Executive Director

Dr. Ethel Rambiki

Dr. Ethel Rambiki is a Public Health Physician with a Medical degree and Master’s degree in Infectious Diseases and in Public Health obtained from the University of Buckingham (UK) and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Malawi) respectively. She is the Executive Director of the Lighthouse Trust and has over 10 years of experience managing public health programs at all levels of health care as well as managing large donor-funded projects, driving multi-site implementation, and building strong partnerships with government, funders, and other stakeholders.

In her capacity as Executive Director, she provides strategic leadership to the Lighthouse, supervising both program and support operations. She leads the strategic program planning and implementation, development of sustainability roadmaps, and integration of innovative HIV service delivery models within the Lighthouse Trust. She previously worked with the Department of HIV, STIs and Viral Hepatitis at the Ministry of Health (Malawi) in the care and treatment division where she contributed to the development of the HIV clinical management guideline, the integrated testing guidelines for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B and the draft guidelines and national strategy for viral Hepatitis in Malawi.

Some of her notable achievements include serving as a national HIV drug resistance expert, contributing to the 2022 national HIV management guideline and Malawi’s first-ever Clinical Management Guidelines for Hepatitis B, and participating in the national HIV policy dialogues. She has contributed to the development of technical documents and grant applications that have influenced funding priorities and resource mobilisation. In addition, she has also presented best practices at various local and international conferences, amplifying Malawi’s and Lighthouse’s voice in the global HIV response. Her leadership and research are also reflected in multiple publications, where she has served as both lead author and co-author in HIV, TB and Hepatitis programs.

Dr Rambiki’s main interest is in infectious diseases, specifically HIV, TB, and Hepatitis B and her pursuits include the development of interventions and strategies that align with global infectious disease trends and adapting them to the local context.

Finance Director

Davie Tembo

Mr. Davie Tembo is a Malawian Finance and Administration Professional with over 18 years of professional experience focused on donor projects, sub-grant management, with key competencies in financial analysis, financial reporting, budget development, budget monitoring, as well as formulation and review of financial policies and procedures. His experience also includes setting up internal controls, treasury management, contract management, procurement, logistics, administration, tax planning and management, team management and auditing of profit and non-profit making organizations.

In his capacity as the Finance Director, he oversees the financial management portfolio of Lighthouse and procurement functions. Davie aims to create seamless processes in the Finance Directorate that will greatly contribute to the efficient delivery of health care services at Lighthouse Trust and stakeholders’ satisfaction.

Mr. Tembo is a holder of a Master of Business Administration Degree obtained from the East and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI) as well as being a Certified Chartered Accountant.

Having worked for both local and international institutions at various levels in both Finance and Administration, Mr. Tembo has accumulated experience in the financial management of both profit and non-profit organizations, including successfully managing two PEPFAR grants for “Improving Quality of Care and Health Impact through Innovative Electronic Medical System Technologies in Malawi” from 2009 to 2019.

Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research (MER)

Agness Thawani Mwambula

Agness Thawani Mwambula brings over 13 years of experience in program planning, monitoring and evaluation, research leadership, and knowledge management across local and international NGOs implementing donor-supported health programs. She currently serves as the Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research at Lighthouse Trust and is pursuing a PhD in Innovation and Development at the Malawi University of Science and Technology.

Her expertise spans the design, implementation, and management of M&E systems aligned with national priorities and donor frameworks, including PEPFAR reporting requirements. She has led multiple research and evaluation projects that inform policy and program improvements, working in close collaboration with government institutions, donors, and implementing partners.

Agness has strong skills in developing indicator frameworks, overseeing data quality assurance, managing large and complex databases, and building capacity among M&E professionals. She is experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams, mentoring staff, and coordinating initiatives that strengthen institutional learning and the use of data for decision-making.

With a solid foundation in biostatistics and extensive practical experience, she contributes to both quantitative and qualitative study design, protocol development, sample size calculation, statistical analysis (primarily using STATA), qualitative data analysis, and the preparation of statistical reports, standard operating procedures, and manuscripts for publication. She has also supported evidence-based quality improvement initiatives by setting measurable goals, establishing baselines, monitoring progress, and facilitating performance comparisons across program sites.

Her work is characterized by active engagement with national technical working groups and stakeholders to ensure that research and M&E findings directly inform Malawi’s medium- and long-term development strategies. She is deeply committed to fostering a culture of knowledge sharing, learning, and evidence use to drive sustainable development outcomes.