Please introduce yourself with your organization, title, and a brief description of your background.
My name is Nisreen Qatamish, and I serve as Chief Executive Officer of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF)- Jordan’s largest healthcare nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring equitable access to cancer care, advancing public health awareness, and shaping sustainable health policy. In my role, I lead national and regional initiatives across fundraising, strategic partnerships, advocacy, community engagement, and institutional development, all aimed at alleviating the burden of cancer in Jordan and the broader MENA region. I have spent my career at the intersection of public health, social development, policy design, and systems of leadership, striving to build resilient and responsive health systems that serve all people with dignity.
What challenges were you looking to overcome by attending the Public Leadership Credential program?
Overseeing a major national health NGO and advancing systemic change requires not just passion but rigorous analytical tools, policy insight, and strategic leadership. When I enrolled in the Public Leadership Credential (PLC) program, I was seeking to deepen my ability to address multifaceted public health and policy challenges with a stronger evidence-based and system-wide approach. I wanted to strengthen strategic decision-making, learn from global best practices, and gain frameworks that would help accelerate impactful initiatives within highly complex environments—from community outreach and prevention to national policy reform.
How has your professional life changed since completing the PLC?
The PLC transformed how I approach leadership and public problem-solving. It sharpened my strategic thinking, enhanced my ability to analyze complex systems, and gave me practical frameworks for building alignment across diverse stakeholders. These tools have been invaluable as we navigate challenges ranging from financing and sustainability to national awareness and policy advocacy.
One of the most meaningful outcomes was applying PLC principles to advancing sustainable, national-level public health reforms in Jordan. Using evidence-based analysis, coalition building, and strategic communication frameworks learned through the program, I played a key role in advocating for and contributing to the Government’s adoption of a national cancer insurance scheme that will extend financial protection and treatment access to 4.1 million Jordanian citizens. This achievement marks a historic shift toward inclusive care and social protection in cancer services.
Beyond financing, the PLC strengthened my capacity to integrate policy design into broader health system reform and advocacy efforts that touch prevention, early detection, community empowerment, and national health strategies.
How would you describe the value of PLC to someone who is considering it?
The PLC is a uniquely practical and rigorous leadership program. It equips professionals with tools to navigate ambiguity, design coherent policy responses, and lead change in complex sectors, whether in government, civil society, or mission-driven institutions. The balance between theory and application empowers you not just to think differently, but to act more effectively. Importantly, it also connects you to a global network of leaders who are committed to public impact, enriching your perspective, and expanding your sphere of influence.
How are you hoping to/how did you implement lessons from PLC in your organization?
I have integrated PLC frameworks into our strategic planning, public policy engagement, and organizational culture. Concepts such as problem definition, political mapping, evidence-based strategy, and coalition building have helped shape how we pursue national initiatives, from health financing to behavioral change communication and early detection campaigns.
Within KHCF, these lessons have fostered a culture of disciplined analytical thinking, adaptive leadership, and collaborative problem-solving across teams and partners. This approach has strengthened our ability to design and execute programs that are not only effective but sustainable, politically attuned, and community centered.
What do you hope to accomplish in your future career or what is the next challenge you hope to address using skills/knowledge acquired in your PLC experience?
Looking forward, I aim to further enhance equitable access to comprehensive healthcare services across the region, leveraging cross-sector partnerships and innovative policy solutions. My focus remains on embedding health as a central pillar of social development and protection, advocating for inclusive policies that leave no one behind. The leadership, analytical judgment, and policy design tools acquired through PLC will continue to guide and sustain this work as I take on broader national and regional initiatives aimed at systemic reform.