Michaela Clayton
- Interim Director
Michaela Clayton is a human rights lawyer who has worked in the field of HIV, gender and human rights since 1989. She was a long-standing member of the UNAIDS Human Rights Reference Group of which she was also the co-chair from 2011 until February 2021. She is also a member of the of the HIV Justice Network Global Advisory Panel. Ms Clayton was the Founding Director of the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), a regional partnership of over 100 civil society and community based and led organisations working together to promote a human rights-based response to HIV in east and southern Africa and served as Director of the organisation from its inception in 2003 until she stepped down in December 2019. She now works as an independent consultant on health and human rights and in June 2024 she returned to ARASA as Interim Director.
Maggie Amweelo
- Regional Grants Manager
Maggie Amweelo is the Regional Grants Manager at ARASA, a role she resumed in May 2024. She joined ARASA in 2008 as an Executive Assistant to the Director, served as ARASA Office Coordinator from 2009 and became the organisation M and E Officer from 2011 until 2024 before moving into her current position. Maggie has 13 years of work experience with local NGOs (Catholic AIDS Action and the Legal Assistance Centre) in Namibia as well as the education sector (Polytechnic of Namibia).
Maggie holds a B-Tech Degree in Business Administration with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a Diploma in Business Administration from the Polytechnic of Namibia (2004). Maggie also has a Pitman Diploma in Secretarial and Administration from the Valombola Vocational Training centre (2000).
Bruce Tushabe
- Regional Training and Capacity Strengthening Lead
Bruce Tushabe is the Regional Training and Capacity Strengthening Lead at ARASA. He joined the ARASA team in April 2016 from Malawi Network of Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV (MANERELA+) where he served as the Executive Director. Bruce has over 20 years of work experience with local and international organisations. He has worked in Asia as well as Southern and East African region serving in various positions.
Hertha Nekwaya
- Regional Finance And Administration Officer
Hertha Nekwaya joined ARASA in April 2017 as the Finance and Administration Officer. She holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from the Polytechnic of Namibia. Hertha worked as a Financial Assistant at Namibia Wildlife Resorts, Senior Bookkeeper at Kayec Trust, and as an Accounts Supervisor at O & L Leisure. She is currently studying towards her Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Hilya Emosho
- Finance and Administration Officer
Hilya Emosho joined ARASA in March 2023 as the Finance and Administration Officer. She holds an Honours Degree in Finance Management and is a registered member of the Chartered Institute for Business Accountants. She is currently pursuing a Master of Commerce in Strategic Management.
With over five years of experience in the NGO sector, Hilya has developed a strong background in finance and administrative management. Prior to joining ARASA, she served as an Accountant at the Namibia Statistics Agencyand later as a Finance and Human Resources Officer at IntraHealth International.