Dr. Md. Mahfuzur Rahman

Dr. Md. Mahfuzur Rahman serves as Chief of Staff at IRD Global, where he supports the Executive Director’s Office in advancing organizational strategy, strengthening governance, and coordinating executive priorities across the organization’s global network. Dr. Rahman brings over a decade of experience in public health, with expertise in program strategy, operational research, and policy engagement. His work has focused on disease prevention and care through a holistic health approach, including health systems strengthening and the integration of digital and community-based solutions to improve access and quality of care in low- and middle-income settings. He holds an MBBS from Sir Salimullah Medical College and a Master of Public Health from American International University–Bangladesh.

Maria Baig is a Clinical Psychologist and Senior Research Coordinator at Interactive Research and Development (IRD), Pakistan, with over five years of experience in mental health research, implementation, and service delivery. Her expertise spans mental health integration into public health systems, psychosocial interventions, and participatory research approaches. At IRD, she has led and coordinated multiple projects, including the support groups for caregivers of people with psychosis, Youth Resilience Program, and maternal mental health integration. Maria has also contributed to international collaborations under the PIECEs project and the Koyakhanya ECD program in South Africa. She holds an MSc in Psychology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Psychology. Her professional interests center on community-led and evidence-based mental health solutions that improve access and equity for underserved populations.

Dr. Ammar Ali Muhammad currently serves as Team Lead – Data Analytics at IRD, where he oversees multidisciplinary analytical teams supporting large-scale maternal, newborn, and child health and mental health initiatives. His work centers on advanced epidemiological methods, big data analytics, and impact evaluation of public health interventions, including immunization incentive programs and congenital anomaly surveillance among neonates. He has extensive experience managing and analyzing population-level datasets exceeding 13 million records in provincial immunization registry, developing statistical analysis plans, conducting regression and survival modelling, and contributing to high quality peer reviewed scientific publications.Prior to his current role, he worked across global surgery and maternal health programs, leading monitoring and evaluation components and supporting peer-reviewed research publications. Dr. Ammar holds an MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from The Aga Khan University and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Dow University of Health Sciences, combining clinical insight with strong quantitative expertise.

Nokhanyo Xaba is the Mental Health Lead at Interactive Research and Development (IRD) South Africa and a doctoral candidate in Human Sciences. She is a population scientist, mental health advocate, and Public Health and Mental Health Systems implementation leader advancing equitable access to care through scalable, data-driven community-based models. With over six years of experience in community health programmes in South Africa, her work spans implementation science, integrated care, and multi-province & district programme leadership. She has contributed to TB adherence and COVID-19 and psychosocial support innovations, resulting in peer-reviewed publications. She currently leads the integration of mental health into Early Childhood Development. Nokhanyo is passionate about building inclusive, evidence-based health systems and translating research into meaningful community-level impact.

Lape Onalaja is a Senior Coordinator focusing on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning.She has worked across South Africa and Nigeria with experience spanning data systems strengthening, MEL systems design, compliance and programme management in complex environments. She holds a Master’s in Global Health & Development from Queen Mary University of London and is committed to driving sustainable, evidence-informed development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sara Khan is a Program Manager at IRD Global. She brings over a decade of experience in program design, implementation, and management across large-scale public health and organizational development initiatives. At IRD, Sara has managed complex, multi-component programs, including a major organizational development grant focused on governance, systems strengthening, and strategic planning. She has also led provincial implementation of Pakistan’s school-based deworming program in partnership with government stakeholders, overseeing planning, execution, and monitoring across diverse contexts. Her work emphasizes data-driven decision-making, operational efficiency, and cross-sector collaboration. Sara holds an MPhil in Education, Globalisation and International Development from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Economics (Finance specialization) from the University of Waterloo. She is passionate about strengthening health systems and delivering scalable, evidence-based solutions for underserved communities.

Dr. Jobaer Faruque serves as Deputy Program Manager and Sub-Investigator at Interactive Research and Development (IRD) Bangladesh, where he leads the implementation and coordination of a multi-country tuberculosis vaccine trial. With over 10 years of experience in public health, he has worked extensively in TB control, family planning, mHealth immunization, cold chain monitoring, and COVID-19 response. He has also contributed to public health interventions in urban slum settings, including early detection initiatives for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and childhood hearing impairment. He has a strong background in project management, clinical research, and data-driven decision-making, with proven expertise in donor-funded programmes (USAID, UNITAID, and WHO) and regulatory compliance. His work focuses on improving health system performance and expanding access to essential health services in Bangladesh.Dr Faruque holds multiple postgraduate degrees, including an MPH in Epidemiology, an MSc in Applied Statistics and Data Science, an MSc in Nutrition, and a Master of Disaster Management, along with a BDS degree.

Mehek Ali leads social behaviour change initiatives; her expertise lies at the intersection of psychology, education, and participatory frameworks. She holds Bachelor’s (Honours, 2012) and Master’s (Distinction, 2015) degrees from Queen’s University and the University of Birmingham, respectively. She has worked in programs focused on child and adolescent wellbeing, women’s empowerment, community inclusion, training and learning, infectious diseases, mental health, and systems strengthening. She has been the principal investigator on several projects, including the destigmatization of HIV, COVID-19 vaccine confidence, and integrated early childhood development. She also leads the arts and community engagement work across multiple programs, such as for people living with TB, psychosis, and others. She ensures research is communicated back to the communities it is meant to serve, taking a science communication and co-creative approach to dissemination. Presently, Mehek serves as the Associate Director, Community Engagement, at IRD Global.

Dr. Lubna Samad is a paediatric surgeon based in Karachi, Pakistan, with a focus on global surgery research, program implementation and advocacy. She led the development of Pakistan’s national surgical plan – “National Vision for Surgical Care 2020-25” – in collaboration with Pakistan’s Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, aimed at incorporating surgical care delivery within the country’s health plan. She has worked extensively on developing programs for common surgical conditions in newborn and children, with an emphasis on evidence-driven “last mile” health delivery. She is the Director of Global Surgery Programs at IRD Global.

Syed Zaid bin Rashid is the Country Director at IRD Pakistan, where he specializes in strategic stakeholder engagement, donor relations, and high-stakes program execution. A leader at the intersection of social impact and operational scaling, Zaid has a proven track record of navigating complex institutional landscapes to drive systemic change.

His career is defined by a unique duality of experience; he has held leadership roles at The Aman Foundation and began his journey in social impact with the Engro Foundation. This mission-driven foundation is complemented by his executive tenure in the private sector with Zip24 and Vava Cars, bringing a lean, results-oriented commercial lens to the development space. An Acumen Pakistan Fellow, Zaid’s commitment to governance is reflected in his service as a former Board Member for Aahung, AmanTech, and AmanHealth. He holds an MBA Executive from IBA Karachi and a BSc (Hons) in Economics from LUMS.