Dr. Elizabeth Wamicha is a distinguished digital transformation expert, senior researcher, and published Information Systems scholar with over 15 years of cross-sectoral experience in the digital economy, social protection, and digital health. She holds a PhD in Management Information Systems from the University of Cape Town, and both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in IT and Business Information Technology from Strathmore University.
Currently serving as Social Impact Research and program lead for the IDIA fellowship at Qhala, a leading digital innovation firm in Nairobi, Dr. Wamicha oversees scientific communication, ensuring research findings are accurately translated into accessible knowledge for both public and private sector stakeholders.
Her leadership bridges research and practice through clear, strategically relevant insights. Previously, as a Senior Consultant at Palladium, she evaluated and supported digital case management and child protection systems across Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe, significantly reducing documentation technical debt and enhancing team productivity.
Her work as a Management Information Systems Consultant with the United Nations World Food Programme involved leading the development and assessment of national MIS systems for cash transfers, enhanced registries, and community development initiatives. Dr. Wamicha was recently added to the pool of technical experts for the SPARC initiative (Development Pathways/Government of Australia’s DFAT), reflecting her recognized expertise in social protection systems and readiness to contribute to regional and global digital transformation efforts in this field.
In academia, Dr. Wamicha served for 11 years at Strathmore University as a lecturer and research mentor, where she taught and supervised over students in business process management, systems analysis, and ICT4D. She also led curriculum development and conducted capacity-building workshops. Additionally, she implemented vocational training programs for youth under CARE International, equipping them with income-generating skills.
Proficient in mixed methods research and tools like NVivo and Statistica, Dr. Wamicha has authored peer-reviewed articles and contributed to international conferences such as ECIS, SAICSIT, and IDIA. Her areas of specialization include digital inclusion, enterprise systems, data governance, and evaluation of innovative ICT solutions for development.