Africa Ambassador Program
27 AUGUST 2026 16:00-19:00 GMT+1
The Society for Clinical Research Sites (SCRS) invites you to the virtual Africa Ambassador Symposium!
Join regional clinical research sites and industry professionals for virtual learning and collaboration as we address clinical research challenges and opportunities in Africa.
Come to learn and gain valuable information for successful site operations, including study coordination, partnership management, patient enrollment, and more.
This free 3-hour livestream symposium will share how clinical research sites across Africa are approaching clinical trial execution.
Symposium Agenda
27 August 2026 | 16:00-19:00 GMT +1 | Virtual
| 16:00 – 16:30 |
Opening & WelcomeWelcome to the SCRS 2026 Africa Ambassador Symposium! We are thrilled to have you join us for this event designed to empower industry collaboration and site sustainability. Get an exciting preview of what’s in store this year with SCRS while learning how to maximize your one-year site membership. Major Cindi, CRISMO, Africa Regional Lead Dan Milam, SCRS Michael Pierre, SCRS Kathy Mickel, SCRS |
| 16:30 – 17:00 |
Getting Started With AI: Quick Wins For SitesAI doesn’t require a massive budget or IT overhaul. This hands-on session demonstrates low-cost AI tools sites can start using today. Watch live examples of prompt engineering, learn how to ask AI the right questions to get useful answers, and discover real site quick wins that deliver immediate time savings with minimal investment. Leave with practical tools and prompts you can implement immediately. Karri Venn, SCRS Natalie Roberson, Civia Health |
| 17:00 – 18:00 |
Breaking Barriers: Inclusive Recruitment & Retention in AfricaCultural beliefs, language, and history shape who participates in clinical research, and who doesn’t. This session delivers proven approaches for navigating cultural and language barriers across diverse African communities, strengthening site-industry partnerships, and creating consent and recruitment processes that build lasting trust and drive meaningful participation. Walk away with tools to drive more inclusive, sustainable participation across African research sites. Major Cindi, CRISMO Tshiamo Moela, Aurum Institute Caroline Sibeko, Novotech |
| 18:00 – 18:05 |
Break |
| 18:05 – 19:05 |
The Global Edge: Building Africa’s Most Competitive Research SitesAfrican research sites are no longer emerging, they’re leading. This session showcases real-world examples directly from high-performing sites on how they’ve built sponsor-ready infrastructure, strengthened quality systems, and scaled their teams. Speakers share how top African research sites have become the go-to partners for global sponsors, with actionable lessons for sustainable, long-term growth. Dan Milam, SCRS Stefanie Marais, Abbvie Eileen Koske, Roche Wilfred Gurupira, ACRN Health |
| 19:05 – 19:10 |
Closing remarks |
Ambassador Program Africa Regional Lead
Major (Gama) Cindi
Major (Gama) Cindi is the Co-founder and Executive Director of CRISMO, a clinical research site management company based in Germiston, South Africa. Over the past 17 years, he has worked in the clinical research industry serving different roles before joining the clinical trial site management field, where he developed and implemented operational strategies for conducting multicenter clinical trials across various therapeutic areas. He also participated in a national roll-out of COVID-19 vaccination program assigned to health facilities in the Fezile Dabi district, north of Free State Province. Cindi has an Executive Development Programme from the University of Free State, an advanced diploma in Health Management and Administration, and a postgraduate certificates in Education, Project Management, and Entrepreneurship from various institutions. As a member of the South African Clinical Research Association (SACRA) since 2012, he frequently participates in local industry initiatives, workshops, and general contributions to industry guidelines.