Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Qualification: Master of Health Administration, Policy and Leadership
Year of Graduation: 2020
Education Provider: Murdoch University
Job Title: Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
Employer: National Blood Service Ghana
Country of Origin: Ghana
Are there any notable experiences from your time studying you’d like to share?
Being appointed as a StudyPerth International Student Ambassador gave me numerous opportunities to enrich my study experience. As part of the program, I received training to develop essential soft skills needed as an emerging student leader.
I held a part-time role as an International Peer Leader and a Peer Academic Coach as part of Murdoch University’s Peer Learning and Support programs. This enriched my employability communication and people skills, and also offered access to other staff resources and university training.
Murdoch University’s sponsorship also allowed me to attend a student leadership workshop for Commonwealth Universities in India.
Additionally, I received a special commendation from the Council for International Students for Western Australia (CISWA) for my contribution to international education in Western Australia for 2020.
Being adjudged the 2020 Ian Brand Prize winner for best grade point average in a Health Management Masters Course in Australia by the Australasian College of Health Service Management was a notable experience as well.
Lastly, I had the pleasure of participating in the 2020 WA Health Hackathon organised by the WA Data Science Innovation Hub.
If you could tell your graduate self one piece of career advice, what would it be and why?
Always be open-minded. Be willing to try new things, no matter how difficult it seems. You can only get better at it after you have given it a shot. Have a positive attitude towards anything you find yourself doing, and make sure you learn something new from it.
Tell us about your experience since leaving Murdoch University how has your career progressed to date? Any professional achievements you’d like to share?
Since then, I have been appointed as the Head of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Blood Service Ghana – as well as as a Study Manager for a randomised control trial funded by the National Institutes of Health, USA. I have also been pursuing several pieces of training and research projects in Data Science, Digital Health and Health Technology.
What are some of your passions and interests?
I enjoy listening to good music, watching movies, networking, exploring new technologies, travelling and developing new ideas.
What are the top 3 skills you need in your role as a Study Manager?
- Teamwork
- Attention-to-detail
- Multi-tasking
How has your technical and operational experience assisted you in your role?
My technical and operational experiences have helped to avert potential risks and setbacks in my role. With my past experiences, I am able to identify loopholes that have the potential to derail my work and address them. They also allow me to execute my role in an effective manner.
What was your main reason(s) to select Perth as your study destination?
Perth was the only place in Australia with a university offering the course I was passionate about (Health Administration, Policy and Leadership).
Perth has a lot of sunshine, which makes it easier for me to adapt since I come from a country with a tropical climate. As the original land of opportunities for international studies to discover new ideas, Perth has an enabling environment which allows students to explore their dreams and passions.
What have you enjoyed the most about living and studying in Perth?
The cultural diversity in Perth. Everyone living and studying in Perth is given an equal opportunity to identify with and practice their culture without any form of discrimination. I was able to participate in both African and Ghanaian activities without fear of intimidation.
What would you say to students thinking of coming to Perth to study?
If they want to explore and excel in their careers, Perth is the right place to do so. They should not have any doubts about being able to excel in Perth because Perth has what it takes to succeed in any career of their choice, no matter where they come from or what their passions are.