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About Us

Global Impact Network Consulting was founded on the belief that equity-driven change requires more than technical expertise, it demands lived experience, collaboration, and courage. Emerging from the vision of women-of-color professionals reclaiming their space in global development, the consultancy bridges grassroots realities with policy-level solutions. Our story is rooted in resilience and advocacy: transforming challenges faced by marginalized communities into evidence-based strategies that influence systems and empower voices often left unheard.

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At the heart of our work are values of inclusivity, integrity, and impact. We are not only consultants but partners in change, committed to co-creating solutions with clients and communities. By centering authentic narratives, celebrating diverse expertise, and envisioning long-term transformation, Global Impact Network Consulting continues to shape pathways where research meets practice, and policy meets people. Our future vision is bold yet practical: to expand collaborations across borders, nurture equity leaders, and ensure that systemic change is both sustainable and deeply human.

Our Vision

Our Mission

A world where communities thrive through evidence-informed solutions, and where immigrant and racialized women lead change with confidence, recognition, and purpose.

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To connect evidence, policy, and people to create equitable systems and stronger communities — while advancing opportunities for underrepresented women professionals.

Our Values

🌱 Equity and Inclusion – We amplify diverse voices and design processes that center marginalized perspectives.

 

🤝 Collaboration – We believe solutions are strongest when communities, organizations, and policymakers work together.

 

💡 Learning and Reflection – We use data, stories, and evaluation to inspire continuous growth.

 

🌍 Integrity and Impact – We work with honesty and care, always guided by purpose, not profit.

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OUR TEAM

Our growing team includes experienced educators, researchers, and program specialists who share a passion for equity and community impact.

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The Founder's Story​

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Musammat Badrunnesha
Founder & Principal Consultant
PhD in International Education, UMass Amherst (USA)


Over 20 years of experience in education, social justice, and community program development. Skilled in policy design, research, and cross-sector collaboration.

Turning Lived Experience into Data-Driven Impact

When Musammat Badrunnesha arrived in Canada six years ago, she carried with her more than 15 years of international experience in education, gender equity, and community development.
Yet, like many immigrant women of colour, she faced the challenge of transforming her achievements into meaningful opportunities in a new land.

Her turning point came when she earned a highly competitive fellowship at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. There, she deepened her research on gender equity and girls’ education — a journey that not only shaped her career, but ignited a calling: to create space for other women of colour whose talents too often go unseen.

That vision became the Global Impact Network (GIN) — a consultancy that connects data, equity, and lived experience to drive systemic change. Through GIN, Musammat empowers women of colour and immigrant professionals while helping Canadian organizations design inclusive, data-driven, and evidence-based solutions.

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The Mission Behind GIN

GIN was born from one question: What if the very people facing barriers were the ones designing the solutions?
Musammat’s mission is to bridge opportunity gaps by supporting women and newcomers to lead in research, policy, and community innovation — proving that diversity is not just representation, but a catalyst for transformation.

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Leadership & Global Work

Musammat is a data-driven policy leader and systems-change agent, known for her ability to turn complex community insights into measurable impact.


She has led and collaborated on initiatives funded by:

  • World Bank

  • British Council

  • The Asia Foundation

  • U.S. Department of State

  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

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Today, she serves as Director of Programs & Community Services at Cecil Community Centre in Toronto, where she leads equity-focused program design, evaluation, and community research.

In 2018, Musammat was honoured as one of the world’s eight most impactful leaders in data-driven research, having presented her work at more than 18 international conferences worldwide.

Selected Publications & Contributions

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  • Completed (2024 – 2025): Consultant on LAAGA Case Study – Vietnam Girls’ Empowerment Research
     

 Education

  • PhD (in progress) – International Education & Policy Development, University of Massachusetts Amherst
     

  • M.Ed. & B.Ed. – Ahsanullah University of Science & Technology
     

  • MA & BA in Social Science – National University of Bangladesh
     

Her Vision

“Global Impact Network was born from my own journey — from navigating barriers to realizing that data, empathy, and inclusion are the real engines of change. My goal is to make sure every woman of colour, every newcomer with a dream, has the chance to lead and make impact — not from the margins, but from the centre.”

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Christine Apiot Okudi
Consultant – Policy Development & Implementation
 

Over 20 years of experience in education, gender, and policy systems.

Christine is a PhD student in Social Justice Education and a consultant specializing in education, gender equity, and social justice. She has extensive experience translating policies and frameworks into practical, inclusive tools that empower communities, strengthen stakeholder collaboration, and drive measurable impact across local and global initiatives.

Bridging Policy, Practice, and Equity

Christine Apiot Okudi is a distinguished education and social justice leader whose career spans grassroots implementation, national policy reform, and global advocacy. Drawing from her lived experience as a woman navigating patriarchal structures, she has championed gender equity and inclusive education by designing participatory frameworks that center user feedback, reduce stigma, and uplift marginalized voices. Now based in Toronto, Christine actively engages in initiatives supporting migrant women of color and refugee girls, while advancing research on anti-racism and inclusive schooling. Her work is defined by clarity, humility, and a commitment to practical impact, bridging local realities with global discourse to ensure every intervention is both technically sound and deeply human.

Christine joined the Global Inclusion Network (GIN) to connect with like-minded women of color who are collectively navigating the challenges of entering and thriving in Canadian workspaces. Through this vibrant community, she participates in reflective conversations that center lived experiences, professional aspirations, and the systemic barriers faced by racialized and refugee women. Her involvement goes beyond networking, Christine actively supports others by sharing strategies for workplace integration, advocating for inclusive hiring practices, and co-creating spaces where migrant women and girls feel seen, heard, and empowered. 

 

Leadership and global work

Christine Apiot Okudi’s global work embodies a steadfast commitment to transforming education and advancing social justice through inclusive, evidence-based approaches. With a career spanning Uganda, Canada, and international development networks like the Echidna global scholar and LAAGA, she has led and implemented programs that elevate community voices while meeting global standards. Her leadership across organizations such as the Cotton On Foundation, Bridge International Academies, Save the Children Norway, and the International Rescue Committee has contributed to impactful initiatives funded by USAID and DFID, focusing on education access, child protection, and gender equity. Now pursuing a PhD in Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto, Christine continues to shape policy and practice through her work with organizations like GIN, CECIL and TWSLIP, promoting welcoming communities and improving the social and economic outcomes of newcomers in Canada.

 

Selected Publications And Contributions

  • Research On Policies for senior women teachers to improve girls secondary education by Christine Apiot Okudi Dec 2 ,2016,  Research, Watch.  

  • State capacities and Challenges in Educating Women and Girls: The Ugandan experience. Education for a Transformative Change. 2017 — London: Currey. BUWA! ISSUE 7, Pg 54.   

  • 2018 Girls education Research and policy symposium Brooking’s institution Panellist, on Lessons in girls’ education diplomacy for policy change. Watch

  • Journal on African Women's Experiences, Theme: Women Human Rights Defenders in #Africa .Buwa-X_2020_APR30.pdf Pg 26-29

  • Gender equity and sustainability: Echidna Global Scholars Taking action. 7th March 2022. Brookings Institution Read Article 

  • Published by International Journal for Cross-Disciplinary Subjects in Education (IJCDSE), Volume 13, Issue 1, 2022 Support to School Dropouts as a Result of COVID 19 Pandemic in Uganda Christine Apiot Okudi Echidna Global Scholar Alumni, Brookings Institution, USA. DOI: 10.20533/ijcdse.2042.6364.2022.0563

  • Published by Berghahn Books 2023, Chapter 4 Women Teachers Support Girls during the COVID-19 School Closures in Uganda by Christine Apiot Okudi From the book The Girl in the Pandemic https://doi.org/10.1515/9781800737792-006

  • Perspectives On Agency From Adolescent Girls In The Karamoja Cluster In Kenya And Uganda, Brookings Institution LAAGA (2025)  by Joyce Kinyanjui, Mary Otieno, Christine Apiot Okudi, And Jennifer L. O’Donoghue.  Read

 

Education 

2023-29 University of Toronto, Ontario                      Student pursuing Social Justice Education

2005 Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi                     MA Development Studies

1994 Makerere University, Kampala                             BA Education

 

Christine's Vision

Christine Apiot Okudi’s vision, is to build systems where inclusive, community-driven learning transforms lives and policies alike. She envisions a world where learners and educators alike are empowered to co-create solutions, challenge inequity, and thrive within welcoming, just communities

Services
At Global Impact Network Consulting, we specialize in helping organizations design, evaluate, and strengthen programs that make a difference.

🔹 Research & Evaluation

We conduct community-based and participatory research, needs assessments, and program evaluations that generate actionable insights for decision-making and learning.

🔹 Capacity Building & Training

We design and facilitate workshops, training, and learning sessions on equity-based evaluation, community engagement, and leadership development.

🔹 Program Design & Development

🔹 Policy Analysis & Strategy

From concept to implementation, we help you co-create inclusive, evidence-informed programs that respond to real community needs.

We analyze and translate policy for impact — supporting organizations to align with emerging trends, advocate effectively, and design equitable systems.

Special Focus

 

We bring an intersectional lens to all our work — addressing issues of gender, migration, equity, and education — and ensuring that programs and policies reflect the lived experiences of the communities they serve.

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