Board Of Directors – Inerela.org

Board Members

INERELA+ is governed by a board of directors from across Africa who were elected based on their HIV related experience and commitment as religious leaders to eradicating discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Dr Sue Purcell Gilpin

INERELA+ Board Chair

Sue Purcell Gilpin is a proven leader in managing local and international donor funded impactful initiatives and engaging with stakeholders across the globe. Sue has been an INERELA+ board member since June 2021 and was appointed Chairperson of the board in February 2025.

Gilpin holds a medical qualification M.B.Ch.B. (Medicine and Surgery) 1971 – 1976 from University of Washington, Seattle USA

She has a Haematology speciality (1975)

As a physician her career includes years of working in diverse settings responding to a wide variety of medical and social issues. She has shown her commitment to resource – constrained communities by working on large scale Projects, mobilizing communities around primary health care, HIV awareness communication and response. Her other community involvements saw her actively promoting the first community-based orphan care with psychosocial support.

She has served in several leadership roles with regional and globally renowned organisations including as Southern Africa Regional Coordinator for the World Council of Churches (WCC) HIV & AIDS programme (EHAIA) 2002 – 2014 initially working in 11 countries in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

In 2015 she assumed responsibility for the Health & Healing Department of the WCC in Geneva, coordinating relations and joint activities with the WHO and other UN agencies, facilitating collaboration between these agencies and the multiple global Church Health Associations, Ecumenical Health and Pharmaceutical networks and other health related agencies.

She promoted the collaborative response to Ebola, to ensure the responses of the faith community were recognised and included in international, national and regional plans.

In addition to undertaking mapping studies in many countries, she has authored three books on HIV&AIDS, HIV competence and the faith communities’ response, which have been translated into several languages.

Currently she is an independent Consultant and has undertaken research and documentary work on faith-based responses to HIV issues and Covid-19 for PEPFAR, UNAIDS and other international organisations. Her association with INERELA+ spans many years.

NANA AMUA SEKYI

Nana Amua Sekyi is a deeply committed human rights and gender justice advocate who is passionate about achieving a world where women and girls can reach their full potential. A seasoned lawyer by profession, she holds a Master of Arts with a focus in Democracy Governance and Law from University of Cape Coast. She also holds a BA Hons in Law & Religion from the University of Ghana. Nana and a Barrister at Law from the Ghana School of Law.

Nana currently holds the position of Director of Public Education for the Ghana Commission for Human Rights. This is a cross-cutting department running through human rights protection, administrative justice within the public sector, and anti-corruption efforts. Through this department she is responsible for organizing and leading the coordination of public media engagements and technical support in order to drive impact and to ensure that information to the public with accuracy. Nana supervises 182 offices in their duties in relation to public education\ advocacy and ensuring the provision of accurate Information to the public

As a Deputy Chief Legal Officer for the Commission for Human Rights Amua Sekyi has a distinguished track record of holding formal and panel hearings, writing decisions and conducting mediations on complaints lodged. Earlier in her career at the Commission for Human Rights she has served in various positions including Legal Officer, Senior Legal Officer and Principal Officer at the Commission for Human Rights.

Nana is renowned for the development of training materials on Early and Forced marriages. . She has led the Development of a curriculum on Human Rights Education for Pre-Tertiary Schools in Ghana. Amua Sekyi has significant experience in training on Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, Marriage Laws and Access to Justice Mechanisms for Paralegals in Women’s Leadership and Participatory Governance.

Nana is recognised for assisting in the development of the Handbook on Domestic Violence and Response for the Domestic Violence and Support Unit Officers (DOVVSU Officers) in Ghana. She played a critical role in the development of a Training Manual for the Economic Justice for Rural Women in West Africa

Amua Sekyi’s current board services include Women in Law in Africa- Wildaf Ghana and Life Relief Foundation

Catherine Nswima

Catherine Nswima is a Religious Leader from the United Church of Zambia is also a and a dynamic Health Management expert trained from Management Development Institute in Cape Town. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Mulungushi University in Kabwe, Zambia. She has close to two decades experience as a Human Resources and Administration professional, demonstrating proficiency in the efficient management of human resource management and administrative logistical support functions. Her human resources management skill set encompasses leadership in policy formulation and review, human resource development, and the provision of effective administrative and logistical support services. She has in-depth knowledge of labor laws and human resource systems and policies with experience in payroll management, industrial relations, public relations, wellness and safety programs, staff welfare, risk management, information and communication technology, purchasing, supplies, and performance management.

Catherine currently serves as a Hospital Administrator at Chongwe District Hospital specialising in human resources management where she oversees the personnel functions within a healthcare facility focusing on recruitment, training, and employee relations. This has given her exposure to the unique challenges and opportunities within the HR landscape

In addition to her human resources and administration duties and prior to joining the INERELA+ board in February 2025, she has served as a Board Member for Network of Zambian People Living with HIV+ since 2017 and where she was appointed the Board’s Vice Chairperson before rising to the helm as Board Chairperson in 2023 till 2025. Catherine also served as a Board Member for the Zambian National AIDS/TB/STI Council from 2020 – 2023. This experience equipped her to contribute to national health policy, shape strategic direction, and public health governance.

GRACIA VIOLETA – EX OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER

Gracia Violeta Ross is a native of Bolivia, who mis a qualified Social Anthropologist with studies on Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health. Since 2000, after discovering her HIV positive status, she mobilized communities in order to achieve free, universal access to HIV treatment and care. Earlier in her career she represented communities and NGOs from Bolivia and Latin America in global bodies, including WHO Civil Society Task Force and UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board where she contributed to the establishment of policies and priorities for the Joint Programme.Gracia’s current board and advisory services include Communities Living with the Diseases Delegation And a variety of other boards.

Gracia Ross is a public speaker and researcher on HIV, gender-based violence, health and human rights. She is also an advocate of women and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive Health. In her career, she is most proud of contributing to improving protection for the rights of women and girls.In February 2022, Ross joined the World Council of Churches to lead and shape the HIV, Reproductive Health and Pandemics program.

BISHOP MARTIN BLAISE NYABOHO

Bishop Martin Blaise Nyaboho’s His theological education began at the Mweya Bible Institute and Matana Theological School in Burundi and continued at the Kenya Highlands Bible College (now known as the Kenya Highlands Evangelical University) and the Asbury University College in Wilmore, Kentucky, in the USA. Before becoming a bishop, Martin Nyaboho served in a variety of roles, including as a teacher at Matana Bible School, and as a Christian literature and Bible translator for Scripture Union and the Bible Society in Burundi.

He also occupied the Development Officer’s function in Matana and Makamba Dioceses in Burundi. Rev Martin Blaise Nyaboho was consecrated as Bishop in 1997 and became the first Bishop of Makamba Diocese in Burundi till August 2025. He presided over Makamba Province Diocese, which is one of five dioceses in the Province of the Anglican Church of Burundi. Makamba Diocese has 165,000 members, 18 parishes, 152 local congregations, 22 priests and 152 evangelists and through these structures Nyaboho constantly looked for new and innovative ways to reach out to com munity people with health messages.

Rev Martin Blaise also went to Haggai Institute Leadership Training in Singapore and to Panzi Development Training Center in DRC. He has participated in both local and international conferences and seminars for internship courses on Social Transformation, Leadership, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation, and on Sustainability of the Anglican Church. From 2000 to 2008 Bishop Martin was a member of the Anglican Church of Burundi to the Anglican Consultative Council. From 2004 – 2010 he was a member of the Executive Council of the National Council of the Churches of Burundi to FECCLAHA (Fellowship of the Christian Council of churches of the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa) . From 2019 – 2024 he served as the Vice President of All Africa Conference of Churches

Bishop Martin Blaise Nyaboho has visited several countries in Africa, Europe, America, Asia and Middle East where he has participated in a number of local and international conferences on social transformation, leadership, peace-building and reconciliation, and on sustainability of the Anglican Church as listed below :

2004- World Bank (Washington DC) – Meeting with the Vice President of the World Bank to lobby for grants and not loans for HIV/AIDS Programs for Burundi
2016 – Tanzania (Arusha) – Observer of Burundi Peace Process Negotiations
2017 – South Sudan – Met top political stakeholders for peace talks for South Sudan.
2022- USA State Department – Advocacy for peace in the Great Lakes Region
2023 – Democratic Republic of Congo – Met the top political leaders in a dialogue for peace in Eastern of DRC.

Nyaboho has also contributed to good governance in Burundi serving as Vice President and then President of the Provincial Electoral Independent Commission for the national elections in 2010 and 2015.

Sheik/Imam Famba Ali Hemedi

Graduate Islamic Theology – EINDHOVEN in the Netherlands (1994)

Graduate of the Islamic Economics – Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt (1999)

·Sheik Famba Hemedi is the Honorary President of the National Permanent Theological Council and Moufti of the DR Congo

· He also serves as the Principal Imam of Kinshasa in the greater Islamic Community of DRC

·Vast experience in religious (Islamic) teaching in Islamic teaching institutions in Kinshasa and Ecuador (DR Congo)

· Sheik Hemedi has served as a member of the board for INERELA+ Congo since 2006

·He joins INERELA+ board with years of expertise in championing Civil Society/Faith sector health related Projects

·He has also focused a lot in negotiations and resource mobilization for civil society organizations in West and Central Africa.

Bishop Ephraim Disi Mbewe

Evangelism and Church Planting Diploma 1992- 1993 from International School of Evangelism in Ikega, Lagos Nigeria. Certificate of Biblical Studies 1998 from Evangelical Bible College of Malawi(EBCoM), Trained as Level 2 Channels of Hope Facilitator Arusha, Tanzania 2006, Advanced leadership training at HAGGAI Institute in Maui, Hawaai 1999

Bishop Ephraim Disi Mbewe has been a part-time lecturer at the Evangelical Bible College of Malawi (2000 – 2015). His leadership and devotion to pastoral work for years improved the future for countless individuals for generations to come. Disi Mbewe a life- long resident of Malawi has enjoyed a highly successful and distinguished professional career in improving the lives of the disadvantaged people. Being one of the founding members of INERELA+ he has been active in a variety of philanthropic work throughout the region. He served as Bishop of the Brethren in Christ Church from 1995 – 2008. In recognition to his outstanding professional and civic accomplishments Bishop Mbewe was named the Tearfund HIV Champion 2009 – 2011

His influential role as a leader has assisted in shaping a number of organisations. Bishop Disi Mbewe remains committed to a number of organizations that align with his passion to assist the vulnerable and making the world a better place. He served as Southern and Luso Africa Regional Coordinator for INERELA+ (then ANERELA+ 2004 – 2010)

He has served in multiple boards among them:

Board Member in the African Network of Religious Leaders Living and/or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS(ANERELA+) )2002 -2004)
National Aids Commission of Malawi Board (2015 -2018)

Ishmael Kagande

INERELA+ Board Treasurer

Ishmael Kagande is a highly accomplished microfinance professional with over 10 years of experience driving financial inclusion and economic growth. His robust finance background made him the co-founder of Kleinfin (Private) Limited, a microfinance institution registered with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) that has grown organically to have two flagship branches and agent-branches across Zimbabwe. He is also built his career as a Chief Executive Officer of Treasure-It Bureau De Change (Pvt) Ltd, a registered BDX with the RBZ. Besides being an executive in the two organisations he leads, he also sits in the boards of Maltach Incorporated and Wealthwise Consultancy having served in different board committees. Kagande has a strong track record of leadership, strategy, and innovation. He is passionate about developmental finance and committed to continuous learning. His experience in the micro-finance sector covers administration, accounting, risk management, MSME financing, agricultural financing and debt management offering him a unique cross-functional perspective.Kagande holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Zimbabwe, a Professional Diploma in Microfinance from Harare Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Banking and Finance from Midlands State University. He is currently pursuing a certificate in Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA®) with the Corporate Finance Institute. He is a results-oriented leader with a proven ability to build and manage high-performing teams. He is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of the microfinance sector. He is also a strong advocate for financial inclusion and economic empowerment for the marginalised groups. Kagande is committed to using his skills and experience to make a positive impact on the lives of underserved populations and making them reach their full potential.