Dorcas Gwata (University of Oxford) UK

Dorcas Gwata is a Global Health Specialist working with young people and families affected by gang culture in London, a project that extrapolates research  lessons from low income countries to high income countries, she has worked on the Zimbabwean Friendship Bench Project and she has extensive experience working in East Africa and Asia.  Her ability to live in and for different cultural realities allows Dorcas to import new innovative knowledge also in the UK were mental and physical health issues display similar challenges such as economic constraints and vulnerable population, with focus on gender violence, mental health and trauma. She is an experienced Global Mental Health Specialist working across Sub-Sahara Africa with special interest in Gender Violence, Substance Misuse, Common Mental Health Disorders, Non Communicable Diseases, Migration, Cross Cultural Psychiatry and Youth Health. Dorcas is also a visiting Lecturer at LSHTM and Kings College London. Dorcas studied the MSc in Public Health at LSHTM. Dorcas is a Mental Health Advisor at Tropical Health Education Trust (THET) and The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSHTM)  she has recently been awarded with the International Human Rights Award by the University of Surrey. Dorcas is the co-founder of the Global Health Café, the first African-led platform focusing on global health issues with particular focus on Africa, she mentors young graduates, she is passionate about supporting more women of colour in leadership. Dorcas is the founder of the Gogo Project, an innovative project that provides humanitarian support to grandmothers and grandchildren and child led homes in Mbare. The program is run by young community champions who are trained in basic mental health, sexual health, safeguarding and governance. Dorcas is interested in the merger between mental health and art, she supports local artists in Zimbabwe and the UK. Dorcas is a keen adventure and business traveller, she provides cultural consultation to businesses and individuals travelling to Africa. She practises yoga regularly and has an insatiable love for Africa