The light within. Resilience. Hope. Optimism. In the face of Global Challenges. An invitation to unlock our collective potential. 

Shamiri Summit 2024.

The light within. Grounding our future amidst global challenges.

In a world that is increasingly shaped by emerging stressors like conflict, climate change, economic instability, and rising mental health challenges, where do we find the resilience, optimism, and hope needed to move forward?

We invite you to a day of celebration and dynamic dialogues with leading scientists, policymakers, practitioners, educators, influencers and advocates who make the case that now, more than ever, the science of human flourishing provides us with a path to transforming lives and unlocking our full potential.

In-person and online, and, for the first time ever: a two-day celebration

Changing with the times.

This year, we will address how hope, resilience, and optimism, can empower individuals and communities, particularly the youth in Kenya, to navigate and overcome contemporary challenges.

The summit will feature three unique tracks — Science, Policy, and Doers — each tailored to engage different audiences in meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

Meet the speakers

New speakers unveiled every week.

Prof. David Ndetei
Founding Director, Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB)

Prof. David Ndetei

Founding Director - Africa Institute of Mental and Brain Health (AFRIMEB) and Professor of Psychiatry at University of Nairobi.

Dr. Anika Warren Wood
Operating Partner, DRK

Dr. Anika Warren Wood

Operating Partner and Chief Organizational Effectiveness Officer, Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK).

Paul Wang
Core Team Member, The Agency Fund

Paul Wang

Core Team Member, The Agency Fund & Co-Founder, IDinsight.

Tom Osborn
Founder, Shamiri Institute

Tom Osborn

Founder & CEO Shamiri Institute. TED Fellow. Forbes 30 under 30.

Dr. Christine Wasanga
Senior Lecturer, Kenyatta University

Dr. Christine Wasanga

Senior Lecturer of Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Kenyatta University.

Dr. Bilal Siddiqi
Senior Economist & Director IDinsight

Dr. Bilal Siddiqi

Senior Economist and Director at IDinsight, Bilal is a development economist specializing in poverty, institutions and conflict in low- and middle-income countries.

Dr. Christine Musyimi
Head of Research Ethics, AfriMeb

Dr. Christine Musyimi

Dr. Christine Musyimi is a mental health researcher focused on community mental health interventions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Stella Waruingi
Head of Mental Health Department, NCCG

Stella Waruingi

Stella Waruingi, is the Head of Mental Health & Substance Use Program at Nairobi County, Directorate of Health.

Eugene Wanekeya
Communications, Advocacy and Safeguarding Lead

Eugene Wanekeya

Eugene is the Communications, Advocacy and Safeguarding Lead at Basic Needs, Basic Rights

Dr. Zul Merali
Founding Director of the Brain and Mind Institute at the Aga Khan University

Dr. Zul Merali

A neuroscientist and pharmacologist, Dr. Zul is the Founding Director of the Brain and Mind Institute and a full Professor, College of Medicine, Aga Khan University

Gloria Ochola
Executive Director, Tunaweza Empowerment Organization

Gloria Ochola

Gloria is the Executive Director of Tunaweza Empowerment Organization and an active volunteer within her community.

Dr. Janet Surum
Lecturer at the University of Kabianga

Dr. Janet Surum

Dr. Janet Surum is a researcher and an Educational Psychologist with a keen interest in the well being of children, youth mental health, resilience, emerging adults and life span development studies.

Dr. Yuri Oketch
Country Medical Director, African Healthcare Network

Dr. Yuri Oketch

Dr. Yuri is the Country Medical Director for Kenya.

Dr. Mercy Karanja
Director of The Division of Mental Health, MOH

Dr. Mercy Karanja

Dr. Mercy Karanja is the Director of Mental Health at the Ministry of Health in Kenya and a consultant psychiatrist.

Joyce Arita
Program Manager, CitiesRise

Joyce Arita

Joyce Arita is a psychologist and the Program Manager at CitiesRise Kenya

Aliya Shah
Counselling Psychologist

Aliya Shah

Aliya Shah is an adolescent and adult psychologist focused on trauma and behavioral issues. As chair of communications at the EMDR Kenya Association, she works to reduce stigma around therapy and promote mental health awareness.

Shalom Ndiku
Head of Policy and Partnerships at Food4Education

Shalom Ndiku

Shalom M. Ndiku is the Head of Policy and Partnerships at Food4Education. There, he leads the organization’s external-facing functions, including government relations, policy, partnerships, impact and communications.

Dr. Nasri Omar
Focal Person - Workplace Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention, MOH

Dr. Nasri Omar

Dr. Nasri Omar serves as the focal point for Workplace Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention at the Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Dorah Kitala
Deputy Director Partnerships, MoE

Dorah Kitala

Dorah is the Deputy Director of Partnerships at Ministry of Education and Peace Education in the Directorate of Policy, Partnerships and East African Community Affairs

Ceciliah Koyieyio
County Projects Coordinator, Kajiado County, MoE

Ceciliah Koyieyio

Ceciliah M. Koyieyio has dedicated her career to advancing education in Kenya with over 15 years of experience in teaching and educational administration.

Amisa Rashid
Executive Director and Founder, Nivishe Foundation

Amisa Rashid

Amisa Rashid is a counseling psychologist, mediator, and tireless advocate for community resilience, mental health, and peaceful social cohesion. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Nivishe Foundation.

Alice Nyakiongora
Deputy Director, Policy - Directorate of Policy, Partnerships & EA Affairs, MoE

Alice Nyakiongora

Alice Nyakiongora serves as a Deputy Director in the State Department for Basic Education within the Directorate of Policy Partnerships and East African Community Affairs.

 Bright Shitemi
Founder and Executive Director, Mental 360 & Boma

Bright Shitemi

Bright Shitemi is the Founder and Executive Director of a youth-led youth-focused mental health organization, Mental 360, and a digital wellness start-up, Boma.

Wanjiru Karanja
Founder, Clear Minds Better Livez

Wanjiru Karanja

Wanjiru Karanja, founder of Clear Minds Better Livez, draws from her expertise and lived experiences to champion suicide awareness, Black and women’s rights, and mental health advocacy across continents.

Dr. Frederick Murunga Wekesah
Research Scientist at the APHRC

Dr. Frederick Murunga Wekesah

Dr. Frederick Murunga Wekesah is an associate research scientist at the African Population and Health Research Centre. He is an epidemiologist focused on cardiovascular and mental health research.

Pillie Nkasara
CEO, HRBox Africa

Pillie Nkasara

Pillie Nkasara is the CEO of HR Box Africa, an innovative HR Software and Services company that focuses on empowering people to do excellent work and fostering thriving, high-performance work cultures.

Erick Kagose
HR Business Partner, World Vision Kenya

Erick Kagose

Erick Kagose is the HR Business Partner of World Vision Kenya where he handles talent and stakeholder management. He Has over 10 years of experience leading teams in both the public and private sectors.

Janet Odalo
Associate Director, People & Talent, Savannah Informatics

Janet Odalo

Janet is an experienced Talent and Operations Manager at Savannah Informatics. She draws on her seven years of experience, her background in software engineering, and her passion for people and talent management to create policies for organizations.

Cecilia Muriithi
People & Culture Manager, Belva Digital

Cecilia Muriithi

Cecilia is the People & Culture Manager at Belva Digital. With over nine years of experience in people operations across different industries, she has garnered expertise in HR strategy, talent management, organizational effectiveness, and employee wellness.

Ammon Otieno
Programs Coordinator, TINADA

Ammon Otieno

Ammon is the Project Lead for the Shamiri Intervention and Programs Coordinator at TINADA

James Walsh
Core Team, The Agency Fund

James Walsh

James Walsh is a dedicated professional at The Agency Fund, where he contributes to impactful initiatives focused on social innovation and transformative change.

Rahim Daya
Head of Growth & Strategy, Shamiri Institute

Rahim Daya

Rahim Daya is the Head of Growth and Strategy at Shamiri Institute. Previously, he served as the Chief of Staff at Shamiri Institute.

Julia Greenland
Managing Director: Africa, Healthy Brains Global Initiative

Julia Greenland

Julia Greenland is Managing Director: Africa for the Healthy Brains Global Initiative. She leads on the development implementation of outcome-based mental health programming in Africa.

Caleb Kiarie
Director of Partnerships, People & Engagement, Shamiri Institute

Caleb Kiarie

Caleb is the Director of Partnerships, People & Engagement at Shamiri Institute.

Chiara van Oekel
COO, Shamiri Health

Chiara van Oekel

Chiara van Oekel is COO at Shamiri Health

Soni Adriance
Director of Communications - Shamiri Institute

Soni Adriance

Soni Adriance is the Director of Communications at Shamiri Institute.

Patricia Kihoro
Multi-hyphenate Kenyan creative

Patricia Kihoro

Patricia Wangechi Kihoro is a multi-hyphenate Kenyan creative, storyteller, and cultural advocate with a passion for the African creator economy.

Three Unique Tracks.

Science

The Science Track at the Shamiri Summit 2024 will showcase cutting-edge research and foster collaborative discussions that advance the field of youth mental health.

Learn more

Policy

The Policy Track at the Shamiri Summit 2024 will provide a platform for insightful discussions led by government officials and key partners in the mental health and education sectors

Learn more

Doers

The Doers Track is designed to showcase the impactful work being done by NGOs, CBOs, and practitioners who are implementing mental health solutions at the community level.

Learn more

Partners

Tom Osborn - Founder & CEO Shamiri Institute

“Hope is a powerful tool for change. How do we cultivate that spark within each of us? We look forward to welcoming you at the Shamiri Summit to hear from, and engage with, experts in the field.”

Tom Osborn - Founder & CEO

Get your tickets now