Sciences student at Western University, Canada. Combining her deep passion for medicine and hands-on experience in a placenta-research lab since high school, she is planning to pursue an MD/PhD path to become a clinician-scientist. She aims to bridge clinical practice with academic research to advance medical science and patient care. Beyond her studies, she is a dedicated advocate for health equity and advancement, serving in Information & Client Care with GANSID, and as a volunteer and Youth Empowerment Program participant with the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO). Outside of her professional pursuits, Eqbal is driven by a broad scientific curiosity that extends into her interests in astronomy and theoretical physics.
Stephen Osaze Odiase, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Stephen Osaze Odiase is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and an experienced finance and corporate services leader. He serves as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Global Action Network for Sickle Cell and Other Inherited Blood Disorders (GANSID), supporting the organization in financial management, reporting, budgeting, accountability, and good governance.
Stephen brings extensive experience across the public and private sectors and currently holds a senior municipal leadership role with the Town of Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. Throughout his career, he has developed strong expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, internal controls, organizational administration, and strategic financial management. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Stephen is passionate about service and using his financial expertise to support organizations that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
His involvement with GANSID reflects his commitment to strengthening organizational sustainability and advancing initiatives that improve awareness, collaboration, and outcomes for people affected by sickle cell disease and other inherited blood disorders.
Paula Magbor
Registry Program Officer
Paula is a Master of Science student at Western University whose research explores innovative bioinformatics approaches for public health applications. She brings project management and coordination experience from clinical, academic, and community-based settings. Most recently, she helped coordinate educational sessions for healthcare professionals to raise awareness of sickle cell disease and gaps in patient care.
As GANSID’s Registry Program Officer, Paula supports the development of the organization’s global registry and related initiatives. She is passionate about health advocacy and accessible science communication and hopes to help strengthen research and clinical capacity to advance equitable care for people living with inherited blood disorders worldwide.