Conference Schedule
20 November 2025
Join us for an exclusive conference where thought leaders gather to share insights and innovations.
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Registration
Registration
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Opening Remarks Day 2
Opening Remarks Day 2
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Climate Resilience and Ethical Innovation for Sustainability: Empowering Communities in a Changing World
Featuring
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Sarah Cragg
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
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Pamela Guzmán
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Santiago Colín
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Ashna Jain
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Sarah Cragg
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Bio
Sarah is a sustainability leader and impact strategist dedicated to scaling solutions that regenerate our planet. As Head of Asia Pacific for The Earthshot Prize, Sarah accelerates groundbreaking innovations tackling climate and environmental challenges. With a background spanning Conservation International, Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever, and Virgin Unite, she has mobilized multi-million-dollar partnerships, shaped industry-leading ESG initiatives, and driven systemic change. Originally a qualified lawyer, Sarah brings a strategic lens to sustainability—bridging policy, finance, and innovation. Passionate about unlocking capital for climate solutions, she champions bold action for a thriving future.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Pamela Guzmán
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Santiago Colín
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Ashna Jain
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Head of Asia Pacific, The Earthshot Prize
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
About the Session
Featuring newly launched Reach Alliance research on climate resiliency and sustainable ethical innovation, this session opens with expert framing, followed by brief presentations from Reach researchers. A moderated discussion and audience Q&A will explore shared insights, challenges, and opportunities for impact.
Related Information
11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
Featuring
Reach Researcher, University College London
Reaching Marginalized Women in Peri-Urban India for Gender-Inclusive Climate Action
Featuring
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Megha Zavar
Reach Researcher, University College London
Megha Zavar
Reach Researcher, University College London
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Reach Researcher, University College London
About the Session
This moderated conversation brings together stakeholders for an in-depth discussion on addressing climate challenges through a gender-inclusive lens to help hard-to-reach populations, all grounded in recent Reach Alliance research. Through an “in-conversation” format, panelists will share perspectives from policy, practice, and research, exploring the implications of the findings and identifying pathways for action and collaboration.
11:20 AM – 11:50 AM
Break
Break
11:50 AM – 12:10 PM
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Fellow, Africa Leadership in Health Research
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
A Holistic Approach to Maternal Health
Featuring
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Amy Yeboah Quarkume
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
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Elizabeth Lubinda
Fellow, Africa Leadership in Health Research
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Madison Winfield
Reach Researcher, Howard University
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Josephine Agbakpe-Kafui
Reach Researcher
Amy Yeboah Quarkume
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Bio
Amy Yeboah Quarkume, Ph.D., affectionately known as Dr. A, is a daughter of Africa, a scholar, filmmaker, data scientist, and Associate Professor of Africana Studies in the Department of Earth, Environment and Equity at Howard University. She holds a Ph.D. in African American Studies, two master’s degrees in Sociology and African American Studies, and certificates of Data Analytics from Harvard Extension School and the University of Massachusetts. Quarkume is an Andrew Mellon New Direction Fellow, a National Center for Atmospheric Research Innovator Fellow, and a White House Initiative HBCU All-Star Campus Mentor.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Fellow, Africa Leadership in Health Research
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
Elizabeth Lubinda
Fellow, Africa Leadership in Health Research
Elizabeth Lubinda
Bio
Elizabeth Lubinda is a maternal and newborn health epidemiologist and demographer committed to advancing evidence-based interventions that improve pregnancy outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa and inform global maternal health strategies. She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Cape Town and a BA in Demography from the University of Zambia.
A fellow of the Africa Leadership in Health Research, the Health Literacy Leadership Programme at the West African Institute of Public Health, and the USAID Youth Lead Programme, Elizabeth has contributed to strengthening maternal and newborn health research, promoting health literacy, and driving community-focused advocacy across the continent.
Her research spans infectious disease management and noncommunicable disease prevention, including investigations into the impact of antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women living with HIV, which have generated robust evidence on maternal health, stillbirth reduction, and neonatal survival in the era of universal ART. In collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council, she leads a multi-country study assessing community-based maternal care interventions to prevent the progression from gestational diabetes to type 2 diabetes among women in resource-limited African settings.
As a Maternal Research Consultant, Elizabeth examines maternal aflatoxin exposure in rural Zambia, linking agricultural practices and community awareness to neonatal outcomes. Her earlier work with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture under the Aflasafe programme, combined with monitoring and evaluation experience on the USAID Stop GBV Project, has further strengthened her ability to design policy-relevant, evidence-driven strategies that safeguard maternal and newborn health across Africa.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Fellow, Africa Leadership in Health Research
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
Madison Winfield
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Fellow, Africa Leadership in Health Research
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
Josephine Agbakpe-Kafui
Reach Researcher
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Associate Professor, Department of Earth, Environment, and Equity, Howard University
Fellow, Africa Leadership in Health Research
Reach Researcher, Howard University
Reach Researcher
About the Session
This moderated conversation, grounded in Reach research, brings together stakeholders for an in-depth discussion on approaching maternal health, especially for people of colour, in a holistic form. Panelists will share perspectives from policy, practice, and research, exploring the implications of the findings and identifying pathways for action and collaboration.
Related Information
12:10 PM – 12:30 PM
Featuring
Corporate Partnership Executive, CoppaFeel!
Advancing Disability-Inclusive Maternal Healthcare in Nepal
Featuring
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Francesca Lanzarotti
Corporate Partnership Executive, CoppaFeel!
Francesca Lanzarotti
Corporate Partnership Executive, CoppaFeel!
Bio
Francesca was a member of the Reach team that investigated the quality and access of maternal healthcare for disabled women in Nepal. She was part of driving the first Research in Action report, in which her team furthered their case study findings and transformed them into actionable insights to inform policy discussions and drive programme reforms. She has also worked closely with her team in sharing their findings in multiple academic journal publications and public podcasts.
Currently, she is a Corporate Partnership Executive at CoppaFeel!, a charity focused on educating and empowering young people on breast cancer awareness to improve early and accurate diagnosis. She is passionate about improving equitable access to healthcare education and resources, whilst tackling systemic barriers and social stigma about women and female health. She holds a Psychology BSc from University of Surrey and a Women’s Health MSc from University College London.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Corporate Partnership Executive, CoppaFeel!
About the Session
This session will share back the impact of action-focused Reach research. Inspiring future cohorts of Reach researchers and key stakeholders to focus on impact with their research. This session will feature a presentation from Reach Alum followed by an audience Q&A.
Related Information
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Case Study Nepal
2022-23
Maternal Healthcare for Women with Disabilities in Nepal Access and Quality
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch
Lunch
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Reimagining Sustainability Through Community-Led Initiatives
Featuring
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Iza Maria Sánchez Siller
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Sam Misner
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
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Safana Ahmad
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
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Alejandra Sánchez Navarro
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
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Natasha Hafferjee
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Iza Maria Sánchez Siller
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Bio
Iza is a Professor at the School of Humanities and Education at Tecnológico de Monterrey. She graduated in Law from the Tecnológico de Monterrey and holds a PhD in Social Sciences, with a specialization in migration and public health, having completed research stays at Mississippi State University and University of Trento in Italy. In recent years, she has taught courses on Citizenship and Democracy, Sociology, Gender, Society and Human Rights, Political Participation and Sociology of Identity, and Qualitative Research Methods and has coordinated the semester of “Leadership for Social Development”. Her current work on social development focuses on gender and violence from a sociological and legal perspective, especially with domestic migrants, through projects with indigenous communities within the Monterrey Metropolitan Area. Sánchez Siller is co-founder of the program “Promoting Gender Equity in Adolescents and Young Women in rural areas” in Mitunguu, Kenya; a program that works with local high schools to reinforce the importance of higher education and decision-making.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Sam Misner
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Safana Ahmad
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Alejandra Sánchez Navarro
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Natasha Hafferjee
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Professor at School of Humanities and Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Toronto
Reach Researcher, University of Melbourne
Reach Researcher, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Reach Researcher, University of Cape Town
Featuring newly launched Reach Alliance research on community-led initiatives and their impact on sustainability, this session opens with expert framing, followed by brief presentations from Reach researchers. A moderated discussion and audience Q&A will explore shared insights, challenges, and opportunities for impact.
Related Information
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Enhancing Financial Literacy in Migrant Populations
Featuring
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Andrew Koh
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
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Caroline Hui Xuan Cheng
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
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Arif Woozeer
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
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Senthamizhselvan Ramachandran
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Andrew Koh
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Bio
Dr. Andrew Koh joined Singapore Management University in 2022. He received his PhD in computational imaging from the University of Nottingham. The early years of his career were devoted to farming as a means for poverty alleviation and education of university graduates in Cambodia. His current research focus is enhancing migrant worker wellbeing in Singapore through the use of technology. Previous positions held include a Partner Seller (Analytics) at Microsoft and Assistant Director at Ministry of Manpower (ACE). His work experience through the non-profit, corporate and governmental sectors lend him an integrative perspective which he aims to empower the next generation with.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Caroline Hui Xuan Cheng
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Bio
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Arif Woozeer
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Bio
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Senthamizhselvan Ramachandran
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
Bio
Senthamizhselvan Ramachandran is a Field Service Engineer currently based in Singapore, working in the Building Automation industry. Originally from Tamil Nadu, India, he is a first-generation graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. With a strong foundation in engineering and a passion for smart building technologies, Senthamizhselvan brings hands-on expertise and a commitment to delivering high-quality service in dynamic field environments.
Beyond his professional role, he is an active volunteer, dedicating his free time to community service initiatives. He also enjoys roller skating on weekends, which reflects his energetic and balanced approach to life. Senthamizhselvan is enthusiastic about continuous learning, cross-cultural collaboration, and contributing to innovative solutions in the built environment.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Senior Lecturer of Computer Science, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Reach Researcher, Singapore Management University
Field Service Engineer & Community Collaborator
About the Session
This moderated conversation brings together diverse stakeholders for an in-depth discussion on using co-created technological innovation to increase financial accessibility for hard-to-reach populations, all grounded in recent Reach Alliance research. Through an “in-conversation” format, panelists will share perspectives from technology, practice, and research, exploring the implications of the findings and identifying pathways for action and collaboration.
Related Information
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Hackathon Awards Ceremony & Presentation
Hackathon Awards Ceremony & Presentation
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
Featuring
Executive Director, The Reach Alliance
Marking a Decade of Excellence with Reach’s Vision for the Future
Featuring
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Marin MacLeod
Executive Director, The Reach Alliance
Marin MacLeod
Executive Director, The Reach Alliance
Bio
As the Executive Director, Marin leads strategic development and scale up of the Reach Alliance, including managing relationships with Reach’s global partners and broader insights community. Marin was a member of the Reach team that investigated the world’s first iris-scanning cash-assistance program for refugees in Jordan. Prior to joining the Reach Alliance, Marin led Grand Challenges Canada’s approach to impact measurement across their maternal, newborn and child health innovation portfolio. Her focus was on the systems and processes used to capture results, and to share knowledge generated by grantees through the organization’s unique innovation platform. Marin has experience with program design, delivery and evaluation, having worked across a range of public health issues in several countries. Marin holds a BA (Hons) from Queen’s University as a Loran Scholar, and a Master in Public Health degree from the University of Toronto.
Speaking Engagements
Featuring
Executive Director, The Reach Alliance
3:50 PM – 4:00 PM
Closing Reflections & Vote of Thanks
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Farewell Dinner Mixer
Farewell Dinner Mixer
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