ATscale Private Sector Board Constituency

Damini Agarwal is Chief Technology Officer at IBT, a Johns Hopkins-born medical device company developing advanced upper-limb prosthetics. She has led global product innovation, regulatory approvals, and market entry in over 35 countries, with a strong focus on inclusive design and global accessibility.

A recognised leader in biomedical innovation and diversity in STEM, Damini serves on multiple advisory and governance boards. Her expertise spans R&D, manufacturing, DEI, and public-private partnerships. She is also a mentor and advocate for women in technology through Google’s Women Techmakers programme.

Martin Bedouret is an open-source innovator and global disability advocate, best known as co-founder and CEO of Cboard, an AAC platform supported by UNICEF and used worldwide by individuals with speech and language impairments. Based in Argentina, Martin brings lived experience as a person with ALS and a deep commitment to user-centred design.

With over 20 years of experience in software engineering and inclusive technology, Martin leads efforts to democratise AAC access through open-source ecosystems and global partnerships. He is a frequent speaker at UN events and disability innovation forums.

Dr Rajiv Chhibber is Vice President of External Affairs at Sahajanand Medical Technologies and a strategic advisor on global health, public policy, and medical technologies. With over 20 years of experience across MedTech, health diplomacy, and development, he has shaped health policy in India and internationally, including through BRICS, G20, and WHO platforms.

Rajiv is active in numerous expert committees spanning public health, medical devices, and climate change. He is also Chair of the Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Association of Assistive Technology Manufacturers (AATMA) and brings deep knowledge of trade, regulation, and access to the group.
 

Kevin Hassey has held senior leadership roles in both the private and non-profit sectors. He was formerly Chief Marketing Officer of LensCrafters and founded EyeMed Vision Care, which became the second-largest vision insurance provider in the US. He also served as President of LCA Vision, a leading LASIK surgery company.

In the non-profit space, Kevin acted as transitional CEO of VisionSpring and currently serves as Chair of RestoringVision, a global non-profit focused on vision access. He holds degrees from Boston College and Carnegie Mellon University and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sheena Jaffer is a senior leader and advocate in the fields of disability, ageing, and assistive technology. Her work is informed by lived experience as a caregiver and by over 25 years of professional experience spanning international development, banking, non-profit leadership, and public service. She formerly led DC Fund$, a US-based alternative financing programme for AT users, and has worked closely with national and community-based stakeholders.

Sheena brings expertise in advocacy, partnerships, public engagement, and systems strengthening. Born in Tanzania, she has lived and worked globally and is deeply committed to equitable access and social impact.

Dr Abiola Joseph is a seasoned commercial leader in global health, with two decades of experience spanning pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and assistive technology. He currently serves as Global Programme Manager at VisionSpring, leading large-scale eyeglass access programmes across multiple countries.

Previously with Roche in Nigeria and Switzerland, Abiola has held senior roles in strategy, market access, and institutional partnerships. He brings extensive experience in health systems strengthening, public-private collaboration, and market shaping in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Vinod Krishnan is a seasoned management professional with over 20 years of experience in the assistive technology sector, particularly across South Asia. He has held senior roles in a UK-based social enterprise and is currently CEO of KTWO Healthcare Private Limited, which he co-founded.

Vinod holds a gold medal from the University of Mumbai and specialises in strategic leadership, business development, and innovation in healthcare and AT.

Shona McDonald is the Founding Director of ShonaquipSE, a hybrid social enterprise in South Africa comprising a medical device company, a non-profit organisation, and a DPO-led advocacy network. Inspired by her daughter, who was born with cerebral palsy, Shona developed South Africa’s first paediatric posture support wheelchair in 1984. She has since led innovation in inclusive design, policy, and service delivery, with a strong focus on equity in less-resourced and rural settings.

ShonaquipSE is Africa’s first ISO 13485 and SAHPRA-registered medical device production facility, with outreach into seven countries. Shona’s expertise spans lean innovation, systems change, social enterprise development, and advocacy for inclusive ecosystems. She is a Schwab, Ashoka, RESNA, and CASMI Fellow, and serves on the Board of ISWP.

Lucas Paes de Melo is a social impact entrepreneur focused on developing assistive technologies for underserved communities. He is the founder of Alivio, a company advancing prosthetic socket technology for low-resource settings, and has led teams working on AT innovation for the past decade.

With a background in public health, business, and innovation, Lucas is originally from Brazil and currently based in Germany, with plans to relocate to Kenya to further scale Alivio’s work.

Christopher Patnoe is the Lead for EMEA Accessibility and Disability Innovation at Google. He leads Google's efforts around the accessibility of product, policy and partnerships across EMEA - with a particular focus on Emerging Markets. 

He has 30 years experience in Tech working at companies like Apple, Sony Ericsson and Disney where he's built hardware, software, games, and services. He is the founder of Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centres, the founder and co-chair for the W3C Immersive Captions Community Group and is trustee of the board for SCOPE. Christopher has a degree in Music from UC Berkeley.

Pedro Polson is the CEO of HumanWare EMEA, where he has led the company’s expansion from a UK-centric business to one that now serves Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India. He has over 30 years of experience working with governments, education systems, and charities to improve access to assistive technology for people with low vision and blindness.

Pedro brings expertise in strategic leadership, customer-centred innovation, and market growth, with a strong commitment to quality of life and inclusion. He is enthusiastic about contributing this experience to ATscale’s Private Sector Constituency.

Dr Nasser Siabi is CEO and co-founder of Microlink, a UK-based enterprise that pioneers assistive technology solutions to improve education and employment outcomes for people with disabilities. For over 30 years, he has been a leader in inclusive innovation and public policy, enabling over 2 million students and employees to thrive through technology.

Nasser advises governments, UN agencies, and NGOs on assistive technology and disability inclusion. He has received multiple honours for his work, including an OBE and numerous lifetime achievement awards. His expertise spans R&D, systems design, inclusive education, and global development.

Manfred Stoifl is a globally recognised hearing care expert with nearly five decades of experience spanning clinical practice, social enterprise, and corporate leadership. He currently serves as Director of Programme Development and Global Initiatives at Starkey Hearing Technologies, leading hearing healthcare programmes through partnerships with NGOs and governments in LMICs.

Manfred is the founder of hearing care enterprises across Southeast Asia, and has played a key role in expanding access to hearing aids and services in resource-constrained settings. He is also an inventor, consultant, and frequent speaker on innovations in audiology and public health.