Iris Mikulic is a junior medical doctor with an interest in global health. She completed her studies in Amsterdam and gained clinical experience in the fields of geriatrics, psychiatry and internal medicine. Additionally, she participated in several summer schools on a variety of different global health topics.

Iris joined Uniting Streams to stay involved in the global health sector and in order to meet fellow global health enthusiasts.

Nima Yaghmaei is an epidemiologist at KIT Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. He holds master's degrees in both International Health and Public Health Nutrition, and has work experience in NGOs and research institutes.

At KIT, Nima's work focuses on operational research and health information system strengthening in fragile and conflict-affected settings, such as Afghanistan and South Sudan. He plays a significant role in developing and expanding KIT’s institutional capacity for research on disaster epidemiology and preparedness for climate-related and humanitarian crises. Nima contributes to the institute's mission of supporting evidence-informed decision-making in public health.

Nima joined Uniting Streams to meet and exchange with other global health researchers.

Harry Coleman is a Junior Advisor in the Health Systems Strengthening team at KIT Royal Tropical Institute. In 2020, he finished his PhD at the Vrije University Amsterdam that focuses on a healthcare outreach service delivery model for homeless groups in Delhi, India. His main interests are in health policy and systems research, social science and mixed methodologies in global health, and global health politics.

Harry joined Uniting Streams to discuss the sphere of global health action and research with others working in the field.

Samar Al-tashi is a medical doctor from Yemen with a background in primary care and migrant health. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Health from Maastricht University and is currently working as an Assistant Service Coordinator for the conect4children (c4c) EU project and Stichting, based in the Netherlands. Her global health passion focuses on strengthening health systems, with a particular emphasis on migrant health and improving equal access to primary care.

With experience in both low- and high-resource settings, she applies her interdisciplinary expertise in global health, healthcare systems, and community-based care to drive meaningful change. She is also actively involved with the Health Migrant working group of the EFPC and joined Uniting Streams to collaborate with like-minded professionals in global health.

Renée Robbers is a PhD candidate at Maastricht University, where she explores how ecocentric worldviews can reshape our understanding of health, beyond the human. Her work draws on insights from philosophy, anthropology and public health, and is rooted in a transdisciplinary approach that values multiple ways of knowing. With a BSc in Neuroscience and an MSc in International Public Health, she combines academic and consultancy experience across Dutch, international and global health contexts. Her main interests include Planetary Health, epistemic justice, and how people perceive and relate to the world around them.

Renée joined Uniting Streams to cocreate and exchange knowledge with other global health enthusiasts.

Tess Padayachee is a public health researcher and project manager with over 18 years of experience leading health systems research and development initiatives across South Africa and internationally. Now based in the Netherlands, she brings a strong mix of academic expertise, strategic leadership, and a deep commitment to inclusive, person-centered primary healthcare.

Tess holds a PhD in Disability Studies from the University of Cape Town, where she is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow. Her research focuses on improving continuity of care for people with disabilities living with non-communicable diseases. She also holds a Master’s in Evidence-Based Healthcare and an Honours degree in Speech and Language Pathology.

She currently consults for the World Health Organization (WHO), coordinating the cancer lived experience portfolio and supports the implementation of the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines. Previously, she served as Programme Manager and Acting Director at the Health Systems Trust, overseeing a broad range of health systems research projects.

Tess specializes in qualitative and mixed-methods research, health policy analysis, project management and evidence translation. Driven by values of respect, inclusion, and integrity, Tess joined Uniting Streams to contribute to transformative, inclusive health development that uplifts the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Soe Yu Naing is a global health professional with over ten years of experience in project management and scientific research. He holds an international MSc in Infectious Diseases and One Health, and a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from a liberal arts college. Later, he joined the University of Pennsylvania to conduct research on HIV cure strategies. Currently, his PhD research at Utrecht University focuses on the molecular epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Beyond academia, Soe Yu Naing collaborates with ISGLOBAL, the One Health Trust, and consults for the WHO on AMR policy. He also serves as visiting faculty at Parami University in Myanmar and holds leadership roles with the Erasmus Mundus Association and the Digital Transformation for Health Lab, advocating for digital health citizenship, citizen science, and data equity for pandemic preparedness. In his leisure time, he writes Burmese short stories and podcast scripts on sexual and reproductive health to encourage open discussions in Myanmar.

Soe Yu joined Uniting Streams to help share tips and strategies for career development and networking for global health professionals.