Noni heads the Community Engagement Platform at the KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), which aims at strengthening relations and building mutual understanding between researchers and communities in all KWTRP research sites. Her professional experience is in Health and Strategic Behaviour Change Communication, Social Marketing and more recently Science Communication. She is responsible for developing best practice strategies for the involvement of communities and publics in research work across KWTRP sites (Kilifi, Nairobi in Kenya; and Mbale in Uganda), through innovative engagement initiatives. She is also responsible for mentoring and building capacity/skills of community liaison and research staff in community and public engagement. Other aspects of her work and experience include monitoring and evaluation of community and public engagement activities, including sharing lessons learnt locally, nationally and internationally.

Her involvement in health, science and communities stems from over 10 years of experience in HIV, Malaria and Child Health across Kenya.  She is currently driven by an interest in how to develop meaningful interactions between Researchers and Communities in LMICs:  not only ensuring that community views and perspectives influence the conduct of research, but also that communities can be inspired by researchers from the region, and scientists by the lessons drawn from quality engagement activities.

Noni holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business Administration, and a Master of Arts degree in Development Communication. She works with a team of 8 experienced engagement staff.