Our Team

The team includes our funding partners and the office staff dedicated to this program. Many of our staff come from conflict-affected areas, and others have worked in conflict-settings with leading humanitarian agencies.

  • Patrick Coburn
    Patrick Coburn, Program Operations Manager
    Patrick helps to guide grant nominees through the negotiation process and provides support to innovators…

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  • Adiam Abraham
    Adiam Abraham, Program Associate
    Adiam has worked as a Program Coordinator at a funding agency where she conducted the…

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  • Zeba Tasci, Communications Associate
    Zeba Tasci is the Associate Communications Officer for the Humanitarian Grand Challenge Program. Prior to…

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  • Pako Tshiamala, Regional Consultant for sub-Saharan Africa
    Pako Tshiamala is the regional consultant for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and sub-Saharan…

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  • Nachiket Deval, Investment Manager
    Nachiket Deval is an Investment Manager for the Humanitarian Grand Challenge at Grand Challenges Canada…

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  • Zainah Alsamman, Program Officer
    Zainah Alsamman is the Program Officer for the Humanitarian Grand Challenge Program. Her work focuses…

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  • Elizabeth (Elsa) Assefa, Investment Associate
    Elizabeth (Elsa) Assefa is an Investment Associate for the Humanitarian Grand Challenge team at Grand…

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