MEET OUR PEOPLE
Diverse, Dedicated, and Driven — Our teams spans across East Africa, Australia and The Pacific, uniting passionate and skilled leaders who bring unique perspectives and expertise to drive our mission forward.
UGANDA
Sheillah Bagayana
Country Manager - Uganda
Sheillah, FREO2 Uganda's Country Manager, holds a biomedical engineering degree from Makerere University and extensive experience in oxygen plant management. Passionate about leveraging technology for health improvement in low-resource settings, she is a recognized bio-entrepreneur and has received various accolades, including the 2016 Commonwealth Professional Award and MIT 2019 Bio-entrepreneurship Leaders of Tomorrow Fellowship. Sheillah is a dedicated reader, recently winning 2nd prize in a continental reading challenge, and an alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative.
Aminah Nanyondo
Programs Manager - Uganda
Aminah is our Programs Manager for Uganda. She holds a degree in Biological Sciences from Makerere University and has experience in medical and pharmaceutical marketing to bridge the gap in healthcare. Aminah works in driving organisational growth through business relationships, strategic partnerships and project management. She believes that integrated health solutions are essential to advancing health.
Hilda Bugingo
Oxygen Engineer - Uganda
Hilda, an oxygen engineer at FREO2 Uganda, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Makerere University. With substantial experience in servicing oxygen systems in Eastern Uganda, she collaborated with international students on medical equipment maintenance projects with Engineering World Health Organization. Hilda's background includes volunteering at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and serving as a teaching assistant at St Francis School of Health Sciences. Passionate about research, design, and innovation, she strives to enhance healthcare systems in low-and-middle-income countries.
Frank Kiwanuka
Technician - Uganda
Frank is a Technician at FREO2 Uganda. He holds a diploma in Civil Engineering and an Advanced Certificate of Plumbing. Frank has over 5 years’ experience in hospital plumbing systems, designing and fixing pipework for water and oxygen systems, plumbing installations and concrete practice.
Patrick Semata
Technician - Uganda
Patrick’s is a Technician at FREO2 Uganda. His 20-year experience in hospital electrical works and maintenance of medical devices is unmatched. Patrick holds a certificate in Electrical Installation and has over the years gained expertise in electrical works and maintenance of medical equipment. He is a Commonwealth Professional Fellow and has completed trainings in various medical device technologies globally.
Anitah Niwensiima
Intern - Uganda
Anitah is a Graduate Intern at FREO2 Uganda. She gained experience in South Western Uganda servicing and maintaining medical equipment after completing her bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering at Mbarara University of Science & Technology. Anitah strives to improve health outcomes in low-resource communities through innovation and technology.
TANZANIA
George Massay
Country Manager - Tanzania
Brother George, FREO2's Tanzania Country Manager, is a council member of the Christian Brothers' Leadership Team for the Africa Province. He initiated FREO2's introduction to the Mbulu District, addressing the unmet need for oxygen treatment in his rural village. George, in collaboration with the Tanzania Episcopal Conference, coordinates the FREO2 Tanzania team. His vision is to empower young entrepreneurs to establish sustainable oxygen businesses, catering to the healthcare needs of rural Tanzanians.
Msira Mageni
Programs Manager - Tanzania
Msira, FREO2's Tanzania Programs Manager, brings over 7 years of project management experience in the professional and public health sectors. With a Master's degree in Project Management from The Open University of Tanzania, he has successfully managed projects funded by USAID, UKAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, DFID, Comic Relief, Bayer, and Acacia Mining PLC. Msira's expertise spans health programs in HIV/AIDS, family planning, gender-based violence, and sexual reproductive health and rights, reflecting his passion for contributing to improved health outcomes in Tanzania.
Dr Josephat Anney
Clinical Training Lead - Tanzania
Dr Josephat, the Mbulu district's Traditional Health Services Coordinator, contributes to FREO2’s Clinical Training Programs in Tanzania. Trained at Tanga and the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, he began as a rural Medical Officer, later advancing his qualifications. Since 2016, Dr. Josephat has played a key role in supporting FREO2, designing clinical training programs that integrate pulse oximetry into hypoxia diagnosis.
Dr Chrispin Gaare
Clinical Lead - Tanzania
Dr Chrispin, a General Practitioner, contributes to FREO2's Clinical Training Programs in Tanzania. With a Bachelor's Degree in Medicine from St. Francis University of Health and Allied Science-Ifakara Tanzania, he currently works at Bashnet Hospital in Babati District-Manyara. Dr. Chrispin is dedicated to advancing FREO2's mission by ensuring local healthcare workers receive comprehensive training in oxygen therapy and respiratory condition management for infants and children. In 2022 alone, he has trained over 80 healthcare workers, emphasizing the importance of community care for the well-being of our future generations.
Petro (Babu) Msuya
Senior Technician - Tanzania
Petro, or “Babu”, is a Senior Technician helping to coordinate the maintenance for Tanzania installations. He is a qualified Electrician, and oversees the site installations. Babu’s ingenious skills are such that he is asked to advise the local hospitals on equipment and infrastructure. He is renowned for being an “improviser”, a very important skill when spare parts are not always available. Together Babu and Damiano provide regular monitoring and maintenance of the FREO2 systems in Bashanet and Dongobesh.
Damiano Massay
Senior Technician - Tanzania
Damiano is a Senior Technician at FREO2 Tanzania. He is affectionately known as the FREO2 “Fundi”, which is a term for a wise, skilled technical person. He is our local oxygen technician, responsible for all of the piping and mechanical installations. In Dongobesh, where he is based, Damiano can leverage his extensive network on contacts and solve any problems that the Tanzania team many encounter.
Anatoli Umbu
Senior Technician - Tanzania
Anatoli is a Senior Technician at FREO2, working in installation and maintenance of FREO2 technology in remote health centres in Tanzania.
He received his Electrical Technician certificate at Mbulu Vocation Training College in 2013 and specialises in solar energy installation and support. Anatoli gained experience as a technician and salesperson at a local solar company that promotes solar energy in rural Tanzania.
Alex John
Field Supervisor - Tanzania
Alex joined FREO2 Tanzania in 2021 as a Field Supervisor. He trained as a Secondary School Teacher with Mkwawa University College of Education and later studied Computer Science. Alex followed his passion in wildlife conservation where he worked as a ranger and graduated with a Technician certificate from Pasiansi Wildlife Training Institute in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Alex is passionate about improving oxygen access, as he credits medical oxygen therapy to saving his mothers life, who was at the time suffering with a chronic heart condition.
THE PACIFIC
Dr Divi Ogaoga
Country Manager - Solomon Islands
Divi is FREO2 Country Manager in Solomon Islands and Pacific Region and a local paediatrician in the Solomon Islands. He has vast experience in public health and clinical care. Divi has previous hospital work experience in Papua New Guinea, Australia and Solomon Island Hospitals. Divi was Provincial Health Director and Director of Maternal and Child Health in the Solomon Islands for many years. His undergraduate and paediatric training was at the University of Papua New Guinea and he gained his Masters in Public Health and Tropical Medicine from the James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
John Donga
Technician - Solomon Islands
John embarked on his career in healthcare with nursing training at Helena Goldie Hospital, Munda, and later transitioned into the role of a technician. John seamlessly integrated with the FREO2 team, clinical staff, and technical professionals in the healthcare facilities. John played a pivotal role in installing the pilot site systems and continues to provide essential maintenance and support. With our unwavering confidence in his capabilities, we believe John will excel in overseeing future installations under the guidance of our Australian team.
GLOBAL
Máire Ruane
CEO
Máire Ruane, the new CEO of FREO2, is an experienced leader in entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategy. Committed to preserving FREO2's legacy, her personal encounter with hypoxia's devastating effects fuels her dedication to FREO2’s mission. As an energetic entrepreneur, Máire excels in delivering complex change and addressing global injustices in the not-for-profit sector. Her expertise in design thinking and portfolio management offers a fresh perspective to purpose-driven organisations. A fervent advocate for global health, especially children's health, Máire believes in uniting courageous leaders to tackle audacious goals.
Dr David Peake
Co-founder & Director
David is Co-founder and Director at FREO2. Dr Peake completed his PhD in Accelerator Physics in conjunction with the Australian Synchrotron in 2012, and shortly afterwards began his work at DETECT Australia, a high-tech startup providing specialised instrumentation for industry and research institutions. He is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, leading the FREO2 SOLAR project.
Dr Bryn Sobott
Co-founder & Director
Bryn, FREO2's Co-founder and Director, started the organisation in 2010 to address the global impact of pneumonia on child mortality. With a background in Physics, he invented technologies and built partnerships to combat the scarcity of medical oxygen in low-resource settings. Currently leading FREO2's scaling program in Uganda, Bryn combines technology and service delivery through a social enterprise model to increase sustainable access to oxygen, driven by the belief that child mortality, especially due to pneumonia, starkly reflects global inequity.
Marcus Fazio
Board Member
As a board member, Marcus, with a background in investment banking and strategic consulting, brings extensive experience to our team. Since 2008, he has served as a Trustee of the Planet Wheeler Foundation and holds director positions in various organizations, including Text Publishing and The Wheeler Centre. Marcus's expertise in strategy, transactions, and philanthropy, coupled with his leadership roles, greatly contributes to our mission.
Dr Tamara Kwarteng
Board Member
Dr. Tamara Kwarteng, a board member for FREO2, is a Ghanaian-born expert with a Ph.D. in Molecular Biochemistry and a Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology. With extensive international experience in health promotion, education, and project management, Tamara served as Deputy Director at the Centre for International Health and Team Leader of the Pacific Regional HIV&AIDS Project. Recognized for her contributions, she was inducted into the Victorian Honor Roll for Women in the "Change Agent" category in March 2020. Currently, Tamara works as an independent consultant, providing valuable insights into public health program design, monitoring, and evaluation.
Caroline Wairimu
Storyteller and Advocacy Lead
As a FREO2 Storyteller, Caroline is dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges faced by individuals from remote villages in accessing life-saving oxygen. Motivated by her personal experience of losing her niece due to oxygen scarcity, Caroline passionately advocates for equal access to oxygen therapy. Residing in Kibera, Nairobi, she brings firsthand knowledge of poverty and limited access to essential services, inspiring her to share stories that shed light on the struggles faced by many in remote areas due to distance and resource constraints.
Kate Holland
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kate, FREO2’s Marketing and Communications Manager, is dedicated to elevating the brand and implementing impactful marketing strategies through effective communication, graphic design, and compelling reporting. Her passion lies in aligning FREO2's marketing initiatives with organisational goals, and she excels in enhancing the visual identity and messaging consistency of FREO2.
Having resided in Arusha, Tanzania for the past five years, Kate brings a wealth of experience from the non-profit sector, previously working with Partners for Equity and The School of St Jude.
Peter Casamento
Photographer
Peter is a photographer and volunteer at FREO2, with a passion for raising awareness of social justice issues. Through visual storytelling he aims to connect people and bring about positive change to build healthier, stronger communities.
WANT TO WORK WITH US?
We are always on the lookout for talented and passionate individuals to join our cause.
We also work with a variety of students and interns.
Please email contact@freo2.org with your CV if you are interested.