The brightest under 30: Celebrating youth voices and promoting meaningful youth engagement in HIV prevention research

Rose Wilcher currently serves as the Director of Research Utilization & Knowledge Management for the MOSAIC project. Rose has more than 20 years of experience providing technical leadership and management oversight to HIV and reproductive health projects, with a focus on translating evidence into policy and practice.

Adaobi Lisa Olisa serves as a technical officer and country focal point for Youth Engagement, Gender Integration, Knowledge Management & Research Utilization and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) on the PEPFAR/USAID funded MOSAIC project. MOSAIC (Maximizing OptionS to Advance Informed Choice for HIV) is a five-year (2021–2026) global project funded by PEPFAR through USAID to help women prevent HIV by accelerating introduction and scale-up of new and emerging biomedical prevention (PrEP) products.
She represents Nigeria on the MOSAIC NextGen Squad—a group of youth advocates from nine African countries that support meaningful youth engagement and gender integration across MOSAIC project activities.
She is a CROI Community Educator Scholar, a fellow for the IAS Advocacy-for-HIV-Cure Academy and member of CASPR’s Clinical Trial Design Academy.

Adaobi Lisa Olisa serves as a technical officer and country focal point for Youth Engagement, Gender Integration, Knowledge Management & Research Utilization and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) on the PEPFAR/USAID funded MOSAIC project. MOSAIC (Maximizing OptionS to Advance Informed Choice for HIV) is a five-year (2021–2026) global project funded by PEPFAR through USAID to help women prevent HIV by accelerating introduction and scale-up of new and emerging biomedical prevention (PrEP) products.
She represents Nigeria on the MOSAIC NextGen Squad—a group of youth advocates from nine African countries that support meaningful youth engagement and gender integration across MOSAIC project activities.
She is a CROI Community Educator Scholar, a fellow for the IAS Advocacy-for-HIV-Cure Academy and member of CASPR’s Clinical Trial Design Academy.

Chilufya is a visionary leader in the realm of development and public health, holding a bachelor's degree in development studies and sociology from the University of Zambia. Currently, she is pursuing her Master’s in Human Rights, Governance, and Development, building on her solid foundation of knowledge to drive impactful change.
A seasoned expert in HIV program design, development, and advocacy, CASPR Project Lead and Programme Officer at Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign, Chilufya embodies a results-orientated and strategic approach to her work.
Chilufya’s core competencies include HIV programming, community mobilisation, and gender transformative initiatives.
Passionate about social justice, health equity, and empowerment, Chilufya has made significant contributions to HIV prevention and PrEP integration advocacy, particularly for adolescent girls and young women both in Zambia and around the globe. She is an active member of several esteemed professional networks, including the AWPCAB, IMPOWER/INSIGHT Study GCAG, Long-Acting PrEP Coalition, Clinical Trial Design Academy, and Co-Chair of the Young Women HIV Prevention Council, among others.
Chilufya is dedicated to mentoring young leaders, advancing knowledge, and driving innovation in the HIV response. Her commitment is to create lasting change and empowering future generation.

Nolwazi Khanyile is a nurse midwife, research assistant, and youth representative from Eswatini involved in the introduction of biomedical HIV prevention interventions. I lead the Youth Advisory Committee, support the Community Advisory Committee, and facilitate HIV Prevention Ambassadors Training (HPAT) sessions. My work spans youth engagement, technical discussions, and community-driven HIV prevention efforts.

Dr. Ines Dourado, MD, PhD, is a full professor and researcher at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. She has extensive experience leading public health research using epidemiological and mixed-methods research. Her main research area is HIV/AIDS. She is the PI of a recent study on PrEP choice implementation among sexual minority adolescents in Brazil.

Adaobi Lisa Olisa serves as a technical officer and country focal point for Youth Engagement, Gender Integration, Knowledge Management & Research Utilization and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) on the PEPFAR/USAID funded MOSAIC project. MOSAIC (Maximizing OptionS to Advance Informed Choice for HIV) is a five-year (2021–2026) global project funded by PEPFAR through USAID to help women prevent HIV by accelerating introduction and scale-up of new and emerging biomedical prevention (PrEP) products.
She represents Nigeria on the MOSAIC NextGen Squad—a group of youth advocates from nine African countries that support meaningful youth engagement and gender integration across MOSAIC project activities.
She is a CROI Community Educator Scholar, a fellow for the IAS Advocacy-for-HIV-Cure Academy and member of CASPR’s Clinical Trial Design Academy.

A long-time HIV prevention research and implementation advocate, Jim Pickett currently helps guide the groundbreaking PrEP4Teens project - an arts-activated social marketing and community mobilization campaign focused on improving PrEP awareness and uptake among Black and Brown adolescents and other young people across Chicago. He is also a Senior Advisor for AVAC, and leads a vibrant gobal discussion group and programs a robust series of webinars under the auspices of The Choice Agenda for that organization. Prior to starting his own consulting company in 2022, Jim previously worked at AIDS Foundation Chicago for 17 years, where he helped launch and lead the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA). Additionally, he led the development and implementation of social marketing campaigns focused on syphilis, crystal methamphetamine, gay/bi men’s health, and the world renown PrEP4Love campaign, one of the first social marketing efforts to pair PrEP with intimacy and pleasure. POZ magazine has referred to him as a “soldier, instrumental in fighting for much-needed new prevention methods, undeterred by subjects many would prefer to ignore.” He is married to his best friend, was inducted into Chicago's LGBT Hall of Fame in 2005, and has been living with HIV since 1995.

Adaobi Lisa Olisa serves as a technical officer and country focal point for Youth Engagement, Gender Integration, Knowledge Management & Research Utilization and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) on the PEPFAR/USAID funded MOSAIC project. MOSAIC (Maximizing OptionS to Advance Informed Choice for HIV) is a five-year (2021–2026) global project funded by PEPFAR through USAID to help women prevent HIV by accelerating introduction and scale-up of new and emerging biomedical prevention (PrEP) products.
She represents Nigeria on the MOSAIC NextGen Squad—a group of youth advocates from nine African countries that support meaningful youth engagement and gender integration across MOSAIC project activities.
She is a CROI Community Educator Scholar, a fellow for the IAS Advocacy-for-HIV-Cure Academy and member of CASPR’s Clinical Trial Design Academy.

"Margaret is a AYP Liaison Officer at LVCT Health and MOSAIC NextGen Squad passionate about Gender issues and HIV Prevention. She supports young people to stay HIV-Negative through advocacy, policy influence and campaigns. Her aspiration is to see policies that work for young people on HIV prevention products and end discrimination."