Students for Global Health has been a registered charity since 2005 (Registered Charity Number 1111824) and is hence legally obliged to have a Board of Trustees. Initially, the National Committee served as the Board of Trustees, but in 2010 the Students for Global Health Network voted to appoint an external board, comprising professionals with experience in finance and law as well as a wide range of global health experts. Our Board of Trustees now works closely with the National Committee in overseeing the running of the network. Alongside being legally accountable for Students for Global Health’s work to the Charity Commission, the board has three main priority areas: governance, sustainability, and mentorship.
If you have any queries for the Board of Trustees, please contact them on trustees@studentsforglobalhealth.org
Presenting your Board of Trustees
Dr Valfie Sheriff
Dr Vafie Sheriff is an Academic Foundation Doctor in the West Midlands with a background in Biomedical Science (BSc), Global Health and Conflict (MSc), and Medicine (MBBS) from St George’s University of London, with an interest in global, public and women’s health
His global health work began over a decade ago with a placement in Bangladesh through Voluntary Service Overseas and has since included projects in Kenya, Morocco, and Sierra Leone with organisations such as Polygeia, SKIP, and the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health.
Vafie has presented at conferences including the RCOG World Congress and the World Congress on Public Health. He is the founder of Youth MedAid, sits on the BMA Joint Academic Trainees Subcommittee, and is an HLA alumnus and mentor.
He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Students for Global Health, where he is focused on strengthening governance and supporting youth leadership.
Dr Chloe Sowerby (She/Her)
Chloe is currently a Foundation Year 1 Doctor in Manchester; graduating from the University of Leeds with an MBCHB and additional BSc(Hons) in International Health. Chloe’s passion for humanitarian aid started amongst volunteering in Thailand in 2017 and went on to spark interest in international health systems which has seen her complete a medical Summer internship in a hospital in Shanghai and assist with pop-up health clinics within the Himalayas.
As a student, Chloe engaged with many SfGH and IFMSA opportunities and attended conferences in over 5 different countries, including an international training school for advocacy and public health policy. Chloe went on to complete a successful term as National Officer for Research Exchange on the National Committee 2022/23.
Chloe’s current interests moving forward is to assist in widening access and participation to education and healthcare nationally, and continue to study healthcare policies and systems internationally to observe how universal healthcare can be implemented.
Soushma (She/Her)
Soushma is currently working at a London hospital in the hospital discharge team. She holds a BSc in Biomedical Science from the University of Westminster, an MSc in Biomedical Science with a focus on haematology from Kingston University, and an MSc in Psychology from the University of East London. She has a keen interest in widening her knowledge in medicine and public health.
She was previously a resource director for Student MedAid London, now known as Youth2MedAid. During her role as resource director she has worked in a project delivering excess PPE to Lebanon, she collaborated with Dr. Wassim Abdou, Christie Lau, Anastasia Asenguah, Dr. Vafie Sheriff, and Dr. Patrick Vergara. She is currently a resource officer for Youth2MedAid and she is a communication officer for the London Model Health Organisation and previously worked as the logistics and operations officer (2024) for the London Model World Health Organisation. Soushma was a delegate representing Lebanon at the London Model WHO Simulation 2024.
Soushma has a wide range of experience within the NHS, such as: site flow coordinator (clinical site management), mental health wellbeing practitioner for paediatrics, ward volunteer in surgery and geriatric medicine, physiotherapy assistant across specialties, and fracture neck of femur database collector, among others. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Soushma likes to improve her French language skills and attend Barry’s.
Dr Nathan Beckett
Nathan is a current foundation doctor in Sunderland, and he is the Finance Trustee for Students for Global Health.
He enjoys running, playing 5-a-side, and ruining most weekends watching Sunderland matches.
He is excited to continue his involvement in Students for Global Health as the Finance Trustee. He is committed to allowing students from all backgrounds to participate in the fantastic work being carried out by our members.
Dr Anahat Kalra (She/Her)
Anahat is a foundation doctor based in Cardiff, graduating from Cardiff University with an MBBCh as well as a BSc in Population Medicine. She is the secretary to the board of trustees.
Anahat has been involved in Students for Global Health throughout university, attending and organising SfGH events, as well as taking on roles including President of the Cardiff University branch of SfGH. Following this, she was on the national committee for two years, where she spent one year as National Director.
SfGH has allowed Anahat to expand her knowledge about health inequalities, access to healthcare and health advocacy, and as a trustee, she wishes to continue supporting the activities of this student-led charity. Anahat is interested in ensuring education around global health is delivered in an ethical way. She is interested in infectious diseases and public health, which she hopes to explore further in her career.
Dr Elsa Harte
Dr Elsa Harte is currently an Academic Foundation Doctor in Anaesthesia and Neurocritical Care in Cambridge. She studied Medicine at Cardiff University and completed an intercalated BSc in Anaesthesia and Critical Care at Imperial College London.
Elsa is currently the Trustee on Research, Policy, and Advocacy.
Inspired by her volunteering experiences in Ireland, South Wales and India, Elsa has always aspired to integrate global health into her medical career. She is passionate about improving international outcomes in perioperative and critical care, as well as ensuring equitable access to medicines and healthcare services.
She has contributed to research on critical illness and genetic conditions, with work presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Elsa is involved in ongoing research in sepsis and traumatic brain injury as a visiting researcher at both Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge.
Having served on the national committee as Public Relations and Communications Officer for two years and represented SFGH at the IFMSA General Assembly in Delhi, Elsa looks forward to supporting the national committee in shaping its research agendas and international policies.
Cordelia
Cordelia is the current ex-officio Trustee for SfGH UK, after finishing her term as co-National Director alongside Leckhna (now National Director) in 2024/25.
Previously, she was a Branch Coordinator on the National Committee and, before that, part of her local SfGH and UAEM branches. She is also a trainer in IFMSA and has delivered capacity building workshops on a range of soft skills and public health topics including: LGBTQ+ healthcare, menstrual justice, reproductive rights, nuclear weapons, disarmament and demilitarisation, International Humanitarian Law and the UN system, as well as advocacy, campaigning and movement building for social justice.
Giada Portaluppi
Giada is currently an Associate in the Office of Corporate Engagement International at Goldman Sachs. She joined in 2024 and works across the international portfolio, specifically on 10,000 Small Businesses France and 10,000 Women.
Before joining Goldman Sachs, Giada worked in the public health sector as, first an analyst in healthcare management consulting, and then in global health campaigning.
She is passionate about Students for Global Health and is honoured to be serving as a Trustee. Previously, she served as the President of the SfGH UCL branch in 2020-2021.
Giada holds a BSc in Population Health from University College London and an MSc in Medical Anthropology from the University of Oxford.
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