I am an Associate professor in Health Systems, Policy and gender-based violence in the Department of Global Health and Development. I have conducted research in gender-based violence, integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia for the past 20 years.

My areas of expertise include health systems readiness, health systems strengthening, health policy analysis and policy implementation, integration of services; intervention development and evaluations, gender-based violence, integration of violence against women and violence against children. My research work draws on health systems and policy theoretical approaches (systems thinking, health systems readiness, agenda setting and policy implementation) and feminist theories such as gender theory and intersectionality.

My research has primarily focused on exploring how health systems factors affect development and integration of health interventions for vulnerable women and girls. I have also conducted formative and evaluation research to explore new intervention approaches to address violence against women (VAW) in the health sector; and translating evidence on health systems strengthening from promising interventions within different LMIC settings. I am particularly interested in health systems readiness and have developed a conceptual framework to explore factors impacting on the readiness of health systems to integrate services for women who experienced violence.

I am a Co-Director of LSHTM’s Gender Violence and Health Centre (GVHC), and lead the gender-based violence theme for LSHTM’s Centre for Maternal Adolescent and Child Health (MARCH). I am also a member of the School’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee .