Creativity for Equity

Nina Schmidt

Nina Schmidt is Open Science and Research Funding Manager at Stiftung Charité. She studied German & English in Münster and Sheffield, where she completed her PhD. She first came to Berlin as a postdoctoral researcher in literary and cultural studies at the Freie Universität before moving into research funding and philanthropy in 2021. Since then, she has been working to expand Stiftung Charité’s funding portfolio through targeted Open Science programs. Her work is informed by a diverse range of experience in journalism, teaching and public engagement as a researcher.

Juliette Mutheu-Asego

Juliette Mutheu is the Founder of SciLink Global and host of the African Science & Society and Connecting The Dots podcasts. She has led strategic science communication efforts across Africa, including roles at the Science for Africa Foundation and African Academy of Sciences. Juliette was named to the Global Women in Marketing list in 2020 and was a top ten finalist in a BBC podcast competition in 2021. She is passionate about amplifying African science and holds degrees in Biomedical Sciences (Monash University) and Science Communication (Imperial College London).

Dixon Chibanda

Dixon Chibanda is Professor of psychiatry and global mental health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the University of Zimbabwe. His area of interest is developing and evaluating evidence based interventions for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in low resourced settings. He founded the Friendship Bench Project which has been scaled up in Zimbabwe and replicated in a number of countries. Dixon runs the podcast 'Healing through Stories' and has written a book about the Friendship Bench Project.

Spreefeld Berlin

We meet at Spreefeld Berlin, a cooperative housing and cultural space situated directly on the banks of the Spree River, nestled between the vibrant neighborhoods of Kreuzberg, Mitte, and Friedrichshain.

The venue is easily reached by public transport—take the S-Bahn to Ostbahnhof or the U8 to Kottbusser Tor, then it’s just a short walk. From Berlin Brandenburg Airport, you can take the S9 train directly to Ostbahnhof.

Wilhelmine-Gemberg-Weg 12
10179 Berlin

Get directions on Google Maps

Hannah Strohmeier

Hannah holds degrees in literature, art and media, international studies, and global health. Her postdoctoral research at Charité explores the mental health of humanitarian workers. With an interdisciplinary background, she translates research into film—most recently in Colour, a documentary that amplifies the voices of humanitarian staff in Nairobi and calls for more equitable work environments. Beyond academia, she advises PEN America on staff wellbeing and consults for the United Nations on gender equality and mental health.

🎤 Hannah makes lifelong friends in a single karaoke night—thanks to her time in Thailand and a deep love of ‘80s & ‘90s anthems.

Yagmur Demirpehlivan

Yagmur is a researcher and communication manager at the Charité Center for Global Health in Berlin. Her interdisciplinary work bridges academic research, creative storytelling, and public engagement, drawing on feminist and decolonial approaches. She has contributed to projects on abortion access, LGBTQI+ health, and vaccine equity, with a focus on qualitative methods and inclusive communication. Currently, she is developing a PhD project on science communication and trust in vaccines.

📺 Yagmur watches Turkish dramas not just for entertainment—but as a form of sociological analysis into the nuances of contemporary Turkish society.

Charlotte Köhler

Charlotte received her PhD from Freie Universität Berlin. She has held research positions at Freie Universität Berlin, the European University Viadrina, and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, and was a visiting scholar at the University of Iowa. Since June 2022, she has been a Junior Professor at the European University Viadrina. Charlotte is a member of the Steering Committee of GLOHRA and co-founder of the research network co-minded. Her research focuses on operations research and analytics, with applications in logistics and healthcare.

🦧 ← This is her favorite emoji.

Torben Heinsohn

Torben studied medicine and social anthropology in Cambridge and Oxford and worked as a doctor in London during the pandemic. He later turned to global health research, focusing on TB and other infectious diseases in Germany, South Africa, and Malawi. He co-founded an international NGO and has worked at UCL and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. His work spans clinical and epidemiological research, evidence-based policymaking, and the development of sustainable health systems. He is a member of the GLOHRA Steering Committee.

🏄 ← In a previous life, Torben used to work as a windsurf instructor and competed in UK student windsurfing leagues