Ann Canavan
Country of birth: Ireland
Country of residence: Switzerland
Areas of expertise within Global Health: Extensive experience both in field and at headquarters of several international organizations. Focused on health systems strengthening including, human resources for health (HRH), health financing, governance, health policy development and evidence and learning for transitional and development contexts.
Worked in public health, health systems and program management roles in over 3 regions and 15 countries over the past 27 years. Health Systems, Health Policy, Project Management.
Education: Masters of Science - Development Management, Open University. UK.
Masters in Primary Healthcare (Public health in development countries), University of Manchester. UK.
Registered General Nurse, Queen’s Medical Center, Nottingham. UK.
Masters of Science - Organizational Psychology, Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology , University College Galway. Ireland.
Professional experience:
Program Leader/Managing Director October 2018 - Present ThinkWell Europe Geneva, Switzerland.
Vice President of Programs July 2016 – Sep 2018 ThinkWell Global/USA Washington DC.
Director of Health Policy & Practice April 2011 – June 2016 International Medical Corps Washington D.C., USA
Senior Health Advisor, KIT Development Policy and Practice January 2008 – April 2011
Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) Amsterdam, Netherlands;
Technical Coordinator 2006-2007 World Bank, Sudan/South Sudan
Co-chair of the Working Group for South Sudan National Health Assembly with the Ministry of Health.
Senior Health Advisor for East & Central Africa Programs 2004 - 2006 Merlin/Save the Children East & Central Africa
Program Manager for Health, Cambodia 2001 - 2003 Partners for Development/USA-PVO Cambodia
Public Health Coordinator/Provincial Health Advisor 1998-2001 Health Unlimited (UK) Cambodia
Languages: English, French (intermediate)
Countries in which Mentor has worked: Cambodia, Laos, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, DRC, Liberia, N-Uganda and Sierra Leone and supported regional work in Asia and Middle East.
Why do you want to be a Mentor?
I have trained as a coach previously and enjoy the art of coaching junior professionals. I have worked in NGOs both in field and HQ where I have mentored interns, analysts and mid-career professionals - and have always been appreciated for my mentorship and coaching.
Advice to someone entering the field of Global Health
My first question is why are you interested in global health and human development, what compels you to pursue this career path, and what do you hope to accomplish as your contribution?
My advice is two-fold -
(1) reflect on your motivation, interest and capabilities to pursue global health/human development - carefully and self-critically explore your true passion in this area, talk to people who are in the profession and develop a roadmap for the steps required to enter.
(2) Identify opportunities to gain exposure to a variety of work areas within the field of global health - apply for internships, fellowships (if relevant), volunteer locally with domestic or international organizations - so you can test your skills and motivation in a workplace, gain new insights about the scope of various roles and validate your assumptions about what it means to work in this field.
Once you have achieved sufficient exposure and reflection based on above steps, then revisit the options for entry and decision to pursue a career in this field.
Be passionate about global health - its not only about technical matters, it’s about people.
