Our Team
Akna is a women-owned, social impact consulting firm, dedicated to advancing global maternal and newborn health.
Our aim is to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes through research, facilitation, knowledge management and strategic communications. We design and implement evidence-based, patient-centred, culturally sensitive programs. Beyond our core team, we work with a diverse group of experts located locally and around the world, to meet the particular demands of each project.
C0-Founders Mélanie V. Chevarie & Marea C. Martinez
Mélanie V. Chevarie, MEHP, RM, CPM | Co-Founder & Director
Mélanie holds a Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University, specializing in the teaching of evidence-based medicine. Her capstone focused on Remote Area Obstetrical Emergencies and Trauma-Informed Care for OBGYN. As a Primary Care Provider specializing in maternal and newborn health, she has worked as both a clinician and educator in the sub-Saharan region since 2013 and has been teaching for over 20 years. Mélanie is dedicated to advancing birth practices that are evidence-based, respectful, and responsive to the needs of communities worldwide
Marea C. Martinez MSc | Co-Founder & Program Director
Marea is a research expert with a focus on analytical modeling. Her work spans 11 peer-reviewed publications and she has been involved with women’s health and rights for over a decade, most deeply with women’s reproductive rights and access to care.