Julia Kemp, Associate Director, Equitable Research Ecosystems

Julia’s team is responsible for Wellcome’s major international research partnerships in Africa, South and Southeast Asia. The team also supports partnerships to foster equity and diversity in research ecosystems in the UK and internationally, and ensure communities are at the centre of health research.

Before joining Wellcome, Julia was Deputy Director of Research at the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), where she led the portfolio of outcome-focused research to address international development challenges.

In previous roles at the UK’s Department for International Development, Julia set up the regional East Africa Research and Innovation Hub based in Nairobi, Kenya, commissioning research on country and regional priorities across East Africa. As a Senior Health Adviser, Julia also led the UK bilateral health and HIV portfolios in Myanmar and Malawi, working with health policy makers, funders, the private sector, health services and civil society partners.

Julia has a PhD in International Health. Prior to joining the UK government, she led research on equity in access to health in Malawi and Nigeria.

Julia’s pronouns are she/her.