Nelsha Haji

Nelsha Haji is a health strategist with 15 years of experience in health strategy, business development, and project management across Canada and Tanzania. As an Associate Director at Results for Development (R4D) in Tanzania, she oversees projects focused on improving access to life-saving medicines for mothers and children and leads business development efforts for the country office and R4D globally.

Nelsha’s career spans hospital, community, and global health settings. She began as an Improvement Analyst and Special Projects Coordinator in a tertiary-level hospital, later transitioning to a Corporate Planner role for a home and community care government agency. Currently, she leads market-shaping initiatives in Tanzania and other countries, ensuring equitable access to essential medicines.

She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Services Management and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McMaster University, along with a certification from Johns Hopkins University’s Global Rehabilitation Leadership Institute. Nelsha is passionate about advancing women’s leadership in global health, believing that diverse perspectives and lived experiences drive impactful, equity-focused decision-making.

Fun fact: Outside of global health, Nelsha is a dancer and choreographer specializing in modern Bollywood fusion and semi-classical dance styles.