Dr. Kopano Matlwa Mabaso is a South African medical doctor and author currently reading for a DPhil in Population Health at the University of Oxford. Kopano is a 2010 Rhodes Scholar and 2014 Clarendon Scholar. Kopano has a MBChB from the University of Cape Town and an MSc in Global Health Science from the University of Oxford. Kopano_s research interests are health systems strengthening, external quality assessment of developing country health facilities and systems thinking. Kopano serves on the board of Health Systems Global, the first international membership organization, fully dedicated to promoting health systems research and knowledge translation. Outside of her public health work, Kopano runs Transitions Foundation (www.transitionsfoundation.co.za) a South Africa based NGO that assists learners from disadvantaged backgrounds with their educational needs. In her free time Kopano enjoys writing and is the author of two published novels, Coconut (2007) & Spilt Milk (2009) and the Winner of the European Union Literary Award 2007 and Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, 2010. Kopano is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.