Dr. Claudia Shilumani (MPH, DBA) has over 26 years of working experience in global health. She has held technical, managerial, senior and executive leadership roles across four continents (Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas). A South African national, Claudia has worked for the governments of South Africa and Sierra Leone, local and International NGOs, the United Nations (including UNFPA and WHO), the Global Fund (a major global health initiative) and recently the African Union as Director of External Relations & Strategic Engagement at Africa Centres for Disease Control & Prevention. 

Prior to joining IPPF, Dr Shilumani was the Strategic Advisor to the Regional Director of WHO African Region, overseeing strategic, diplomatic and administrative functions in the Regional Director’s Office. She also served as Vice President for Partnerships & Impact at VillageReach, overseeing resource mobilization, advocacy, communication, and research, evidence & learning teams. She is a former CEO of the Centre for Community Impact (CCI) and has served as a World Bank-funded Advisor to the Minister of Health in Sierra Leone. 

Claudia holds a Bachelor of Science (Medical Sciences) from the University of Limpopo (1997), a Master of Public Health from the University of Pretoria (2007) and a Doctorate of Business Administration from the Paris School of Business (2024). Claudia is a member of various Scientific Committees and Boards globally: including Scientific Committee on responsible alcohol drinking with University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), Board of Trustees at Maternal Health Africa (UK and Ireland) as well as a Board Member for Community Health Impact Coalition (Global).