Donel Kadima is a health policy and global affairs researcher working at the intersection of health security, global governance, diplomacy, gender equity, and human security. She holds a BHSc (Honours) in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Calgary and recently completed an MSc in Health Systems Research at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.
Her research focuses on global health diplomacy, Canada–Africa relations, women and child health, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, health equity, and emerging technology-facilitated harms. Her graduate policy research examined the Democratic Republic of Congo as a strategic partner for Canada’s Global Health Strategy, advocating for investments in primary health care, reproductive health, and protection from conflict-related sexual violence. As a Black Diplomats Academy Scholar, she examined the underrepresentation of African women in multilateral institutions and developed pathways to strengthen meaningful participation in global governance.
Donel is the Lead Research Coordinator for Children First Canada’s Raising Canada report, leading research and policy analysis on threats to child and youth wellbeing, including online harms, child sexual exploitation, mental health, poverty, education, and health inequities. Her advocacy and international engagement include participation in the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) and youth-focused multilateral initiatives advancing inclusive global governance.
Her community leadership spans African, refugee, immigrant, women’s, and youth-focused organizations. Donel’s long-term interests centre on international security, global health governance, conflict and gender, emerging security threats, and Canada’s engagement with Africa and the Global South, with a particular interest in strengthening resilience, cooperation, and human security through multilateral institutions.
