New Lifebox Leadership Roles

Senait Bitew Alemu – Head of Programs East and Southern Africa

Senait is a passionate public health professional and oversees the design and delivery of programs and strategic plans for Lifebox in East and Southern Africa. Senait also manages key partnerships across the region and leads Lifebox staff in Ethiopia. A nurse by training, Senait has extensive experience working in the hospital and healthcare sectors. Prior to joining Lifebox, Senait worked as a Public Health Consultant, and has previously worked at Jhpiego as a Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) Advisor as well holding various roles with organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières, AIDS Resource Center, and Intrahealth International.  

Senait earned her nursing degree from Gondar University, and her MPh from Addis Continental Institute of Public Health (ACIPH).

Katie Fernandez – Chief Programs Officer

As Chief Programs Officer Katie oversees the development and implementation of Lifebox’s safer surgery and anesthesia work globally – providing overall strategic and operational leadership for program and partnership design and implementation. Katie has worked in the development and humanitarian sectors for over 15 years. She has coordinated and supported the management and implementation of programs covering a broad range of themes, including health, livelihoods, gender, HIV and AIDS, governance and humanitarian response.

Katie holds a B.A. with Honors in Law from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental & African Studies at the University of London. She is also a PRINCE2 accredited Project Manager.

Kitty Jenkin – Director of Communications and Marketing

Kitty leads the development and implementation of all aspects of Lifebox’s global communications and marketing strategy. Kitty is responsible for setting the vision of Lifebox’s communications and marketing, developing and managing the global communications team and implementing strategies to build awareness of Lifebox and partner activities worldwide. Kitty previously managed Lifebox’s programs in Latin America and oversaw the development of Lifebox’s programs in India.

She joined Lifebox from an award-winning environmental charity where she led the charity’s programs and communications. She is a prolific writer and has had pieces published in numerous publications. Kitty holds a First-Class Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Exeter. She is part of the Lifebox leadership team.

Dr. Tihitena Negussie Mammo – Global Clinical Director

Dr. Tihitena Negussie is responsible for the clinical content, relevance, and quality of all Lifebox programs delivered globally and oversees a diverse team of perioperative clinicians and fellows working in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Tihitena is a consultant general and pediatric surgeon and worked at the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for more than 14 years. She has served in different leadership positions including as Chair of the National Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Ethiopia, Coordinator of the CPD centers at Addis Ababa University’s College of Health Sciences, and the Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA). She is part of the clinical team that developed Lifebox’s Clean Cut Program in Ethiopia.

Kristine Stave – Global Chief Operating Officer and Director of Strategic Partnerships

As Global COO Kristine is responsible for all aspects of Lifebox finances, human resources, governance, and operations worldwide. As Director of Strategic Partnerships, she leads the development of Lifebox’s strategic partnerships to support the achievement of Lifebox’s goals across the organization. Kristine joined Lifebox from the World Health Organization in 2011, overseeing the organization’s establishment and global growth as a registered non-profit in the UK, US, and Ethiopia as well as building the global Lifebox team as founding Executive Director.

Kristine has Bachelor’s degrees in international law and politics, and a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics. She holds memberships with the Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

LIFEBOX LEADERSHIP TEAM