Dr. Anne Makena (Kenya/United Kingdom) is a distinguished academic leader and strategic architect of Africa-focused research collaboration, serving as Co-Director of the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx) at the University of Oxford, where she leads strategy, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement to strengthen equitable partnerships between Oxford and African institutions. AfOx supports graduate scholarships, research mobility, and innovation platforms that expand opportunities for African scholars and entrepreneurs, helping increase African representation and impact within global research networks. Dr. Makena holds a DPhil in Chemical Biology from the University of Oxford and an Executive MBA from Saïd Business School, combining deep scientific training with strategic insight into research ecosystems and institutional collaboration. Her leadership in advancing Africa-Oxford engagement has been recognized through election as an Honorary Fellow of Somerville College, Oxford, and her work continues to influence