Open to opportunities

Edina Chirwa

@edinachirwa

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Clinical psychologist, lecturer, researcher and project manager with 15+ years in academia and public health.

Zambia

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What I'm looking for

I seek roles combining teaching, research and project leadership in mental health or public health—impactful, collaborative environments that support capacity building and policy translation.

I am a Clinical Psychologist, Lecturer, Researcher and Project Manager with over 15 years of experience across academia, clinical practice and public health.

I hold a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, an MSc in Clinical Neuropsychology and an MBA in Project Management, blending rigorous research skills with administrative and project leadership capabilities.

I have led quality assurance and documentation initiatives, supervised over 80 undergraduate research projects, coordinated large-scale research studies (including HIV incidence work with CDC) and contributed to national COVID-19 documentation and knowledge translation efforts.

I also provide psychotherapy and community mental health outreach through a volunteer practice, publish in peer‑reviewed journals, and pursue research on neurodevelopment, nutrition and sustainable project management to inform policy and culturally sensitive interventions.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Documentation Taskforce Lead

Current

Zambia National COVID-19 Response Taskforce

Jan 2023 - Present (2 years 11 months)

Spearheaded a documentation strategy to streamline reporting and ensure timely dissemination of public health data and research-driven insights to national stakeholders.

Documentation Strategy Policy Advocacy

Current

National Knowledge Translation Member

Current

National Health Research Authority

Jan 2023 - Present (2 years 11 months)

Served on the technical working group to enhance dissemination of health research evidence, foster partnerships, and improve research-driven policy and practice.

Stakeholder Engagement Health Policy Advocacy Partnership Building

Current

Founder & Volunteer Clinical Psychologist

Current

Therapeutic Reflections Limited

Jan 2021 - Present (4 years 11 months)

Provides psychotherapy and CBT services and produces psychoeducational materials to raise public awareness of mental health and wellbeing across communities.

Clinical Psychology CBT Psycho Educational Materials Community Outreach Mental Health Promotion Counseling

Current

Lecturer & Researcher

Current

Zambian Open University

Mar 2014 - Present (11 years 9 months)

Developed and delivered undergraduate and postgraduate courses in psychology and research, supervised over 80 student research projects, and published peer-reviewed research informing educational and mental health practice.

Curriculum Development Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Teaching Neuropsychology Public Health

Acting Quality Assurance Director

Zambian Open University

Jun 2024 - Dec 2025 (1 year 6 months)

Led institutional self-assessment communication and program evaluations, designed capacity-building workshops, and managed documentation and knowledge-sharing to strengthen quality and ethical standards across the university.

Quality Assurance Program Evaluation Workshop Facilitation Documentation Stakeholder Engagement Policy Development

Research Consultant & Coordinator

BBC Media Action

Jun 2011 - Jan 2014 (2 years 7 months)

Managed research and M&E for radio governance and advocacy projects, conducting qualitative and quantitative studies to inform design and measure impact.

Monitoring & Evaluation Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Project Coordination

Project/Research Study Coordinator

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Apr 2006 - Dec 2007 (1 year 8 months)

Coordinated HIV incidence and prevalence research activities including data collection, training of field staff, and ensuring data integrity and ethical conduct across study sites.

Data Management Ethical Conduct HIV Monitoring & Evaluation