Our Trustees

Dr Linda de Caestecker

Linda is Dr Nana's Chair. She is Director of Public Health with Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board. In the 1980s she worked for two years as an obstetrician in Kumasi, Ghana. From 2014-16, she was a consultant for the International Federation for Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO), working to improve women’s reproductive health in six countries across Asia and Africa. She is supporting the twinning of the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow with Lahore Children’s Hospital, Pakistan. She lives in Glasgow.

Prof Laurence Gruer OBE

Laurence founded Dr Nana in 2015 and is now its CEO and Secretary. Through Nana, his Ghanaian wife, he has been connected with Ghana for over 40 years. He is Honorary Professor of Public Health at Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities and former Director of Public Health Science at NHS Health Scotland. His focus throughout his career has been on turning evidence into practical action to improve population health through legislation, education and service delivery. He lives in Edinburgh.

Mrs Ama Ackah-Yensuh

Ama is Dr Nana's treasurer. Born and educated in Ghana, she has lived in London for over 35 years. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Accountants and has held a range of senior financial positions in local government, private corporations and non-statutory agencies. She currently works for Westminster Council.

Mrs Waafas Ofosu-Amaah

After training in law, Waafas worked on gender equality issues for several international organizations, including the World Bank where she was a Regional Programme Director until retiring in 2014. She is now an independent consultant living in Washington DC.

Dr Shadrach Dare

Shadrach trained as a nurse in Ghana. Following the award of two Commonwealth Scholarships, he gained MPH and PhD degrees at the University of Glasgow. His PhD thesis focused on neonatal mortality in three regions of Ghana, and Scotland. He is currently leading research on the impact of arthritis in Tanzania. He lives in Glasgow.

Ms Esther Cobbah

Esther is the Founder and Chief Executive of Strategic Communications Africa Ltd. (Stratcomm Africa), a total communications consultancy based in Accra, Ghana. She has provided services internationally to numerous corporate bodies, governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as international institutions, helping them to put their messages across more effectively to their target audiences for business growth and socio economic impact.

Ms Andrea Lawson-Chalcart

After 20 years as a health scientist and owning two businesses, Andrea has worked for 13 years as a freelance consultant programme director in the UK public sector. This has included working for a Strategic Health Authority, arranging 6-12 month placements in rural Cambodia for health professionals with high leadership potential. She has developed links with the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), the Department for International Development (DFID) and Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO). She is a fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. She lives in London.

Dr Robert Elswood

After graduating in medicine and post-graduate training in surgery, Robert spent two years working as a surgeon and lecturer in Kumasi, Ghana. Following his return to Scotland, he became a general practitioner, serving his Edinburgh community for 28 years. He was one of eight GPs in a group partnership responsible for NHS clinical work, student teaching and postgraduate GP training, and ensuring financial integrity. He recently retired and lives in Edinburgh.

Ms Lynne Elliott

For almost 20 years, Lynne has led large-scale health and development programmes in 25 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Her clients have included the UN, governments and academic institutions. Lynne continues to work internationally. When in the UK, she lives in Glasgow and Liverpool.