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Shelby Hickman is a mixed methods research and evaluation professional with 14 years of experience in program evaluation, training and technical assistance, and analysis of criminal and juvenile justice administrative data. Dr. Hickman has expertise in overseeing studies funded by the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services. She has experience in causal inference methods for both random assignment and quasi-experimental designs. Additionally, she is proficient in qualitative methodologies, such as semi-structured interviews, focus groups, cognitive interviews, and observations. Hickman is also an expert in forced labor and human trafficking.

Leulseged Ageze is an economist with nearly 20 years of experience directing health sector reform and health care financing technical assistance activities in Ethiopia. His technical expertise includes health insurance, fiscal decentralization, strategic planning, and policy development.Leulseged has provided technical assistance and leadership for four USAID health financing and health systems strengthening projects. One of his most significant contributions has been supporting the introduction and expansion of community-based health insurance and other health care financing reforms in Ethiopia. These reforms have mobilized resources to the health sector, strengthened health facility governance, and improved the quality, accessibility, and utilization of health services.

Dr. Isabel Ana Nhatave has over 20 years of experience implementing STI/HIV/AIDS; family planning; maternal, newborn, and child health; and cervical cancer programs with a focus on health system strengthening. Dr. Nhatave has worked with national, provincial, and district-level governments and with local health facilities to build health system capacity, including health service management, human resources for health, supply chain management, and quality improvement processes. She has successfully advocated for the establishment of technical working groups and quality improvement and management committees and directorates across health areas within the Mozambique Ministry of Health.

Tarekegn Abate Biru has more than 25 years of experience working in the Ethiopian health, finance, and economic development sectors. He has held senior positions on USAID projects and in government.As a health care financing expert, Biru has provided technical support in planning, implementing, and assessing the implementation of health care financing reforms throughout Ethiopia. This includes training and supportive supervision to strengthen the capacity of decision-makers and front-line implementers at all levels of the health system.

Diu Nguyen joined Abt Global in 2015 and has significantly contributed to the oversight and implementation of three successive health financing projects in Vietnam. She has over 18 years’ experience delivering technical assistance in public health and development in Vietnam in the following areas: health systems strengthening and health financing, social health insurance (SHI), HIV/AIDS, drug dependency treatment and harm reduction, reproductive health for migrant workers, and poverty reduction for ethnic minority groups. Nguyen is an energetic and proactive leader who has collaborated with and strengthened the capacity of stakeholders across the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Vietnam Social Security (VSS).

Brooke Abrams is a trained political scientist and health equity expert with seven years of experience leading and contributing to equitable and anti-racist research, evaluation, and technical assistance projects. Her work innovates the fields of housing, criminal justice reform, and health equity across BIPOC populations. Abrams has worked closely with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, American Civil Liberties Union, and the Casey Family Foundation to advance health and well-being across marginalized populations. Her technical assistance expertise focuses on meaningfully and equitably engaging persons with lived expertise to investigate pervasive inequities in communities’ coordinated entry housing systems. Brooke’s research has advanced prison reform in New Mexico, housing systems transformation in Minneapolis, and Abt’s Racial Equity Standardization.

Dr. Rebecca Devitt is an international specialist in gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI). Dr. Devitt brings 15-plus years of experience in policy development, corporate strategy, and program design and implementation of large-scale, technically complex development programs across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. She has achieved development outcomes by engaging with governments, civil society, research, multilateral, and donor partners. Her expertise extends to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander equality, inclusive governance, and civil society-led reform.

Susan Longley has 20 years of experience leading large-scale policy implementation and change management efforts for numerous federal clients such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Named a top healthcare exec to watch in 2023, she has collaborated with key stakeholders to maintain mission-critical initiatives in areas such as health care quality, public reporting, performance measurement, and domestic preparedness. She has implemented growth and diversification strategies across multiple sectors, including health and homeland security.

Dr. Reerink has more than 25 years of experience in promoting gender equality and social inclusion in international development, with a strong focus on the Asia-Pacific region. She is currently leading Abt Global’s equity and localization efforts in Australia’s international technical practice. With degrees in international relations and international development, she has designed and implemented interventions to promote better outcomes for women, girls, and other marginalized groups in international development programs. Her work has included stand-alone equity programs as well as equity mainstreaming, with a strong focus on intersectional approaches.

Didar Ali Didar is technical advisor for monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) in Abt’s International Technical Practice (ITP). He has more than 10 years of experience in MERL, project design, and management in the areas of agriculture, food security, economic inclusion, civil society, governance, health, and education. He also has experience in women’s rights advocacy, including designing and implementing advocacy plans and organizing national and international events.