Shiulie Ghosh
International Journalist and Professional Moderator
Shiulie Ghosh is an award-winning international TV journalist who has worked for some of the best-known names in the media industry including BBC, ITV, Aljazeera and TRT World. In a career spanning over thirty years, Shiulie has covered some of the world’s top stories such as the 9/11 attacks, the Asian Tsunami, and the COVID pandemic. In 2006 she joined the global news network Aljazeera English and launched the very first broadcast from its headquarters in Doha, Qatar. As a high-profile presenter, she subsequently helped the network expand to 250 million homes in more than 100 countries. She returned to the UK in 2015 and set up the London office for Turkish broadcaster TRT World, before concentrating on establishing her own communications company, Aero Productions Ltd. She now works as a professional moderator for organizations all over the world, chairing high-level discussions and side-events at meetings such as the World Health Assembly, UNGA, and the World Health Summit.
Prof. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar
Minister of Health and Population of the Arab Republic of Egypt
Prof. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar is a prominent figure in the field of dentistry, with a distinguished career that spans several decades. He currently serves as the Minister of Health and Population of the Arab Republic of Egypt, having previously served as the Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research for five years, and Acting Minister of Health and Population as well. As a professor of Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis, Oral Radiology, and Periodontology at the Faculty of Dentistry, Ain-Shams University, Prof. Abdel-Ghaffar has played an instrumental role in enhancing medical research and practices both in Egypt and abroad. He has published a vast number of research papers in international peer-reviewed journals, publications, and magazines, and has received several national and international awards for his contributions to the field of dentistry. In addition to his teaching and research endeavors, Prof. Abdel-Ghaffar has held numerous high-ranking positions, including Clinical Professor at the Medical College of Georgia and Visiting Professor at the University of Texas. He also served as Vice President for Postgraduate Studies & Research, and Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Ain-Shams University, where he oversaw the development and implementation of various educational programs. Prof. Abdel-Ghaffar's exceptional achievements and contributions have earned him an esteemed reputation and widespread recognition and acclaim both nationally and internationally. He received a PhD in Dental Surgery from the University of Texas after graduating from Cairo University’s Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine. In recognition of his significant contribution to the field of Higher Education and Scientific Research, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of Hiroshima in Japan. Additionally, he received an honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 2019. Overall, Prof. Abdel-Ghaffar's remarkable career accomplishments and tireless efforts in advancing dentistry have positioned him as a leading figure in the field. His exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence continue to inspire and benefit countless individuals in the medical community and beyond.
Ambassador Alaa Hegazy
Representative of Egypt to the United Nations and
other international organizations in Geneva
Ambassador Alaa Hegazy is the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, a role he assumed in November 2024. He has held numerous senior positions throughout his career, including Assistant Foreign Minister and Chief of the Minister’s Cabinet in Cairo, and Ambassador of Egypt to the Kingdom of Sweden. Ambassador Hegazy has also served in key diplomatic posts in Washington D.C., Beijing, and Geneva, and has been closely involved in international economic affairs and multilateral diplomacy. He holds degrees in Economics & Law, a Master’s degree in International Political Economy from Warwick University (UK) and a Law degree from Cairo University.
François Lamy
Board Member of AFM-Téléthon (France) since 2012,
becoming vice-president in 2017.
The father of an 18-year-old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He is also a board member of the CECS-ISTEM (Stem Cell Research Centre) and chair of the Patient Advisory Board of the EURO-NMD ERN. For more than forty years, AFM Téléthon has contributed significantly to the advancement of precision medicine in the service of patients worldwide. Through the creation of Généthon, it played a pioneering role in the mapping of the human genome, sharing the first comprehensive human genome maps with the international community at UNESCO in 1992. This commitment to scientific cooperation laid the foundation for the subsequent development and provision of innovative gene therapies to patients worldwide. Beyond research, AFM Téléthon has consistently advocated for health systems that are inclusive, equitable, and responsive to patient needs. Its actions have notably supported the development of structured care pathways, networks of expert centers, expanded newborn screening, and sustainable access to care - priorities that resonate strongly with the World Health Organization’s commitment to universal health coverage and health equity. The experience of AFM Téléthon illustrates a fundamental principle: patients are not only recipients of care, but essential partners in health innovation and system design. Their involvement at every stage - from research, clinical development, access, policy making and shaping - is instrumental in ensuring that the benefits of scientific progress reach all patients, everywhere.
Dr. Paul Chilwesa
Head of Policy, Population Health and Health Systems
Strengthening for Roche Area Africa
Paul is a physician-executive and global health strategist with deep experience in clinical oncology delivery, healthcare policy, and population health management, and a proven record of translating policy, financing, and system reform into accelerated patient access and measurable economic impact. Currently leading Policy, Population Health, and Health Systems Strengthening for Roche Pharma Africa, he operates at ministerial, multilateral, and board level, leading cross-functional teams and partnerships to align policy, innovation, and investment; building resilient, equitably sustainable, and scalable health systems across Africa and beyond. Passionate about advancing healthcare equity, he aims to reshape cancer care landscapes across Africa and beyond through innovative policy frameworks.
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Ahmad Abou Tayoun
Director of the Dubai Health Genomic Medicine Center,
and an Associate Professor of Genetics at Mohammed
Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
He completed his doctoral studies in genetics at Dartmouth College, followed by a fellowship in molecular diagnostics at Dartmouth Medical School. In 2013, he joined Harvard Medical School where he completed his clinical molecular genetics fellowship and, in 2015, became board-certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). Dr. Abou Tayoun is a fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMGG). Prior to joining Al Jalila Children’s Hospital at Dubai Health, he was a director in the Division of Genomic Diagnostics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and also an assistant professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. At Al Jalila Children’s, Dr. Abou Tayoun established the Genomics Center of Excellence, the first comprehensive, CAP-accredited pediatric genomic diagnostics facility in the UAE. The center has now expanded to integrate genomic medicine across Dubai Health ecosystem. Dr. Abou Tayoun’s main research interests are centered around characterizing the genomic landscape of rare pediatric diseases in the Middle East, including the discovery of novel gene-disease associations. In addition, his research focuses on implementing new technologies or approaches to enable faster and more effective integration of genomic medicine in the Middle East. Dr. Abou Tayoun serves on several expert groups in his field. He is a co-chair of the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) Hearing Loss Expert Group, a member of the ClinGen Sequence Variant Interpretation (SVI) group, a member of the American College of Genetics and Genomics Interpreting Sequence Variants (ISV) workgroup, and an associate member of the Human Pangenome Consortium. He was also recently appointed as chair of the WHO genomics advisory group. In those capacities, Dr. Abou Tayoun is working with international experts to establish guidelines and recommendations for sequence variant interpretation in genomic diagnostic settings. He has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications in his field.
Caroline Kant
Co-Founder and Executive Director of the EspeRare Foundation
Caroline Kant is a nonprofit biotech advancing patient-centered therapeutic innovation for rare and neglected diseases. Trained as a neurobiologist and former pharmaceutical executive, Caroline has spent more than a decade building new models to translate scientific promise into therapies for children and families whose needs are too often left unmet by conventional drug development. Through EspeRare, she has helped rescue and advance pioneering therapeutic programs, including a protein replacement therapy that may become the first treatment approved to correct a genetic disease before birth. She also oversees initiatives to enable responsible access to individualized n-of-1 antisense oligonucleotide therapies for severe developmental conditions, and to shape responsible, precompetitive frameworks for early-life interventions. A global social entrepreneur and Ashoka Fellow, Caroline serves on strategic healthcare boards and advisory bodies, and champions bold R&D, partnership, and financing models to expand access to innovation for underserved patients.
Hermanus van Duyne
Chief Executive Officer, HVD Group
Chief Executive Officer of HVD Group, bringing decades of international leadership experience across the biotechnology and diagnostics sectors. Prior to founding HVD Group, Mr. van Duyne served as Vice President International at Pharmacia Sweden until 1995, overseeing major business lines including Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Pharmacia Diagnostics, Biosensor AB, and Wallac OY. His leadership extended across diverse global markets, managing operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. In 1995, Mr. van Duyne established a holding company in Switzerland, securing exclusive distribution agreements with Wallac OY for Austria, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as with Pharmacia Diagnostics for Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. During this period, he continued to serve as Vice President International for Amersham Pharmacia and Biosensor AB, expanding the company’s international footprint. In 2001, he founded HVD Biotech, securing an exclusive distribution agreement with Amersham Pharmacia for the Middle East and Africa. Under his leadership, HVD Group has built a substantial and dynamic network across three continents, solidifying its position as a trusted partner in the life sciences and diagnostics industries. Mr. van Duyne’s vision, strategic leadership, and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving the growth and global reach of HVD Group.
Anne-Sophie Chalandon
Works to further enhance Sanofi’s external engagement and policy
shaping efforts with rare disease community
She brought a solid experience and demonstrated successes in patient advocacy and policy shaping in the rare disease space. Anne-Sophie is a major in genetic and molecular biology, holds a PhD in Business and Management from HEC Paris Business School and a master’s in health policy at Paris Sciences Po. In her current role, she is Head of Global Rare Diseases and CGT Policy at Sanofi, lead the IFPMA RD group, and co-chair the EFPIA OMP group. Since 2017, she leads an internal digital project construct collectively with the French rare diseases community to address the diagnostic delay in rare diseases named UniR. Externally, she is member of several public-private initiates such as Screen4care, Together4RD, Moonshot, the Global Commission, IRDIRC, … With her current role at IFPMA she is strongly involved in the advance of the UN agenda for People Living with Rare Diseases.
Puga, Rodrigo Luis
Regional President, MERA (Middle East, Russia & Africa) at Pfizer
An experienced pharmaceutical leader with more than 25 years in the industry. Since August 2025, Rodrigo has been serving as the Regional President for MERA (Middle East, Russia & Africa) at Pfizer. In this role, Rodrigo oversees regional operations across all therapeutic areas, including vaccines, oncology, rare diseases, internal medicine, hospitals, and inflammation and immunology. Rodrigo is dedicated to bringing medical breakthroughs to address the region's unmet patient needs. Together with the team, Rodrigo aims to build meaningful collaborations with healthcare professionals, communities, and governments to positively impact the lives of millions in the region. Prior to this role, Rodrigo was the US Business Lead for Internal Medicine (IM), where he led the US Internal Medicine Business Unit, transforming Eliquis into a $10B brand delivering double digit growth every year, successfully leading the $13B Biohaven acquisition into Pfizer and ensuring the right focus and execution for each portfolio within Internal Medicine. He also worked with CSI and R&D in shaping the right IM strategy and pursued several BD opportunities. During his time in US IM he fostered a high-performance and inclusive culture. Prior to his current role, he spent time as Global Marketing lead for Internal Medicine and Country President for key markets across LatAm including Mexico, Colombia, and Peru. Additionally, he spent time diversifying his expertise in varying sectors across our business, both serving as the Finance lead in the Argentina Cluster, as well as in PX as the Global Talent Lead. Rodrigo has a Bachelor of Administration degree from Universidad Catolica Argentina and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Universidad de los Andes in Chile. He speaks three languages - Spanish, English and Italian.
Dr. Majid Kazmi
Director for Research and Innovation and Deputy Medical Director,
Cancer and Surgery; Chief Medical Officer, PharosAI
Director for Research and Innovation and former Chief of Cancer Services at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. He is a Consultant Hematologist with specialist expertise in haemato‑oncology. In his executive and clinical leadership roles, he provides strategic oversight of cancer services across one of the United Kingdom’s largest academic health science centers. Dr Kazmi combines senior clinical practice with system‑level leadership, supporting the development and delivery of high‑quality, multidisciplinary cancer services across complex care pathways. His work focuses on ensuring that cancer services are safe, effective, sustainable, and aligned with national health priorities within a publicly funded healthcare system. A key area of focus in Dr Kazmi’s role is the integration of precision medicine, including genomics, into routine oncology practice, with particular attention to governance, equity of access, and the practical delivery of innovation at scale within population‑based health systems. He is Chief Medical Officer of PharosAI, a partnership between two universities and two hospitals focused on creating high‑fidelity, AI‑ready multimodal cancer datasets for use in diagnostic artificial intelligence and drug discovery. Dr Kazmi places strong emphasis on the importance of clinical expertise, workforce development, and effective multidisciplinary working in the delivery of modern oncology services. He advocates for building capability across clinical teams and for close collaboration between specialists including clinicians, pathologists, genetic services, and informatics professionals, to ensure that advances in precision medicine are embedded safely within routine patient care.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
Distinguished public servant, legislator, legal professional, and entrepreneur with extensive experience in governance, health policy, and national development He has served as Member of Parliament for the Juaboso Constituency since 2013 and previously held positions as Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Health Committee, where he played a key role in strengthening legislative oversight and advancing health policy discussions in Ghana. He holds both an LLB and an LLM, alongside specialized training in health systems management and social security. His multidisciplinary background has shaped his strong commitment to equitable healthcare financing, efficient service delivery, and evidence-based reform. Beyond public service, he is also one of Ghana’s leading rice farmers, contributing significantly to agricultural development. Since his appointment as Minister for Health in February 2025, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has led major reforms aimed at strengthening Ghana’s healthcare system and expanding equitable access to quality care. Under his leadership, Ghana established the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Act 1144) to support treatment for Non-Communicable Diseases, while reforms to the National Health Insurance Scheme included the uncapping of the NHIF, clearance of GHS 603 million in inherited arrears, improved claims payments, and a GHS 9.76 billion allocation for 2025, contributing to the enrolment of an additional 670,000 beneficiaries. He also launched the Free Primary Healthcare Programme across underserved districts, supported by the procurement of over 24,000 medical equipment items. His tenure has strengthened public health preparedness through the payment of US$24.5 million in vaccine obligations, the introduction of HPV vaccination for girls, and the commissioning of the Public Health Operations Response Centre. Hon. Akandoh has prioritized health workforce and infrastructure development through the enrolment of 13,500 nurses and midwives onto the government payroll, expanded specialized nursing programmes, reduced health training fees, and improved access to specialised services including radiotherapy, dialysis, cardiology, stroke care, and neurosurgery. He has also advanced medicines availability, expanded herbal medicine integration, strengthened oversight against illicit opioid use, and extended NHIS kidney treatment coverage to private facilities. Through these reforms and initiatives, Hon. Akandoh continues to champion a resilient, equitable, and people-centred healthcare system for Ghana.
Minister of Health of Ghana
Oleg Salagay
State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation
In 2005 he graduated with honors from the Irkutsk State Medical University. In 2006 he graduated with honors from the Law Faculty of the Academy of Labor and Social Relations. In 2010 he graduated with honors from the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. In 2011 he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, obtaining Master's degree in European Law. From 2005 to 2007 he has been a lecturer at Irkutsk State Medical University, head of the Representative Office of the Irkutsk State Medical University in Mongolia. From 2007 to 2011 he has been a Leading Specialist Expert, Chief Specialist Expert, Consultant, Deputy Head, Head, Division of Special Issues of Medical Law, Legal Department of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation. From 2011 to 2012 he has been a Deputy Director, Department of Innovation Policy and Science of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation. from 2012 to 2015 he has been a Deputy Director, Department of International Cooperation and Public Affairs of the Russian Ministry of Health - Press Secretary of the Ministry. From 2015 to 2018 he has been a Director, Department of Public Health and Communications of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. From 2018 to 2023 he has been a Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation. His responsibilities included the development and implementation of the state measures aimed at early detection, preventing of the occurrence and reducing the risk of diseases development, promotion of healthy lifestyle. 2023-present time – State-Secretary–Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation. Dr. Oleg Salagay is in charge of international cooperation, developing legal framework of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. He is a member of various working groups of the World Health Organization and BRICS, as well as bilateral ones.
Gloria J. Balboa
MPH, MHA CEO VI, CESO III , Undersecretary of Health
A renowned public health expert and leader, currently serving as the Undersecretary, Department of Health (DOH), where she has devoted 38 years of exemplary service. Throughout her accomplished career in the DOH, Dr. Balboa has made invaluable contributions to the health sector. Rising through the ranks, she began as a volunteer doctor, progressing to roles including Rural Health Physician, Medical Specialist, Division Chief, Assistant Regional Director, and ultimately, Regional Director. Her leadership extended to heading the Health Emergency Management Bureau at the DOH-Central Office. In 2023, she was promoted to Assistant Secretary, and recently as Undersecretary. She is the designated Project Director of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project, alongside overseeing critical portfolios of the agency such as Disease Prevention and Control, Epidemiology, Medicines Access and National Drug Policy Formulation, Health Emergency Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Climate Change. Notably, she played a pivotal role during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic serving as the Deputy Head of the Response Cluster in the National Task Force on COVID-19. Concurrent with her role in the NTF, she also headed the Metro Manila Center for Health Development, where she successfully led the COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign in the National Capital Region, achieving the highest regional vaccination coverage nationwide. Dr. Balboa’s extensive track record of service and leadership has repeatedly been recognized with numerous awards, including the “Most Outstanding Woman Physician in Public Health” by the Philippine Medical Women’s Association in 2004 and the “Bakas ng Kagalingan (Award of Excellence)’ in 2014 by the Provincial Government of Albay and the Office of Civil Defense 5 for leading in the Medical Response to Typhoon Yolanda in Region 8. She has also been recognized by the DOH Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao for her dedication and service to the displaced people during the Marawi Siege. In 2022, she was honored with the “Hero of the Year Award” by Gawad Pilipino for her exceptional contributions as a public servant and frontline worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Balboa’s 38 years in service truly exemplifies her values for excellence, dedication, and most importantly “INTEGRITY”, making her a beacon of genuine public service and a source of inspiration to the public health professionals throughout the country.
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Dr. Hu Ruirong
Division Director, Medical Institution Division,
Department of Medical Administration, National Health
Commission of the P.R.C.
He holds a Master of Clinical Medicine and a Doctor of Social Medicine and Health Service Management. He has long been engaged in the administration of medical services, and previously took charge of clinical pathway management, medical quality management, and medical resource management.
Dr. Bootsakorn
Director of the Institute of Geriatric Medicine
Dr. Bootsakorn Loharjun’s research focuses on scaling service innovations like integrated dementia care systems and digital health monitoring. Her work emphasizes seamless health and social service provision to bridge clinical rehabilitation with community-based long-term care. These initiatives directly support the WHA79 objective of fostering age-friendly environments through sustainable, technology-driven healthcare models. He has long been engaged in the administration of medical services, and previously took charge of clinical pathway management, medical quality management, and medical resource management.
HE Dr Jean Kaseya
Director General, Africa CDC
Was appointed Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in February 2023. A Congolese medical doctor with advanced degrees in Epidemiology and Community Health, he brings over 25 years of public health expertise from national and international leadership roles. Dr Kaseya leads Africa CDC's political, strategic, and technical functions. His priorities include advancing a transformative "New Deal" for Africa CDC to strengthen continental health security through sustainable financing, robust governance, technical capacity building, and efficient crisis response. Under his leadership, Africa CDC declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Concern, accelerated regulatory approvals for vaccines, and secured international donations-demonstrating decisive regional health leadership. Previously, Dr Kaseya served as Senior Adviser to President Laurent Desire Kabila and Head of Routine Immunization in the Democratic Republic of Congo's National Expanded Programme on Immunization. Internationally, he has worked with UNICEF, Gavi, CHAI, and the World Health Organisation on major health initiatives across the continent.
Mr. Ryan Taft
PhD, chief scientific officer of Genetic Alliance
Chief Scientific Officer of Genetic Alliance and Head of Precision Medicine at EspeRare, where he leads efforts to accelerate the integration of genomic medicine into clinical care worldwide. Trained in genomics and computational biology, Dr. Taft has spent more than two decades at the forefront of translating genomic discovery into clinical impact, with pioneering contributions to the use of clinical whole-genome sequencing for children with rare disorders and for common and complex genetic conditions. Prior to joining Genetic Alliance, Dr. Taft served as Vice President of Scientific Research at Illumina and Senior Vice President of Genomics R&D at Tempus AI and, where he led international programs advancing the clinical and scientific applications of next-generation sequencing. He is the founder of the iHope program, a global initiative that delivers diagnostic genomic testing to children with rare and undiagnosed genetic disease through a network of nine laboratories and twenty-five partner clinics worldwide, with a focus on patients who would otherwise have no access to advanced genomic diagnostics. Dr. Taft's work bridges scientific innovation, equitable implementation, and patient-centered care, with a focus on ensuring that the benefits of precision medicine reach all populations.
H.E. Mr. Fahad bin Abdulrahman
Al-Jalajel
Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
