Emmanuel is a dedicated advocate for open research practices, committed to sustainably strengthening the capacity of researchers and institutions in Africa to shape the global research ecosystem. Through his visionary leadership, AREN has grown to reach researchers in 32 countries and over 150 institutions across Africa, trained open science champions who have established communities of practice at 28 African institutions in 15 countries, and established strategic partnerships connecting African researchers with global intiatives. He has worked with organizations such as the Association of African Universities (AAU), the Centre for Open Science (COS), PLOS, and FORRT, and delivered keynotes at major international conferences, sharing insights
on the future of open research from an African
perspective. He holds a BSc in Biochemistry from KNUST, Ghana.
Lamis is a pharmaceutical chemist and lecturer at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, where her research focuses on drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases. She is an active advocate for open science, advancing reproducibility, transparency, and equitable access to research across Africa. She designs and leads open science training programs, builds networks of early-career researchers, and contributes to policy discussions shaping open and responsible research practices. Lamis currently serves as Co-Chair of Working Group 2 of the Open Science Monitoring Initiative (OSMI), is a PREreview Champion, and an ASAPbio Fellow. As a displaced Sudanese scientist, she is committed to ensuring that researchers in fragile and low-resource settings remain visible, connected, and able to contribute meaningfully to global science.
Musa is an Associate Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at Hawassa University in Ethiopia, where he also serves as the AREN Local Network Lead. He holds a BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology from Jimma University and MSc/PhD degrees in Medical Microbiology from Addis Ababa University (2011, 2018). His expertise in microbial pathogens and immunology has led to numerous collaborative studies and publications. Passionate about Open Science, He founded the "Open Science Initiative Ethiopia", a platform that serves as a hub for sharing information about Open Science to foster discussions and encourage researchers and students to adopt open practices. He is committed to creating a supportive environment for researchers to engage with the concepts of openness and collaboration in scientific research.
Josiline is the University Librarian at the Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe and the AREN Local Network Lead at her institution. She brings 18 years of experience in academic librarianship and holds a doctorate in Information Science from UNISA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education. A passionate advocate for open science in Zimbabwe, she serves on the SPARC Africa management committee and is an editorial board member for the IFLA Journal and the Journal of Web Librarianship. She is also an advisory board member for the Open Book Futures Project at Lancaster University and a member of several professional organizations, including ZIMLA, LIASA, ASIS&T and IASSIST. Josiline has authored several works on open science, research data management, indigenous knowledge, and digital literacy.
Sarah is an Assistant Lecturer in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Alexandria Faculty of Medicine in Egypt. She is also the AREN Local Network Lead at the University of Alexandria. Sarah earned her MD in 2017 and a Master’s in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2023, specializing in cancer molecular biology. She is a strong advocate for open science in her community, promoting transparency and reproducibility in medical practice and related fields. Putting together her experience in the medical field and passion for open science, she aims to foster a culture of openness and collaboration to facilitate scientific discovery in Medicine and inspire future medical professionals to adopt these principles in their careers through her teaching and advocacy.
Zoé is a Lecturer in Information Science and AREN Local Network Lead at Université Norbert Zongo in Burkina Faso. She earned her doctorate in Information Science from the Université de Montréal, where she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship. Her research specializes in open access to information and the digitization of libraries, aiming to enhance knowledge accessibility and preservation. Zoé is an active member of the Association for the Promotion of Open Science in Haiti and Africa (APSOHA) where she advocates for open science initiatives across Africa and Haiti. Her work bridges academic research and practical applications, contributing to the advancement of open access and digital transformation in libraries, particularly in underserved regions.