The Advisors Who Keep Us Going
From inception to deployment, our advisors have held our hands. Their expertise, presence of mind, good nature, friendships continue to prod us along as we continue on this journey. Hanai has birthed the Jiwa Ibu app, and as we work on improving, reaching further into communities, we are reliant on our advisory board. These indefatigable champions, despite their intense work schedules, lend their time to Hanai, take our calls, answer our emails, and put up with our general needs.
Dr. Reena Rajasuriar and I go back a long way. She is a tireless researcher in infectious diseases, an intensely clever woman who works with the medical faculty in Universiti Malaya. Reena guides Hanai with her insights into the Malaysian and global research scene, the operations involved in country.
Dr. Yolanda Augustin is truly the firecraker that set Hanai’s Jiwa Ibu app off. An oncologist with St Georges University, London, Yo, is a force to be reckoned with. Her almost daily messages with ideas, strategies, connections is a propelling force behind Jiwa Ibu’s reach.
Hedda Pahlson-Moller is a catalyst on all accounts. She oozes sustainability, impact investing, gender equity, among many others. Plus she makes a mean coffee. When I began my journey, Hedda was the first person I spoke to and she continues to keep an eye out for Hanai.
Prof Yvonne Lim, a parasitologist, Deputy Dean, Director of International Research for Universiti Malaya opened our eyes to the intricacies of research within indigenous populations. She is grounded in her research and guides Hanai in doing our work ethically, properly, and is our guide in reaching into academia.
Prof Sanjeev Krishna’s belief in patient empowerment, digital inclusivity, openness in research and collaboration are among the many facets he brings to Hanai. A Professor of Molecular Parasitology and Medicine at St. George’s, University of London’s Centre for Infection, he brings his years of work in malaria in developing countries to the development of Hanai. He has been instrumental in the birth of the Jiwa Ibu app, always listening with both ears and heart.
Prof Adeeba Kamarulzaman is a giant in her field — she leads the medical faculty of medicine in Universiti Malaya and has has dedicated her career to the prevention, treatment and research of infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS. While she is busy, she still takes the time to suggest possible collaborations, take meetings to brainstorm for Jiwa Ibu.
Dr. Guy Hewlett a virologist who switched gears to medical and scientific writing after retiring from his tireless years of pursuing HPV research is the voice that every medical communication needs. “You cannot say it like that!” is something we hear from him often. He brings reason to the content of the app.
Emmanuelle Ragot, Partner Head of Data IP Law, firmly believes in innovation and is supportive of start ups in need of legal advise. “Get it right at the start”. Her in-depth knowledge, passion drives her ability to provide Hanai with our IP rights requirements.
Karthik Muthuswami is a WHO tech engineering consultant who jumped into Hanai to help whip us along in getting our beta version out. His passion for social justice, social impact, working towards a cause are the pillars on which Hanai can lean on for our tech expertise.
Without them, the work we do would be but a fraction of what it is now. We are reliant on these stalwarts in their fields. And humbled by their generosity of the time they give us.