Emily
Barsito
Emily Barsito is a distinguished public health leader and strategist currently serving at the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-Kenya), where she leads the Directorate of Strategy, Planning, Partnerships, and Resource Mobilization. In this role, she coordinates the implementation of Kenya’s National Cancer Control Strategy 2023-2027 (NCCS)With a strong foundation in epidemiology, health systems strengthening, and strategic leadership, she plays a pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s national cancer prevention and control agenda and positioning the country as a key contributor to the global cancer movement.
Emily brings a rare combination of technical expertise and executive leadership to cancer prevention and control. She is a PhD Epidemiology finalist, holds a Master of Public Health (Epidemiology) and an MBA, an interdisciplinary background that enables her to effectively bridge research, science, policy, and sustainable financing. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to translating evidence into impactful policy and actionable strategies that improve cancer outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income country settings.
At NCI-Kenya, Emily has been instrumental in spearheading national and institutional strategic planning, aligning cancer control priorities with global frameworks such as the WHO Global Cancer Initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals. She has led the development of multi-year strategic plans, operational frameworks, and investment cases that strengthen accountability, improve coordination across sectors, and enhance the sustainability of cancer programs.
A key pillar of her leadership is partnership building. Emily has successfully cultivated and managed high-level collaborations with national and county governments, multilateral agencies, academic institutions, civil society, and international partners to mobilize resources and technical support for cancer prevention, early detection, cancer diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, and research. She is particularly passionate about fostering partnerships that prioritize people-centred care and equitable access to cancer care services reducing disparities in access to quality cancer services, and the integration of cancer prevention and control within broader health systems.
Emily is also deeply engaged in policy development, contributing to national and regional dialogues on cancer prevention and control. She is a strong advocate for data-driven decision-making, patient navigation, and innovative approaches as tools to improve efficiency, continuity of care, patient outcomes and reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.