Petra Schäfer is a public health specialist, epidemiologist, and data analyst with over twenty years of experience designing and implementing data systems in complex health and policy environments. Her work spans Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, where she has contributed to national electronic medical record platforms, data warehouses, and monitoring and evaluation systems, and advised ministries of health and international partners on data quality, governance, and analysis.
She is an Oracle Certified Database Administrator and previously worked in the Netherlands as a team lead and database and systems designer for organisations including Allianz, PGGM, CZ, Sony, and the Municipality of Rotterdam. Petra combines deep technical expertise with a strong focus on usability and practical adoption.
In addition to delivery work, Petra has extensive experience in capacity building. She established and taught the MSc course Business Intelligence and Data Mining at Makerere University in Kampala, delivered Oracle DBA training programmes, and supported teams in developing the skills required to manage and use data independently.
Through Data XL, Petra applies this experience across sectors, helping organisations address complex data challenges from system design through implementation, analysis, and training.