Luke Destiny Manja works closely with diverse Malawian communities, particularly those often underrepresented in health and research conversations, including women, children, and people with disabilities. Through initiatives such as Emerging Insights and the Journalists in Residence program, he engages directly with community members, amplifying their voices and ensuring their perspectives shape health communication. This approach fosters trust, promotes inclusivity, and strengthens the impact of the programme’s work.

Luke is particularly proud of engaging young people in Blantyre and Chikwawa to explore their perceptions of ethical issues surrounding climate change and health interventions, creating space for their voices to inform local solutions. He also wrote Zengerezu, a 26-episode radio drama in collaboration with the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, which addressed declining vaccine uptake post-COVID-19, promoted cholera vaccination, and encouraged WASH practices to improve community health outcomes.

In his current role, Luke leads the Emerging Insights TV program, translating complex health research into engaging, accessible stories for Malawian audiences, and coordinates the Journalists in Residence program, building journalists’ capacity to report on health research accurately and creatively.

Luke is deeply committed to health equity, ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing quality care. He draws inspiration from John C. Maxwell’s insight that “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another,” reminding him that meaningful leadership is about impact, collaboration, and lifting others.