Esther Ruiter is a registered midwife in Belgium and Kenya with over 15 years of experience dedicated to strengthening healthcare systems. As the Head of Midwifery and Systems Strengthening at Malaica, she is part of the team working on the integration of clinical excellence with management functions to improve maternal health outcomes across the region.

Her career is rooted in extensive clinical midwifery experience within both public and private healthcare settings, spanning frontline care, training, and senior management. This deep clinical foundation informs her strategic approach to health equity and her commitment to midwifery strengthening as a vital component of sustainable development.

Prior to joining Malaica, Esther served as the Head of Growth and Strategy at Africa Health Business (AHB), where she spent three years driving business development and partnership strategies. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2021) and is a strong advocate for the essential role the private sector must play in building sustainable, high-quality healthcare systems.