Jacqui Watson

Jacqui Watson is a principal in the Health practice. She is based in South Africa.

Her role is to build the digital health portfolio and team, further advancing our impact in global health initiatives.

Jacqui is a seasoned strategist and service designer focused on leveraging technology to address global health and social impact challenges. Specialising in HIV, TB, and maternal and newborn health, she develops patient-centric, scalable solutions adaptable to diverse contexts.

As an engagement manager she has led cross-functional teams and coordinated multi-stakeholder projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. Her efforts have advanced national health information systems through the adoption of interoperability standards and the development of cybersecurity and data management protocols.

As an independent consultant Jacqui partnered with global organisations including the Gates Foundation, Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and USAID. She contributed to strategic frameworks such as the CDC Global Digital Health Strategy and USAID’s guide for managing machine learning projects in international development. Her innovative work includes designing WhatsApp chatbots and service delivery systems for governments and NGOs, enhancing accessibility and engagement in education, health and voter rights initiatives.

Jacqui is a peer review committee member for Digital Square and an executive council member of the Association of Allan Gray Fellows. She mentors emerging talent and champions diversity, equity and inclusion. Her thought leadership has been featured in the Global Digital Health Forum and MERL Tech.

Jacqui holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Cape Town, as well as certifications in design thinking and facilitation.