Zelalem Attlee

I am a result-oriented and experienced visionary, forward-thinking global health leader, with diverse experience in global public health, health systems strengthening, global health security, CQI/TQM, epidemiology, policy, health equity, advocacy, health care management and public health programs leadership, management, providing technical support, consultation, training, and research; and a proven diplomatic experience and international networks to engage the organizations I worked in high-level political processes and discussions. I have extensive international experience of leading and managing large scale bilateral and non-governmental agency programs in the below-mentioned public health programs. In addition, I offer a range of rich expertise in donor fund raising, leadership, technical programming and management, partnership, stakeholder engagement, grants management, and training. I have collaborated with agencies to effectively implement and strengthen digital health platforms to effectively implement database management, clinical and public health programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, I lead a global program with interventions in Mali, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Nigeria, DRC, Cameroon, CAR, Libya, Yemen, west Bank and Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq. I also conducted consultancy work in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Liberia, Sierra Leon, Tanzania, USA, and France in the last 34 years. My problem-solving skills, ability to innovate, and drive to work independently as well as in groups across disciplines have allowed me to excel during my career as a leader for Global Programs and CEO. As a CEO, and international health expert, I have developed several novel analytical approaches to tackle research questions, management, and operational challenges in all areas of public health operations and management that the conventional public health approaches were not able to address. Through the years I have designed and was also part of a design team that designed different public health programs with fund volumes up to 36 million USD, where 90% of these projects ended up being funded. As a public health professional, I provided strategic direction of all project activities, developed project strategic plan, ensuring that programmatic directions are technically sound, evidence-based, and consistent with the organization’s priorities. I also ensured the programs follow USAID /CDC/BHA, federal and other donors’ rules/regulations, and the organization’s strategic plan; ensured project is achieving the intended outcomes and impacts, and also attested that the project is attaining its maximum performance. I served as senior representative for the projects I managed at the donors and other project stakeholders’ meetings. I managed large staff, and I have been involved in training and mentoring of my staff and partners so that they effectively implement the programs. I analyzed project progress by performing financial, and programmatic analysis with the MEAL team and added improvement pieces and produced critical reports. During my 34 years tenure, I spearheaded collaborations between governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, agencies, international NGOs, political groups, and private foundations. As a country programs head and public health professional, I implemented very successful international programs in broad range areas of humanitarian assistance, managing epidemics, WASH programs, infectious diseases and public health programs such as integrated services (FP/RH-MNCH-HIV/AIDS-Policy, Advocacy, Financing, and governance-FP2030), MIST, COVID-19 (prevention and integration), OVC, leadership in multi-country program management, building a movement, business development, strategic planning, networking at country and international levels, institutional capacity development for policy, fund raising, health equity, social justice, inclusion, advocacy, finance, and governance organizational capacity assessments and designing and implementing capacity-development strategies, developing high-quality training curricula health systems strengthening, and gender programs. I have effectively managed partnerships and stakeholder engagements with local and international partners, to achieve effective program implementation. I also mentored and trained partner staff, my team members, undergraduate and graduate students in partner higher education institutions that became able hands and helped advance projects. This experience has allowed me to demonstrate my ability to work with minimal supervision, as well as in a multi-disciplinary team. My oral and written communication skills have also been extensively tested during my career. I have also taken on the challenge of presenting my program achievements to non-public health audiences as part of my work process and by volunteering to give seminars for non-profit organizations. I also supplemented my technical skills with a business development experience that allowed me to understand the life cycle of health care and business management within the milieu of public health. In this aspect, I challenged the different management and organizational issues that challenge international NGOs when they manage extensive public health development programs in LMICs in sub-Saharan Africa. I have extended this work in my Doctor of Public Health program, to iron out the correlations of polity, health policies, strategies, that affect public health programs in limited resource countries. The deep study I carried out coupled with my experience in developing countries has allowed me to understand the community-to-policy aspect of research and program implementation and will be an asset in the evaluation of public health programs Over my 34-year public health career, I have honed many skills which will allow me to succeed in adapting in a broad range of environments, evaluating scientific and field-based program data, and leading, mentoring and supporting public health program management and operations. It is my strong belief that my broad medical, management and public health background with experiences in interdisciplinary research, and my ability to lead as well as work in a team has allowed me to succeed in my career.