Banner image: Menzies Timor-Leste team at a staff retreat in mid-2022.

To acknowledge the three-year anniversary of our Menzies Timor-Leste office, some of our team members have shared with us why they’re proud to be part of the team:

“We are very proud of the whole Menzies team in Timor-Leste, and grateful for the excellent work everyone is doing across all of the different projects. It is such a wonderful team, and we feel lucky to be part of it.” - Associate Professor, Dr Joshua Francis and Dr Jennifer Yan – Co-Leads of Menzies Timor-Leste Projects 

“It’s the establishment of a close knit team that is supporting administrative, technical and research activities, allowing us to keep activities going even when planes are delayed, roads are closed and the city is flooded. When researchers almost don’t notice administrative support, we know that the admin, coordination and logistics team are doing their jobs very well!” - Dr Deborah Hall, Program Manager for Timor-Leste Project 

"I’m proud to be part of Menzies Timor-Leste, which continues to evolve - from 2 local staff in 2019 to now more than 50 locals to date. The team works in various fields including Laboratory, Clinical, and Public Health and Animal to Human Health, supporting the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in strengthening health systems and research capacities in the country.” - Dr Nelson Martins, Menzies Operational Research Technical Adviser 

"It’s nice to work for an organisation that you’re proud of and I am proud to work for Menzies. It’s doing so much good in Timor-Leste and has given me the tools to do my job the best way I possibly can.  It also allows and celebrates diversity in the workplace—above and beyond. I love how we get to be part of the Menzies family, sharing in its success and helping it grow." - Sr. Antonio Maria Goncalves, Country Manager of Menzies Timor-Leste 

"At Menzies School of Health Research - Timor-Leste’s office, the main theme of work is to interconnect clinical, diagnostic, surveillance and research. These four aspects are inseparable. Over the past 3 years, Menzies has collaboratively worked with the Ministry of Health to improve the quality of health services delivery in Timor-Leste adhering to the theme mentioned and the National Health Strategy.” - PhD Candidate Sr. Nevio Sarmento, Former Laboratory Technical Adviser

"To be able to see how things have improved in the NHL - through its infrastructure and quality of service offers - as well as how dedicated Menzies team are to support our fellow Timorese scientists, clinicians and surveillance in the response to COVID-19 are some of the many greatest achievements that I am very proud to be part of. Working with Menzies has thought me the powerful values of collaboration, knowledge sharing, trust and optimism that Timorese can lead with proper guidance and mentorship." - Sra. Lucsendar Alves, Project Coordinator for STRONG TL 

 "I really enjoy working with Menzies, not only as a staff member but also as part of the Menzies family. When the Menzies office in Timor Leste was first established in 2019, we faced the wave of COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions. But Menzies is standing and working hand in hand with the Government of Timor-Leste and the Ministry of Health Timor-Leste to tackle the outbreak and working really hard to increase laboratory diagnostic capacity including COVID-19 testing in the country. I am really grateful for the opportunity to work with Menzies.” - Sr. Salvador Amaral, Research Coordinator for Timor-Leste projects

“Apart from other Menzies programs targeting key health challenges in Timor-Leste, I am very proud of how Menzies has invested in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance program in the animal health sector in collaboration with MAF. AMR in animal health poses a significant threat to public health and I am delighted to see how Menzies focuses its effort to address this issue through strengthening key surveillance components including laboratory diagnostic capacity and systems to monitor antimicrobial use.” - Sr. Abrão Jose Pereira, Animal Health Epidemiology Officer