The International Conference on Environment and Health in Africa

Daouda DIOUF

Daouda Is the Head of Climate Action and Health Resilience at Foundation S The Sanofi collective.

As Head of Climate Action and Health Resilience, Daouda leads Foundation S work in supporting vulnerable populations and countries to adapt and build resilience against the health impact of climate change.

Daouda has always been committed to help growing a sustainable health system for vulnerable populations, especially in Africa where he was for over 20 years the Executive Director of ENDA Santé – a leading NGO in sub-Saharan Africa – and the CEO of the Civil Society Institute for Health, leading country and regional programs related to Community Health and HIV, Rights to health, Climate impact on Health in Africa among others.

In addition to that, Daouda has 25 years of extensive experience in the provision of technical assistance to countries on Health policy formulation and program implementation on health, human right and sustainable development.

Daouda is a social economist and specialist in Public Health and development programs, and has authored/ co-authored several scientific publications on HIV, sexual and reproductive, health human rights and on sustainable development in Africa

Mohammed Khaled CHOULLI

University Professor, PHYSIOLOGIST – PHARMACOLOGIST, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Marrakech, Head of the Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, former Director of the Regional Academy of Education and Training in Morocco, Member of the International Network on the Social Responsibility of Medical Schools Worldwide, Founding President of the NGO Yenda Africa, member of the scientific council of the Galien Africa Forum. African Consultant in Strategic Development. Visiting Research Professor at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, USA. Extensive experience in the sectors of Education, Health, Higher Education, Scientific Research, Health Systems, Human Security, and Human Development.
Areas of Interest – President of the African NGO YENDA – New Generation Africa Forum. – Social Responsibility of Organizations. – Human Security, Environment, Health, Education, and Sustainable Development in Africa.

Libasse BA

Libasse Ba is the Technical Advisor to the Director of Enda Energie, an international non-profit organization based in Dakar (Senegal) member of the Enda Tiers Monde network established in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Libasse Ba is an economist-planner with a degree from the University of Dakar (Cheikh Anta Diop University – Senegal). He is also a graduated in the analysis and evaluation of energy policies and climate change at the University of Berkeley in San Francisco (USA). He specializes in the integration of technologies into policies and development planning.

He led the ‘Kyoto, Think Global, Act Local’ program related to REDD+ in the Africa region from 2004 to 2009 in collaboration with the University of TWENTE in Enschede in the Netherlands. He also, is leading the TNA (Technology Needs Assess) program supported by UNEP for 26 countries in Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean. He has worked in the implementation of CTCN programs in French-speaking countries. He represented the African civil society for a one year term at UNEP.

He is registered in the Roster (file) of experts of the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as a specialist in Greenhouse Gas Inventories (GHGI) and the analysis of the Mitigation of Climate Change Greenhouse gas. He is actually a member of the roster of experts in CBIT-GCP of UNDP.

He is currently the President of the COMNACC (National Committee on Climate Change) of Senegal.

Melchior Athanase Joël AISSI

Melchior Athanase Joël C. AISSI, a Medical Doctor with expertise in Public Health; Health Development and Humanitarian Disaster Management is the Director General of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) since August 3, 2022.

Dr. Aïssi holds a postgraduate degree in Public Health, Health and Development from the University Henri Poincarré /Nancy1 in France.

He is a member of the United Nations Strategic Planning Expert Group (Technical Support Planning UNAIDS) and is also recognized as an ECOWAS Health Communication and Coordination Trainer.

Dr. Aïssi has led multiple successful interventions by effectively setting up public health systems (operational, administrative and financial management) and supporting various health emergencies across the African continent.

Dr. Aïssi was from 2016 to August 2022, the Executive Secretary of the National Council for the Fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Epidemics (CNLS-TP) in Benin; Delegate President of the National Coordinating Body for Global Fund grants in Benin (CCM Benin) for the good management and oversight of grants; and also since the advent of COVID-19, he was the first Vice President of the National Committee for Crisis and Health Emergencies in Benin.

Dr. Aïssi has over 27 years of professional experience in several African countries, specifically in:

Development of results-based strategic plans, monitoring and evaluation plans and rehabilitation plans;
Assessment and development of an epidemic management contingency plan;
Vulnerability and capacity assessments;
Assessment of National Strategic Frameworks with implementation of health systems strengthening plans and advocacy;
Human resource management and collaboration; and
Management of refugees and displaced persons for the Red Cross and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Dr. Aïssi strongly believes in the ECOWAS vision 2050: “ECOWAS of the People: Peace and Prosperity for All!” and to achieve this, WAHO must make health systems strengthening, community engagement and resilience, its priorities.

Zandra ANDRE

Zandra Hollaway André , MPH, DVM, DACVPM, brings over 18 years of extensive One Health experience to her current position as a Senior Infectious Disease Technical Advisor in the Emerging Threats Division at USAID/Washington. Dr. André has been an ardent champion of the One Health approach both in the US and overseas at US Missions in South Asia and West Africa. Her professional approach embodies One Health by bringing together stakeholders from various disciplines such as agriculture, veterinary medicine, public health, communications, emergency response, laboratory sciences, and environment, from the community to national level to support capacity-building efforts and create partnerships to find feasible solutions to address One Health issues.
Dr. André began her One Health career at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the National Center for Environmental Health, and completed the CDC Preventive Medicine Residency/Fellowship Program while assigned to Fairfax County, Virginia. Prior to this, Dr. André was a small animal private practitioner in Michigan and Georgia.
A Michigan native, she received her Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Michigan State University and her Master of Public Health (MPH) from Emory University. Notably, Dr. André is board-certified in Veterinary Preventive Medicine (DACVPM) and works professionally in French in addition to her native English.

Kitembo LAMBERT

Dr. Lambert KITEMBO is a Civil Servant of the Highest Category, holding a Master’s degree in Public Health and MLM, and has been awarded several prizes for excellence and honor. He is an Officer in the Order of Merit of Congo and currently serves as the coordinating advisor for the UCPP in the office of the Minister of Health of the Congolese population, after having held leadership positions at the peripheral, intermediate, and central levels of the health pyramid.
He previously worked as a consultant for UNICEF, WHO, FAO, CIESPAC, and the projects 9 ACP COB 02 and REDISSE IV, at the Swiss Center for SIITSPS.
Throughout his clinical and administrative career, he has dedicated himself as a part-time lecturer in public health and health promotion at universities and CIESPAC. He is a WHO-certified trainer in ‘Training the MLM Trainer’ and in IHR 2005 for Francophone countries.
Devoted to emergencies and humanitarian actions, he holds UN certification in “basic and advanced field security,” WHO certification in the “One Health approach,” and “Management and Facilitation of an After Action Review (AAR).”
In the associative field, he is President of the International Network of Alumni of the IMT Prince Leopold of Antwerp, Belgium, a Member of REFIPS, and the focal point of the African center for capacity development in communication for sustainable development.
Trained in diplomacy and health regarding climate changes, and as the national focal point for the climate change adaptation program, the national strategy for sustainable development, and the REDD+ health sector, he has participated in several COPs, including the historic COP 21 in Paris.
Finally, he is the author of a thesis, dissertations, and co-author of several scientific articles or publications in the fields of clinical medicine, public health, and health promotion. A health communicator, he has been a speaker at national and international meetings.

Rafi Abul Hasnath SIDDI

Dr. Siddique has dedicated his career to serve the climate impacted and hard to reach communities of Bangladesh. He earned his MSc in Public Health and Health Promotion from Bangor University, Wales, United Kingdom. He is also a medical graduate from University of Dhaka.
Dr. Siddique has been working as Deputy Director for the Health Sector with Friendship Bangladesh since 2017. Friendship is an International Social Purpose Organization guided by a vision of a world where people — especially the hard-to-reach and unaddressed — have equal opportunities to live with dignity and hope. As a leader, he is skilled in Collaborating and partnering with external stakeholders, managing quality healthcare service, making effective decisions, managing the program cycle, financial management as well as managing risk and issues. In Friendship he provides is involved in giving strategic leadership and guidance for the 2 floating hospital ships, static clinics as well as the healthcare program for the Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
Throughout his career he has held several administrative and leadership positions in humanitarian and global health sector-based organizations that aimed to bring an impactful change in the life of the rural and hard to reach communities. With over 12 years of experience in Public Health, Dr. Siddique has developed a recognized expertise and network in areas of access to healthcare by the marginalized communities and bringing a massive impact in their lives through effective innovations.

Maria DE LOURDES OLIVEIRA

Lourdes Oliveira is Vice-President of Research and Biological Collections from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), MoH, Brazil and former vice-deputy of Reference Laboratories, Outpatient Clinics and Biological Collections (IOC, Fiocruz). She is virologist in the Laboratory of Respiratory and Exanthematic viruses, Enteroviruses and Viral Emergencies – Reference Laboratory for the Brazilian MoH and WHO in SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, RSV, Measles and Rubella, Poliovirus and Mpox.

Senior Public Health scientist from Fiocruz since 1987, she has extensive experience in research and health surveillance (sanitary, epidemiological, and environmental), epidemics and health emergencies, with emphasis on viruses of public health relevance. Presently, one of her main interests focuses on setting up the wastewater-based epidemiology network as an early warning system to strengthen preparedness and response to epidemics and pandemics – a joint-initiative between Fiocruz, MoH, PAHO Brazil and other international partners.

Scientific and public health interests are reflected in scientifical articles, book chapters, post-graduation guidance, MoH guidelines and documents, organization and coordination of scientific meetings and presentations in national and international conferences. Such production mainly approaches viral biology, epidemiological and environmental aspects, including those related to vulnerable territories and populations, such as injecting drug users, persons deprived of liberty and socioenvironmental vulnerable communities.

Lourdes Oliveira is bachelor in Biological Sciences (1987), master’s degree (bench work developed at the Robert Koch Institute, Berlin) (1997) and doctorate in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Fiocruz (2008).

John AMUASI

John AMUASI is based at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where he Heads the Global Health Department of the School of Public Health and Leader of the Global One Health Research Group at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR). He holds a W2 Professorship of Global One Health at the Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine and the University of Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany, is an adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in the USA, and an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow in Tropical Medicine at the University of Oxford in the UK. For over 20 years, he has engaged in Tropical Medicine and Global Health research – including in malaria, NTDs, AMR and One Health. He has also consulted for several Global Health-focused organizations and supported civil society organizations with technical expertise on matters related to access to drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics, as well as strategic advice related to Global Health research. He further serves as Co-Chair of The Lancet One Health Commission, and as a regular technical advisor/contributor to several Global Health organizations. He is passionate about mentorship and sustainably building health research capacities in Africa.

Huyam SALIH

Dr. Huyam Salih, possesses a distinguished Ph.D. in Veterinary
Epidemiology, and Master’s Degree in Tropical Animal Health. she has a
professional record spanning over two decades, spearheaded numerous in the
domains of livestock development, disease prevention, and animal health
interventions at national, regional and global level.

Dr. Salih has made significant contributions in various areas include:

Risk assessment and early warning for Transboundary animal diseases
Expanding livestock value chains, ensuring the linkage to small holder
Producers
Ensuring compliance with international sanitary measures
Strengthen capacities for antimicrobial resistance’s Monitoring and
Evaluation, and supporting monitoring of Global Action plan on AMR
(GAP) and FAO AMR Action Plan.

Additionally, Dr. Salih has played a pivotal role in championing the adoption
of a One Health approach, and facilitating extensive collaboration among
various sectors to effectively tackle the pressing issues of Antimicrobial
Resistance and zoonotic diseases.

Sokhna THIAM

Sokhna, Environmental Epidemiologist with a background in Health Geography, is an Associate Research Scientist at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), West Africa Regional Office (WARO) in Dakar.

Leading the Environment, Climate Change and Health Unit at WARO, she investigates the relationships between environmental and social influences on health, focusing on infectious as well as non-communicable disease (NCDs) outcomes.

Currently, her research focus is on the impact of climate change on NCDs and maternal and newborn health and the impacts of large-scale landscape restoration on human health in West Africa within the ClimateAction4NCDs Heat&MNH and GGW projects.

Prior to joining APHRC, she served as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Scientific Research Collaborator at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH). Sokhna holds a PhD in Epidemiology at Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), University of Basel.

Baba SOUMARE

Dr Soumare is a Veterinary Epidemiologist holding a PhD in animal health economics and specializations in tropical animal health and production, medical parasitology and mycology and in Humanitarian and Emergency Operations. He graduated from the Military Academy for Health and the Inter-State School of Veterinary Sciences and Medicine (EISMV), UCAD, Dakar, Senegal; the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Antwerp (ITM), and the University of Gent in Belgium.
He worked extensively as food safety specialist, a trainer and field epidemiologist and led field investigations, prevention and control of animal diseases, as well as impact studies of major transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses in emergency and development settings. Baba is overseeing FAO’s Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) which has been radically transforming Animal Health and One Health systems of nearly 50 countries across the world to more effectively prevent, detect and mitigate health threats of animal origin. As Africa Regional Director for DAI’s Preparedness and Response (P&R) program under the GHSA, Baba led the consortium’s efforts to establish functional National One Health Platforms and develop operational preparedness plans for effective collaborative detection, prevention and reduction of impact of emerging zoonoses and antimicrobial resistances (AMR). Previously, he coordinated the USAID portfolio to mitigate the H5N1 HPAI and H1N1 crises in 21 West and Central African countries. As African Union Chief Animal Health Officer/CVO for Africa, Baba oversaw policies, strategies and partnership development that contributed to improving the health of animals for better nutritional security, trade in animal commodities and protection of public health on the continent.
Other assignments include as Manager of the ITC unit of AU-IBAR, of the Regional Veterinary school (STVS), the PACE office in Somaliland, and the 1st Food Safety department in Senegalese Army Forces.

Baba is an optimistic Senegalese who believes that changes are always possible when beneficiaries are associated and can see added value for them.

Nguissali TURPIN

Executive Director, ENDA Santé

Executive Director, Civil Society Instititute for Health in West and Central Africa.

Ms. Nguissali M.E. Turpin is the Executive Director of ENDA Santé and of the Civil Society Institute for Health in West and Central Africa.

Over the past fifteen years, Ms. Nguissali Turpin has been strongly committed to ensuring access for the most vulnerable communities in Africa to quality health information and services, as well as to the empowerment of women. During her professional trajectory, she has actively engaged in enhancing the capabilities of individuals and organizations, advocating for the role and contribution of civil society organizations in the field of health, and providing technical assistance to diverse entities. However, she has always maintained an active presence at the local level, giving substance to one of the key principles of its organization, namely proximity to communities.

Within her organization, Ms. Turpin has gained extensive experience in various health sectors, encompassing HIV, SRH, nutrition, human rights, and other related areas. Her work has involved collaborating with a wide range of groups, including community-based women’s organizations, people living with HIV, as well as parliamentarians and state actors.

Agnès SOUCAT

Agnès SOUCAT is the Director, of Health and Social Protection, at French Development Agency, (AFD) in Paris.

Previously, she was the Director for Health Systems, Governance and Financing at WHO in Geneva, Switzerland.

Before joining WHO, she was Global Health Lead Economist at the World Bank and the Director for Human Development, for the African Development Bank, where she was responsible for health, education, social protection and employment for Africa, including fifty-four countries in the continent.

She has, over thirty years of experience, in health and poverty reduction, covering more than seventy countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.

She is a pioneer of several innovations in health financing, including community-based financing and performance-based financing.

She was a main author of the World Development Report, “Making Services Work for Poor People”(2004), the Lancet Commission reports, “Global Health 2035: a world converging within a generation” (2011) and “Planetary Health: Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch” (2015), and “The labor market for health workers in Africa: a new look at the crisis,” (2013).

Soucat holds an MD and a Master’s in Nutrition, from the University of Nancy in France, as well as a MPH and PhD, in Health Economics from the Johns Hopkins University.

She is currently Senior Associate at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (USA).

Ibrahima SECK

Professor Ibrahima Seck is a Colonel-Doctor, specializing in Public Health, Chairholder, and Head of the Preventive Medicine and Public Health Department at the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal.

He holds a medical degree (FMPO/UCAD Senegal), a certificate in Public Health specialization (ISED/UCAD, Senegal), a Master’s in International Development, and a PhD (Tulane University, New Orleans, USA). He is also a Full Professor (CAMES, 2012) and has nearly thirty years of experience in public health. His areas of expertise include the management and administration of health services and programs, health planning, monitoring and evaluation, logistics management of medicines and products, community health, and epidemiology. He has conducted numerous consultations with WHO, RBM, UNICEF WCARO, the World Bank, USAID, Oxford, WAHO, etc., in the context of health project and program evaluation, mid-term reviews, and the development of national strategic plans, as well as the preparation of national funding requests to be submitted to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Before joining the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry at UCAD, Professor SECK served as District Health Officer, Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis Control Program in Senegal, Technical Advisor No. 1, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Health and Social Action of Senegal, and Technical Advisor to the Presidency of the Republic of Senegal.

Professor SECK has produced nearly a hundred publications in national and international journals, and his work has been presented at numerous scientific conferences and meetings around the world.

He is the Secretary General of the Galien Africa Association, Coordinator of the Scientific Committee of the Galien Africa Forum and the Galien Africa Prize, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Galien Africa Prize. He is also a member of several learned societies, including the Senegalese Society of Public Health Professionals, the African Public Health Society, and the French Public Health Society.

Juan LUBROTH

JUAN LUBROTH (BA [Biology], MSc [Medical Microbiology], D.V.M., PH.D. {Epidemiology and Public Health], Diplomate, ACVPM

Coordinator – Scientific Council

Juan Lubroth is a biologist and veterinarian, with a doctorate in epidemiology and public health. He was the Chief Veterinary Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO; 2009-2020) and prior to his appointment served for seven years as the Senior Officer of FAO’s Animal Health Service and Head of the Infectious Diseases Group/Emergency Prevention System (2002-2009) in charge of worldwide surveillance, capacity building, and progressive control of transboundary animal diseases and those of an endemic nature. In 2004, he was one of the architects that drafted the Manhattan Principles under the aegis of One World, One Health and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Upon retirement from FAO, he leads “Lubroth One Health Consultancies” which recognises the essence and commitment for sustainable development of animal production (terrestrial and aquatic) to meet the needs of quality nutrition – in humans and other animals – and the importance of their cultural and economic value. He has consulted for numerous institutions including those concerned with the feed sector, antimicrobial use and prevailing resistance, safe trade, resilience stemming from Indigenous Peoples and local knowledge.

Dr Lubroth is a Commissioner to Lancet’s One Health Commission and Coordinator of the One Sustainable Health Foundation’s Scientific Council.

Runa KHAN

Founder & Executive Director.
Friendship.

Honorary President of the OSH Forum Approach.

Runa Khan, an Ashoka fellow and Schwab Foundation social entrepreneur, is the Founder and Executive Director of Friendship, a Social Purpose Organization supporting remote communities in Bangladesh. Established in 2002, Friendship reaches out to 6.5 million lives a year through an integrated model of Saving Lives, Poverty Alleviation, Climate Adaptation and Empowerment. Friendship SPO provides services in Health, Education, Sustainable Economic Development, Climate Action, Inclusive Citizenship and Cultural Preservation. Friendship has also been active in the Rohingya crisis response in Bangladesh with health, water and sanitation, and educational services. She is the Founder and Co-chair of Friendship International which operates from five European countries, building an improved understanding and stronger relationship between resource providers and beneficiaries, bringing new concepts of working together and giving financial and nonfinancial support to Friendship Bangladesh. Her work is based on simple logic, empathy, respect, deep sense of justice and innovation.

Runa Khan is also a board member of Global Dignity, BIC Corporate Foundation, and on the Business Advisory Board of Independent University Bangladesh and the Advisory Council of British Asian Trust, Bangladesh. She often gives talks on leadership, volunteerism, development and social entrepreneurship in International Conferences and Universities. Other international awards and recognitions received: Green Award by Positive Planet Foundation (2016), Social Innovation Leadership Award by the World CSR Congress (2014), Social Entrepreneur Award, IDB for contribution toward Women in development (2008), Rolex Awards for Entrepreneurship (2006).

Patrice DEBRE

Patrice Debré, born in 1945, received his degrees in medicine from Paris University in 1971.”Interne des Hôpitaux de Paris” He subsequently became specialist in hematology .From 1975 to 1977, He was research fellow at the Harvard Medical School, USA, in the department of the Nobel Prize winner Baruj Benacerraf. He then joined the medical staff at the department of hematology at the Paris University Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital as head of clinics where he developed an extensive experience in the clinical management of Hematological and immunological diseases, including French cases of HIV infection (1976-1980). He subsequently became Professor of Immunology at the Pierre and Marie Curie Paris University and the first chairman of the clinical department of immunology at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (1981). He became subsequently (1983-2013) director of several CNRS and INSERM units, then of a Federative Institute of Immunology, Cancer and Infection. He contributed to more than 450 peer reviewed articles concerning various aspects of clinical and translational research in immunology and Immunopathology. Becoming a scientific leader in HIV/AIDS research, the work of Professor Patrice Debré and his team resulted in major contributions in the field.

Professor Patrice Debré actively worked internationally to fight against HIV/AIDS, and became, at the French ministry of Foreign Affairs (2009), French ambassador for the fight against HIV / AIDS and communicable diseases. He was the French representative at the board of most multilateral organizations fighting against pandemics, including the Global Fund, UNITAID, RBM, UNAIDS (2008-2011) and EDCTP (2003-2012). Concerning EDCTP, he was a member of the Partnership board, chair of this committee, member, then vice chair of the general Assembly. In addition to these international activities related to medicine, he became chair of the board of CIRAD, the major French institution dedicated to international research in agriculture, including zoonosis and food security (2004-2010).

In parallel, Professor Patrice Debré was appointed at major positions in French administration of science and education and became member, vice chair, or chair, of various national scientific committees belonging to several research institutions, university or private foundations. Noteworthy he became director of the” Mission of life sciences” at the French ministry of research, and occupied important positions at INSERM (scientific director), ANRS (member of the scientific board of advisors), CNRS (senior medical adviser), APHP Paris University (scientific and international senior advisor) or University Pierre et Marie Curie (scientific then international senior advisor).

He received several awards and was elected in 2012 as corresponding member and in 2016 as titular member at the French Academy of Medicine. He is chair of the committee for International Affairs and for Biology. Professor Patrice Debré is also, at the present time, senior adviser at the APHP Delegation of International Relationship (DRI), at AVIESAN, the network of French Institutions dedicated to life sciences, and at MEDICEN PARIS Region.
He is vice chair of the Canceropole Ile de France.

Babette SIMON

Babette Simon is Professeur associé at the Faculté de Santé, Université de Paris and has wide national and international experience across the health system in non-private and private organizations with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation and value in health.

Babette Simon is Associate Professor at the Faculté de Santé at the Université de Paris and has wide national and international experience across the health system in non-private and private organizations with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation and value in health.

Prior she has held the position of the Regional Vice President of Medtronic Germany, served many years as Chief Medical Officer and Chairwomen at the University Medical Center Mainz and is former President of the Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg.

She is member of the Board of Trustees of the Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research GEOMAR, the University Council of the Excellence University TU Dresden and the University of Applied Sciences Fulda. She chairs the Scientific Advisory Board of the Ludwig Boltzman Gesellschaft and is member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Private Excellence Initiative Johanna Quandt – Stiftung Charité.

Babette Simon served as a member of the scientific commission and the medical committee of the German Council of Science and Humanities, in the Senate of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers, in the Supervisory Boards of the University Hospital Düsseldorf and in the TRON Translational Oncology Mainz gGmbH.

Babette Simon´s initial training was in human medicine at Freiburg University (D) and University Hospital Basel (CH). She earned her MD from Freiburg University and later a Master degree in Health Care Management from the University of Mannheim/Heidelberg. She completed a Research Fellowship in Molecular Biology at the MGH, Harvard Medical School with a focus on GI oncology and was trained in Internal Medicine with a specialization in Gastroenterology at the University Hospital Marburg. She is the author of numerous international and national publications, invited lectures and review activities.

Detlev GANTEN

Professor Detlev Ganten, MD, PhD, is Founding President of the World Health Summit and co-founder of the Virchow Foundation for Global Health.

He was born in Lüneburg in 1941 and studied medicine at the universities of Würzburg, Montpellier and Tübingen, with as well a Surgical Internship time at the French Hospital Marrakech in Morocco. After receiving his MD in medicine, he spent several years as a research scientist at the Clinical Research Institute in Montreal and earned his Ph.D. at McGill University.

In 1975, Detlev Ganten was appointed Professor at the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Heidelberg. In 1991, he moved to Berlin where he became the Founding Director and President of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch and in 1993, he became Director of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology at the Benjamin Franklin Medical Center of the Free University of Berlin. He held these roles until 2004, when he became the Chief Executive Officer at the “Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin”, the joint medical faculty of the Free University and Humboldt University of Berlin, until 2008. In 2009, he founded the World Health Summit, an institution which organizes an annual international conference in Berlin and regional meetings around the world, promoting dialogue between scientists, physicians, industry, civil society and policy makers.

Since 2005 Professor Ganten has been the Chairman of the Board of the Charité Foundation and since 2009, he was also made Chairman of the joint Board of Trustees of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology. He has previously held positions as President of the German Society for Naturalists and Physicians (1996– 1998), Chairman of the Helmholtz-Association of National Research Centres (HGF) (1997 – 2001) and member of the German National Ethics Council (2002 – 2007). He is a member of the Academy of the Sciences Heidelberg, Polish Academy of Sciences (Polska Akademie Umiejetnosci), Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences, German Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina) and Academia Europea.

As a research scientist in the field of hypertension, Professor Ganten elucidated fundamental mechanisms of the pathophysiology and molecular biology of high blood pressure. His areas of research include the hormonal regulation of blood pressure, especially the renin-angiotensin system, and the molecular genetics of cardiovascular diseases. Professor Ganten is also Editor in Chief of the Journal of Molecular Medicine. Throughout his career, he has received many awards, including “Chavez Award” of the International Society of Hypertension (1981), “Sechenev Medaille” of the Medical Academy Moscow (1981), “Science Award” of the “Deutsche Liga zur Bekämpfung des hohen Blutdruckes” (1981), “Heilmeyer Medaille” of the “Gesellschaft für Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Inneren Medizin” (1990), Max-Planck Research Award (1990), Okamoto-Award, Japan (1990), CIBA-Award of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research, American Heart Association (1992), Dr. hr. University Iasi, Rumania (1995), Federal Cross of Merit (2000), Légion d’Honneur, France (2003).

Agnès Soucat

Currently Head, Division of Health and Social Protection at the AFD, Agnès Soucat has been director of Governance and Financing of Health Systems at the WHO. She previously worked at the African Development Bank and the World Bank. She has developed an expertise for more than 20 years on issues of poverty reduction, health financing and social protection in more than 70 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. She holds an MD a Master in Nutrition from University of Nancy and an MPH and Ph.D in health economics (doctorate) from Johns Hopkins University.

She was co-author of the 2004 World Bank report “Making Services Work for Poor People” and the Lancet Commission report “Global Health 2035: a world converging within a generation”. She has also written on innovative health financing (community-based health insurance schemes, performance-based financing) and on health labour market dynamics in Africa etc.).

Awa Marie COLL SECK

MD, PhD, Specialist in Infectious diseases and Bacteriology-Virology. Former Senior Minister to the President of the Republic of Senegal. She is the President of the Association Galien Africa, which organizes annually the Galien Forum Africa and Prix Galien Africa. Prof. Coll Seck has been twice Minister of Health in Senegal (2001-2003 / 2012-2017).

She was named “Best Minister in the World” in Dubai in February 2017 at the World Government Summit. She had the responsibility of directing the Department of Infectious Diseases at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal. Prof. Coll Seck was Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) from 2004 to 2012 and Director of the Department of Policy, Strategy and Research of UNAIDS (1996-2001). She is on the Board of Directors of: Resolve to Save Lives, AFRIVAC, GAVI-the Vaccine Alliance, Grand Challenges Canada, Exemplars in Global Health,…

Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck is a member of the Noguchi Prize for Africa (Japan), of the Virchow Prize (Germany) and of the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program (USA) and of steering committee of the ANRS | Emerging infectious diseases (France).

She has received numerous honors, including Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite of Senegal, Burkina Faso and Gambia, as well as the the Palmes académiques, Ordre du Mérite and the Légion d’Honneur of France. She has also received the decoration of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star of Japan Professor.

Awa Marie Coll Seck is the author of more than 150 scientific publications.

Ole Petter OTTERSEN

Professor Ole Petter Ottersen is a neuroscientist with a strong engagement in Global Health and health equity. He was the University of Oslo’s elected President 2017 – 2023 and served as the President of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden 2017 -2023. Ole Petter Ottersen was Director of one of Norway’s Centres of Excellence (Centre for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, 2002-2009). He is currently Professor at University of Oslo, Visiting Professor at Charité, and Acting Secretary-General of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities – a European university network that aims to provide its members with a strong voice in the further development of the EU’s Framework Programme and that has the development of EU-Africa clusters of research excellence as one of its top priorities. Ottersen chaired the Lancet Commission that studied the political determinants of global health inequities (The Lancet—University of Oslo Commission on Global Governance for Health 2014). He is cofounder of One Europe for Global Health (OEGH) and Vice President of Virchow Foundation, board member of the African Population and Health Research Center, and member of the One Sustainable Health Forum Scientific Committee.

Ole Petter OTTERSEN

Professor Ole Petter Ottersen is a neuroscientist with a strong engagement in Global Health and health equity. He was the University of Oslo’s elected President 2017 – 2023 and served as the President of Karolinska Institutet in Sweden 2017 -2023. Ole Petter Ottersen was Director of one of Norway’s Centres of Excellence (Centre for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, 2002-2009). He is currently Professor at University of Oslo, Visiting Professor at Charité, and Acting Secretary-General of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities – a European university network that aims to provide its members with a strong voice in the further development of the EU’s Framework Programme and that has the development of EU-Africa clusters of research excellence as one of its top priorities. Ottersen chaired the Lancet Commission that studied the political determinants of global health inequities (The Lancet—University of Oslo Commission on Global Governance for Health 2014). He is cofounder of One Europe for Global Health (OEGH) and Vice President of Virchow Foundation, board member of the African Population and Health Research Center, and member of the One Sustainable Health Forum Scientific Committee.