International Society of Wheelchair Professionals Appoints Alexander Kamadu as Executive Director

The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) founding board of directors has named Alexander Kamadu as its new executive director. Kamadu will be leading the organization as it establishes itself as a separate non-profit organization after seven years as a USAID grant-funded project at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA. Kamadu will be based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Kamadu most recently served as director of Health Focus South Africa, leading the organization from its incorporation in 2016 to its current established position. He was responsible for new business development and operational management of the firm, which focused on strengthening the health care system in sub-Saharan Africa.

Kamadu also worked in transformational and strategic roles within the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.  From 2013 to 2014, Kamadu worked for NHS Improving Quality as an improvement manager, working on national, large-scale transformational programs for people with long-term conditions. Between 2011 and 2012, he was appointed to the Department of Health as a clinical advisor on the Any Qualified Provider (AQP) Programme – Commissioning and Provision of Wheelchair Services. Between 2007 and 2011, Kamadu served as the wheelchair and assistive technology manager for Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Trust (formerly Kings College NHS Trust) where he was operationally responsible for the services to people in the southeast London boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and Lambeth. From 2001 to 2007, he worked as an occupational therapist in acute and primary care facilities; the last four of those years were spent as a wheelchair therapist in services across south London.

Kamadu is adept at connecting and communicating while engaging strategic, multi-sectoral partnerships with public and private entities including governments, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, donor organizations and civil society.

Kamadu holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Westminster, a managing health and social care diploma from Du Montford University and a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Kamadu succeeds Jon Pearlman, PhD, and Mary Goldberg, PhD, who have served as co-directors of the society while it was part of the University of Pittsburgh.

David Constantine, ISWP founding board chair, who led the executive director search, states, “Hiring Alex Kamadu as ISWP’s first executive director is a major step forward for launching an independent ISWP and for the global wheelchair sector.”

Mary Goldberg adds, “Alex has the perfect blend of knowledge, skills and professional behaviors that are critical for a successful executive director. As a former wheelchair service provider and executive director with broad experience in the disability space, Alex will be able to hit the ground running on strategy, content and daily operations. We’re so excited to welcome Alex to the ISWP family!”

“A critical area to grow the wheelchair sector is through engagement with governments which are beginning to provide wheelchair services as a health benefit,” explains Jon Pearlman. “Alex is exceptionally qualified to lead ISWP through this next phase of growth by applying his government and non-profit experience to help scale our training and certification programs globally. We could not be more thrilled he is coming on board, and I am deeply appreciative of our founding board who selected Alex by diligently reviewing applications from over 80 candidates.”

“It is a privilege to be trusted with the task of leading ISWP through this transition and working with the board on new priorities,” says Alexander Kamadu. “The University of Pittsburgh and the board have done a spectacular job incubating the organization and laying the foundation for ISWP to evolve into its own independent structure. I look forward to collaborating with the international assistive technology community on improvement programs and training that will contribute to a reduction in inequalities in wheelchair and assistive technology assessment and provision, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.”

About ISWP

ISWP’s mission is to serve as a global resource to coordinate wheelchair service standards and provision through advocacy, education, standards, evidence-based practice and innovation and as a platform for information exchange. The organization’s vision is that all people who need a mobility device receive an appropriate product and services with dignity, enabling them to access education, employment and health care and to participate in their communities. ISWP has built a global network of over 100,000 individuals from 62 countries who are focused on improving wheelchairs and related services. The organization, which has made a direct impact on over 5,000 service providers from 100 countries, is guided by a 13 member founding board of international wheelchair sector experts.