Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest

Ms. Geela Ali serves as the Minister of Health, Family and Welfare of the Republic of Maldives. With over 30 years of distinguished public service, she has held senior leadership roles in health administration and diplomacy, including Ambassador of Maldives to Belgium, Head of Mission to the European Union, and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Denmark. She has represented the Maldives at high-level multilateral forums, advancing global health, climate action and sustainable development. A public health specialist by profession, Minister Geela has led major national health initiatives and continues to strengthen the Maldives’ health system through strategic leadership and international cooperation.

Adelsia Almeida, a Cape Verdean Member of Parliament since 2021, elected by the PAICV, holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, is a University Professor, and an international consultant in the social and gender fields. In parliament, she has been an active voice on issues related to health, education, the fight against poverty, and social inclusion.

Ricardo Baptista Leite is a Portuguese medical doctor and the Founder and President of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Health AI, a global agency for responsible AI in health. 

With more than 15 years of academic experience, he is Chair of the Board of the ‘Global Health Policy Lab,’ a collaboration between Harvard University and Charité University. Based in Berlin, he is also Chair of the Center for Global Health at NOVA University Information Management and Data Science School in Lisbon. 

In the past, Dr. Ricardo served as a member of the Portuguese National Parliament for four terms (2011-2023), Deputy Mayor of Cascais, and City Councilor of Sintra.

Senator Pia S. Cayetano is a senator from the Philippines with over two decades of public service experience. A leading advocate for health, education, women’s empowerment, and family welfare, she currently chairs the Asia and Pacific Regional Chapter of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.

Serving nine years as Senate Health Chair and six years overseeing the national health budget, she championed reforms toward universal health care and improved maternal and child health. She led the passage of the country’s landmark reproductive health law despite strong opposition from conservative groups. In recognition of her leadership, she received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Rising Star Award in 2013.

A lawyer, athlete, and mother, Senator Pia S. Cayetano continues to make strides as the Philippine Senate’s Pinay (Filipina) In Action.

Martin Chungong made history in 2014 as the first African and first non-European elected Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). With over four decades of experience working with parliaments at national and international levels, he has dedicated his career to advancing and strengthening democracy worldwide.

He is deeply committed to revitalizing democratic institutions and processes, with a strong focus on sustainable development, and enhancing the role of parliaments and increasing women and youth participation in political life. Under his leadership, the IPU has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality through effective legislation and accountability for international commitments. He serves on the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and was appointed by the UN Secretary-General as a global leader of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement.

Martin Chungong is also a leading advocate for gender equality. He chairs the Global Board of the International Gender Champions and works closely with governments, international organizations and civil society to advance gender parity.

Eduardo Banzon champions Universal Health Coverage and has long provided technical support to countries in Asia and the Pacific in their pursuit of this goal. Before joining ADB in 2014, he was President and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, World Health Organization (WHO) regional adviser for health financing for the Eastern Mediterranean region and WHO health economist in Bangladesh, and World Bank senior health specialist for the East Asia and Pacific region. He was also a faculty member of the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine and Ateneo Graduate School of Business and was an honorary visiting associate professor at the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. He completed BS Biology and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of the Philippines, and MSc in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Priya Basu brings over three decades of leadership at the intersection of health, finance, strategic partnerships, and resource mobilization. She is the founding Executive Head of the Pandemic Fund at the World Bank, where she has led its design and rapid scale-up. In three years, the Fund has built a $7 billion portfolio, partnering with governments, multilateral development banks, UN agencies, philanthropies, the private sector, and civil society to strengthen pandemic preparedness in 75 low- and middle-income countries.

During COVID-19, Priya led the Multilateral Leaders Task Force (World Bank, IMF, WHO, WTO), promoting transparency in access to medical countermeasures and driving engagement with the G20 and G7. Previously, she managed the World Bank’s $21 billion trust fund portfolio, shaping investments in global public goods and innovative health financing.

An economist trained at Delhi University and Oxford University, Priya is a published author and a recognized voice in global health and development finance.

Dr. Kapil Kapoor has over 30 years of experience in international development, specializing in Africa and Asia. He was the Director General for Southern Africa at the African Development Bank, where he was responsible for the bank’s projects and programs across 13 countries in Southern Africa. He has also served as the Director for Strategy and Operational Policies at the Bank, where he led the preparation of the Bank’s Long-Term Strategy for Africa and the Bank’s Private Sector Development Strategy.

Kapil has held a series of senior positions with the World Bank Group, including the World Bank’s Representative for Uganda and Zambia and the World Bank’s Sector Manager for its poverty reduction, economic management, and governance program in Asia.

Ariel serves as the Director of the AHF Global Public Health Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Terron is a medical doctor, graduating from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico. He also holds a Master of Science in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

His clinical career spans both public and private institutions, with a focus on community medicine and public health in Chiapas, Mexico. He has worked to improve healthcare access for children, adolescents, and pregnant women living with HIV, influencing national public health policies.

Recognized for his dedication to health and innovation, Dr. Terron received an award for innovation in healthcare access from the ESSCA School of Management in Paris in 2018.

Guilherme Duarte is a public health physician with management training and currently the Executive Director of UNITE – Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. At UNITE, he leads the secretariat and oversees the strategic management of a global network engaging with over 500 parliamentarians across more than 100 countries. He has worked in complex international environments with experience spanning medicine and epidemiology to health systems governance, diplomacy, and global health.

Hannah Vaughan Jones is an Emmy-nominated journalist, news anchor, international moderator, and communications consultant specializing in Global Health.

In her twenty-year media career, Hannah has presented primetime shows for CNN and Sky News, interviewing world leaders in business, politics, and philanthropy. She sits on the Global Leadership Advisory Council for the McCain Institute in the U.S. and is a senior counsel for agencies like Incisive Health and Folgate Advisors.

As Director of Programme Management (DPM), Dr. Kidong Park has overall responsibility for strategic planning and coordination, programme implementation and oversight, supervision of directors of technical divisions and cross-cutting areas, and an advisory role to the Regional Director. 

Prior to taking up this position, Dr. Park took several key positions at three levels of WHO over 20 years, including WHO Representative for Viet Nam, Director of Data, Strategy and Innovation (DSI), and Executive Officer, Country Support Unit (CSU) at the Regional Office for the Western Pacific, and Medical Officer, Global Influenza Programme (GIP) at Headquarters. 

Before joining WHO, Dr. Park was the Director of the Communicable Disease Control Division at the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC). He also took several technical and management positions at the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) of the Republic of Korea, including the national immunization programme, medical insurance benefit programme, cancer control programme, and noncommunicable disease control programme for over 12 years. 

Dr. Park is a medical doctor with a specialization in health policy and management. He earned bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in medicine from the Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea. He is married with two daughters.

Khadeeja Abdul Samad Abdulla is a public health professional with over 19 years of experience in the Maldivian health sector, including policy development, program implementation, and healthcare management. She has served as Minister of State for Health, Family and Welfare since November 2023, contributing to the advancement of health policies and initiatives. Previously, she served as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health (2015–2020), led the Child Development Centre at Hulhumalé Hospital, and worked with WHO on the Maldives Mental Health Action Plan 2022–2026. She holds a Master of Public Health from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.

Gaye Agesa is a Senior Manager for Policy Advocacy and Communication in Research and Capacity Strengthening at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in Kenya. She leads efforts to strengthen the R&D ecosystem, working closely with governments and partners to turn research evidence into practical policy that improves health outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa.

With more than 17 years of experience spanning the private sector, public service, and international development, she brings a deep understanding of public health policy. Gaye has led collaborative initiatives with communities, researchers, and civil society, designing programs that shape policy, strengthen partnerships and drive meaningful social change.

Dr. Mayowa Sodiq Akinpelu is a medical doctor and a member of the WHO’s Youth Council. He is also a member of the youth engagement taskforce of the UNICEF Generation Unlimited 9ja, a public-private-youth partnership platform aimed at equipping 20 million Nigerian youth with climate responsive/green skills and opportunity for economic empowerment and social impact.

As the Executive Chairman of the Africa Public Health Student Network (AfricaPHSN), Mayowa leads efforts to strengthen public health systems across African countries. His initiatives through AfricaPHSN addresses pressing climate and health challenges in vulnerable communities with a focus on youth-driven approaches.

Dr. Majda Alfallah is a parliamentarian, Community Medicine specialist, and a researcher in national security. She holds a Master’s degree in Community Medicine from Ireland and is currently a PhD researcher at Mohammed V University, focusing on the geostrategic determinants of Libyan national security.

Her work brings a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates public health, policymaking, and security, with a focus on the role of health systems in strengthening national resilience and stability. She previously served as Deputy Chair of the Health Committee, contributing to the development of health policies and strengthening of healthcare governance.

She is currently a member of the Political Committee in the High Council of State, actively engaged in political dialogue and national policy development. As a UNITE member, she contributes to advancing global discussions on health policy, inclusive governance, and the strategic link between health security and sustainable peace.

Ms. Sana’a Khasawneh is a road safety and sustainable mobility specialist from Jordan working at the intersection of public health, climate action, and urban development. She serves as Advocacy & Public Affairs Manager at Youth for Road Safety and chairs the NCDs and Healthy Lifestyles Working Group at the WHO EMRO Youth Council.

Her work focuses on creating healthier, safer, and more inclusive cities by advancing active mobility, climate-resilient transport systems, and youth-led policy solutions. Sana’a contributes to global and local initiatives that integrate health, climate, and urban planning to build cities that support wellbeing, equity, and sustainable living.

Armando Armas is a Venezuelan lawyer, member of Parliament, and policy strategist working at the intersection of innovation, geopolitics, democracy, and development. He serves as a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly elected in 2015 and has chaired its Foreign Affairs Committee, where he has led international engagement efforts focused on democratic governance and global partnerships.

He has held fellowships at leading institutions, including the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at Stanford University and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and has academic training from the London School of Economics and the University of Chicago.

His work focuses on how technological change, global power dynamics, and institutional design shape democratic resilience and economic development, with a particular emphasis on Europe–Latin America relations.

Dr. Ibtissame Azzaoui is a UNITE Ambassador and former MENA Chapter Chair. She is the Founding President of P4C and an international consultant. She holds a PhD from Mohammed V University; her award-winning thesis on Moroccan parliamentary diplomacy received the National Prize for Best Thesis on Parliamentary Affairs. An engineer in Computer Sciences, she graduated from EHTP and École Centrale Paris. A former member of the Moroccan Parliament, she now serves as a City Councilor in Rabat.

Hon. Francis Chikumbutso Belekanyama has been a Malawian MP since 2021, serving on key committees and advancing health and governance.

Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto is a prominent leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, recognized for organizational strength, ideological commitment, and loyalty to the Bhutto leadership. Inspired by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he rose through student and youth politics. He served the party in key organizational roles, including digital media coordination in Sindh. As a senator, he advocates public welfare, youth empowerment, and social justice.

Dr. Gaia Bernstein is a Visiting Fellow with the Center for Universal Education in the Global Economy and Development programme at Brookings. She is also a Professor of Law, Co-Director of the Institute for Privacy Protection, and Co-Director of the Gibbons Institute of Law, Science and Technology at Seton Hall University School of Law.

Dr. Bernstein specialises in law and technology, with a focus on addictive technologies, social media regulation, and artificial intelligence regulation, particularly their impact on children.

She has spoken on these issues at platforms ranging from TEDx to the World Economic Forum and regularly appears across news, wellness, and parenting media. She also advises organisations and policymakers on technology regulation.

Dr. Bernstein is an expert with the Human Change Foundation, where she raises awareness about the impact of digitalised childhood on children’s development and societal cohesion.

Lídia Biai is a Mental Health Officer at UNITE – Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, where she works to strengthen political and legislative commitment to mental health, with a particular focus on Portuguese-speaking African countries. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Lusíada University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Strategy at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP), University of Lisbon.

Andrew Black is currently the Acting Head of the Convention Secretariat for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Andrew also leads the Convention Secretariat’s activities to support parties to implement the WHO FCTC and Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, including the delivery of the FCTC 2030 project.

Before joining the Secretariat, Andrew was a civil servant at the United Kingdom Department of Health. Andrew led the United Kingdom’s tobacco control programme for almost a decade, which included the introduction of new legislation on smokefree places, health warnings, age of sale, and plain packaging. Andrew was the WHO FCTC focal point for the United Kingdom during this time.

Katja Čič serves on the WHO Youth Council as the Chair of the Working Group on Planetary Health. She works as a Project Associate at the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health, where she is a part of the Service for NGOs and supports social participation efforts in Slovenia, coordinates the international Joint Action PreventNCD Youth Advisory Group, and acts as the coordinator of WHO Europe’s EHP Partnership on Youth. 

She previously worked as Programme Director for the International Youth Health Organization, Expert Associate at the Slovenian NCD Alliance, as well as a consultant to WHO Europe on youth engagement in the field of immunization and youth researcher on climate change and health. 

Sven Clement is a Member of Parliament in Luxembourg, currently serving his second term representing the Pirate Party. He chairs the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank & IMF and serves as rapporteur for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Science & Technology Committee. First elected in 2018 as one of Luxembourg’s youngest ever directly elected MPs, his parliamentary work focuses on digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, and economic reform. A software engineer and entrepreneur by background, Sven co-founded multiple companies. He is a UNITE member and advocates for the strengthening of parliamentary oversight of international financial institutions.

Judy Chang is a Program Manager with the Advancing Drug Policy Reform initiative at the Open Society Foundations (OSF). Previously, she served as Executive Director of the International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD), where she led global advocacy efforts to advance the health, dignity, and human rights of people who use drugs. With more than 15 years of experience in international development, community health, and social justice advocacy, Judy has worked extensively on harm reduction, public health, gender equality, and drug policy reform. She is a recognized voice on the intersections of drug policy, human rights, and feminist movements, bringing experience from both grassroots organizing and global policy engagement.

Dr. Sarath Chhim, MD, MSc, is a senior public health leader and Asia Bureau Chief at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a role he has held since 2010. He provides strategic oversight to AHF programs across 11 countries in Asia, strengthening HIV prevention, testing, treatment, care, and advocacy efforts to expand access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy.

Since joining AHF Cambodia in 2006, he has played a key role in scaling the organization’s regional footprint and advancing community-based health services. Prior to AHF, he held senior clinical and administrative roles in Cambodia’s public health system, including Director of Prey Veng Provincial Hospital, and contributed to HIV programming with KHANA.

Dr. Chhim holds a medical degree and an MSc in tropical medicine. His leadership reflects a strong commitment to health system strengthening, regional collaboration, and equitable access to HIV services across Asia.

Sofia Crisóstomo is UNITE’s Head of Parliamentarian Engagement, bringing senior-level experience across global health, public policy, and multilateral cooperation. She has worked closely with policymakers, institutional partners, and international organizations to advance health policy and strengthen governance. Her collaboration with the World Health Organization in Angola and Guinea-Bissau has spanned health law reform, the revision of national health legislation, and the design of participatory processes in health systems. Earlier in her career, Sofia served as a Health and Pharmaceutical Policy Advisor in the Portuguese Parliament, where she shaped policy development and led parliamentary engagement on health legislation and regulation. With a multidisciplinary background spanning pharmaceutical sciences, health economics, and public policy, Sofia has held roles across regulatory affairs, market access, research, and public administration. She brings sharp analytical thinking and a systems-level perspective to every stage of the health policy process.

Dr Sandro Demaio took up his position as Director and Head of the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health, based in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in February 2025. He brings a unique blend of academic expertise, executive leadership, and global health experience to the Centre’s mission of addressing the health impacts of environmental change across the Asia-Pacific region. 

Prior to this role, Dr Demaio served as Chief Executive Officer of VicHealth, the health promotion agency for the state of Victoria, Australia. He also held the position of CEO at EAT, a global non-profit organization dedicated to transforming food systems for the health of people and the planet. 

Originally trained as a medical doctor in Australia, Dr Demaio previously worked as a Medical Officer and technical advisor at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, where he contributed to major global initiatives on noncommunicable diseases and public health policy. 

With a strong commitment to advancing health through environmental sustainability and climate action, Dr Demaio leads the Centre’s efforts to drive evidence-based policy, foster multisectoral collaboration, and support countries across the Western Pacific Region. 

He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, as well as a Master’s and PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology. He remains active in academic circles, currently holding a professorship, and has previously held honorary appointments with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Melbourne. 

Deepak Dhungel is a global health and advocacy leader with over 20 years of experience in HIV / AIDS programs, policy influence, and health systems strengthening. As Regional Advocacy & Marketing Manager at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Asia Bureau, he leads advocacy and communication strategies across 11 countries, advancing campaigns such as Vaccinate Our World and strengthening regional visibility through media and partnerships.

Previously, as Country Program Director for AHF Nepal, he expanded HIV treatment services from 5 to 16 ART clinics, reaching over 11,800 clients and securing strategic collaborations with the Ministry of Health. His earlier work with FHI360 and other organizations focused on USAID-funded programs, capacity building, and integrated approaches to reproductive health and prevention.

Deepak holds advanced degrees in development and public health and actively engages in research, professional associations, and international advocacy platforms.

Hon. Duncan Maina Mathenge is the Member of Parliament for Nyeri Town Constituency, Kenya, and a member of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health. He plays an active role in shaping health legislation, overseeing the national health budget, and driving reforms to strengthen Kenya’s health system.

A trained dental technologist, he brings a practitioner’s perspective to policymaking, championing regulatory reforms that improve service standards and access to care. He is a committed advocate for universal health coverage, sustainable health financing, disease prevention, and health research and innovation.

Through his parliamentary work, Hon. Mathenge collaborates with national and international stakeholders to advance evidence-based policy, strengthen health governance, and build resilient, equitable health systems. His engagement with platforms like the UNITE Global Summit reflects his commitment to cross-border collaboration in building a healthier world.

Haitham El-noush is a former deputy member of the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget), representing the Norwegian Socialist Left Party (SV). A development practitioner with over 25 years of experience working on both development and humanitarian aid, who turned into a global health enthusiast through promoting and scaling up innovation and digital tools for health and development. El-noush has a long international cooperation career from working for both governments, INGOs, and the UN.

Hon. Sarah Elago serves as the partylist representative for Gabriela Women’s Party and holds the position of Assistant Minority Leader in the 20th Congress of the House of Representatives in the Philippines. Emerging from the ranks of the student movement that actively campaigned for the right to education, her legislative work is deeply rooted in advocacy for genuine women and people’s empowerment and human rights.

Previously serving for six years as a party-list representative of the youth sector, she was the principal author of landmark laws including the Free Public Higher Education Act and the Philippine Mental Health Law. Her current priority legislation includes bills on Expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children, Strengthened Safe Spaces, and Revised Anti-OSAEC and Anti-CSAEM.

In 2026, her commitment to human rights was recognized internationally when Amnesty International awarded her as the Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender (Individual).

I am Aliyoum Fadil, a Member of Parliament of the Republic of Cameroon, focused on advancing health equity through inclusive public policy. My work emphasizes strengthening health systems, expanding access to care, and addressing disparities in resource-constrained settings. I engage in international parliamentary dialogue on multilateral cooperation and contribute practical policy perspectives to global health discussions.

Dr. Ahmed Alaa Fayed is a member of the Egyptian Parliament serving on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. A former university professor, Dr. Fayed holds a PhD in Public Policy from King’s College London – University of London, as well as an MPA and BSc from The American University in Cairo. He also earned an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership from Harvard Kennedy School.

Ma. Inez Feria founded NoBox Philippines, the country’s first nonprofit organisation dedicated to harm reduction and drug policy reform. Her work is grounded in the conviction that all people deserve dignity and fair treatment, including when their lives involve drug use.

Trained in psychology and medical anthropology, Inez has spent years working and learning alongside communities affected by drug policies. These experiences have shaped her research, advocacy, and narrative work.

Her work has taken her into national and international policy spaces, including serving as Co-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Expert Advisory Group on compulsory facilities and as a civil society representative to the UN Joint Programme’s Technical Working Group on a Human Rights-Based Approach to Drugs in the Philippines.

She has also spoken at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the Philippines, as well as at national conferences and forums on drug policy. Her work seeks to bring the realities of people’s lives into the spaces where policies are developed, ensuring that reforms are informed by and responsive to the people most affected.

Charles Gore is Executive Director of the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a UN-backed public health organisation that increases equitable access to medicines and health technologies through voluntary licensing and technology transfer. Since 2018, he has led MPP’s expansion beyond HIV into essential medicines and pandemic preparedness, including co-leading the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme with WHO.

Nathan Grison serves as Director of the Committee on Democracy and Security at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly since 2020. He oversees the Assembly’s work on resilience, hybrid threats, democratic governance, and emerging security challenges. Previously, he worked with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Kosovo and Ukraine, as well as with NATO, and various United Nations agencies. Nathan holds degrees from Sciences Po Paris and also studied at Harvard University and MGIMO.

Gaj Gurung works, remotely from Nepal, as the Senior Analyst for Sustainable Financing Team at Harm Reduction International- where he undertakes research and policy analysis on harm reduction financing at national and global level. He holds PhD in Public Health with major on health financing. 

Branwen Hennig leads the GHPL initiative, overseeing the Berlin-based team and global partnership network. She champions a co-development approach, uniting cross-sector stakeholders and experts in global health, policy, and technology. Branwen has global health expertise ranging from basic discovery to applied research, to implementation and translation into policy. She previously held on developing and delivering strategic priorities and overseeing large international programmes in global health as funder, consultant and researcher. 

She previously held senior positions at Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and consulted for WHO and beyond.

Ushma Issar is the CEO and co-founder of Rypple, a global purpose-led business focused on shifting health systems from disease treatment to a proactive, “health-ing” mindset. She has over 10 years of experience in the global medical device industry and now works at the intersection of policy, finance, and innovation to make prevention investable and scalable. Through Rypple’s work with governments, multilaterals, and industries, she supports the design of fiscal and policy levers that incentivize early intervention, wellbeing, and systemic resilience.

Deputy Mayor of Paris and President of Elected Representatives Against AIDS (17,000 members, including MPs, Mayors, etc.) Only elected representative in France to have said they are living with HIV, author of 13 books, with lots of followers on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

Mina Kashiwabara is the Technical Lead for the Tobacco Free Initiative programme at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. With over a decade of experience in noncommunicable disease prevention, she has led and supported various initiatives targeting tobacco, alcohol, and disability issues across the Western Pacific Region. She is committed to supporting countries in their efforts to advance tobacco control and broader NCD prevention measures to create health-enabling environments.

Ephraim Abele Kayembe is an accomplished researcher and policymaker in Malawi. He has been a member of parliament for 11 years now and continues to advocate for sustainable health financing towards the Global Fund. He has championed and advocated for the development of sound health policies to support sustainable healthcare. Being a goal getter, he has utilized strategic partnership and collaboration to harvest fruits of collective and inclusive development. He possesses a PhD in IR, an MSc, and a BSc.

Dr Etienne Krug is a global public health leader, with nearly 35 years of international experience. Having served the World Health Organization (WHO) in various capacities since 1999, he is currently Director of the WHO Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Department covers a broad range of topics linked to promoting more healthy and equitable societies. Among them include social and commercial determinants of health; injury and violence prevention; noncommunicable disease risks – tobacco, alcohol and physical inactivity; urban health; social connection; health promotion; and good governance and fiscal policies for health. In this capacity, he oversees the development of intergovernmental resolutions and global reports, the implementation of multi-country development projects, and global advocacy campaigns. He chairs the International Organizing Committee for the series of World Conferences on Injury Prevention and the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration.

Lenin Laínez is a Honduran educator, former parliamentarian, and diplomat with extensive experience in public policy and social development. As a National Congress member, he championed legislative initiatives to expand healthcare coverage, focusing on hospital infrastructure and access to public health services, laying the groundwork for projects later implemented under President Xiomara Castro. He also served as a consul of Honduras, strengthening international cooperation. Currently, he works at the Directorate General of Curriculum and Evaluation, advancing education policy, innovation, and human development.

Toni Joe Lebbos is a Health Economist at the World Bank, where he works on health financing and health tax reform in the East Asia and Pacific region. His recent work has focused on strengthening excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages. In the Philippines, he led analytical work modelling the distributional, fiscal, and health impacts of reforming the country’s sugar-sweetened beverage tax. In Lao PDR, he authored the Health Public Expenditure and Institutional Review, which set out a reform agenda for health taxes and sustainable health financing. He holds a background in health economics and applied policy analysis

Hon. Rim Maachaoui is a Member of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People of Tunisia, representing the Governorate of Kef. She serves on parliamentary committees related to legislation, strategic planning, sustainable development, infrastructure, industry, energy and natural resources. She is also an active member of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). She holds a Master’s degree in Earth Sciences and has professional experience in geology and mining. She is committed to promoting sustainable development, gender equality, and equitable access to healthcare.

Emiko Masaki is a Principal Health Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with nearly 20 years of experience in policy advisory, program development, implementation, and regional cooperation in health and social sectors in Asia. She leads ADB’s initiatives on nutrition, healthy ageing and long-term care from the Human and Social Development Sector Office of ADB. Before joining ADB, Emiko served as a Senior Health Economist at the World Bank where she was engaged in results-based financing operations and analytical work including health financing, public financial management, domestic resource mobilization, and health taxes in Asia and the Pacific. Emiko holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in the field of health economics and demography from the University of California, Berkeley.

Mahesh Kumar Malani, born in 1962, is a senior Pakistani parliamentarian and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health.

I decided to join the frontline of politics out of conviction to serve the people of my constituency and Malawi at large through policy and development influencing. I have a strong interest in maternal, SRHR, Noncommunicable Disease, and AMR, which is largely caused by the consumption of substandard drugs. I am currently serving as a Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health.

Olawale Maiyegun, PhD is a Public Policy expert, an accomplished retired career Ambassador and international Civil Servant with over four decades experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy at the highest level of Heads of States and Governments at the Nigerian Foreign Service, African Union, and United Nations, as well as overseas postings in Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa. As a former Director, Department of Social Affairs (now Humanitarian, Health & Social Development), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, he has vast experience in development work, humanitarian action in armed conflict, public and global health security and health diplomacy.

I am a founding member of UNITE, established in 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and the sole representative of Cuba within the organization. My engagement began during the 139th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). I reside in Paris, France, where I serve as President of the Association Somos Cubanos en Francia, while maintaining strong institutional ties with Cuba.

Jean-François Mbaye, former Member of Parliament (2017-2022, 15th legislature) and member of the Board of Directors of GHA (Global Health Action), is committed to promoting equitable access to healthcare. A lawyer by training, he began his career in the civil service at the Ministry of Health, then as chief of staff for a local authority in the Paris suburbs. An expert in advocacy and public policy, he works to strengthen health systems and promote innovative solutions for vulnerable populations. Vice-President of Local Elected Officials Against Malaria, he has also chaired the AIDS parliamentary group and coordinated the Foreign Affairs Committee. Today, he teaches hospital law and bioethics at a Parisian university.

A distinguished leader with over three decades of experience spanning academia, public service, and parliament. Honorary Professor at the University of the Western Cape, member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, representing SA women parliamentarians at the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association. Previously Provincial Minister of Health for two terms; former Associate Professor on Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights.

Gelise McCullough joined the Medicines Patent Pool in 2020 and works across its portfolio to build and maintain partnerships with governments, multilateral agencies, and civil society, while communicating MPP’s impact. She is a public health professional with over 20 years of experience in global health and access to medicine, including prior roles within the UN and multilateral organisations.

Marina Mijatović has been a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia since 2024 and a member of the Committee on Health and Family. She has been a lawyer for over ten years, with expertise in medical law. She previously worked in NGOs, served five years as Executive Director of Law Scanner, eight years on the Health Council, and over ten years as a Consultant on Medical Law Clinics at Union University. She also served six years as a civil supervisor for public

Ex-MP, Bangladesh Parliament (2014-2023); Ex-Chair, IPU Health Advisory Committee; Ex-Member, Governing Body, IFRC; Ex-Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society; Sr. Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Medical Research Council; Ex-Standing Committee Member, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare, and Science & Technology; Ex-Chairman, Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing; Ex-Member, Global TB Caucas.

My full name is Christina Christopher, a female MP representing my fellow women in my community. It is my second term as a member of Parliament. I’m passionate about women empowerment and community development. I’m a medical doctor by profession, also serving as a member of the Health committee.

Utaara Mootu is a Namibian Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on International Relations, Defense, and Security. Her leadership advances health equity through addressing structural determinants such as land access, food security, and climate resilience. At the SADC Parliamentary Forum, she has advocated for health equity and sexual and reproductive health rights while strengthening parliamentary oversight on health systems. She has also engaged in global policy dialogues on building resilient health systems, including at the World Health Summit in Berlin. Through her legislative work, she promotes integrated, equity-driven approaches to health systems strengthening across the Global South.

Fortune Daniel Molokele is a human rights lawyer who was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Whange Central Constituency in July 2018. In August 2023, he was re-elected for his second term. He has been a very active member of the UNITE Parliamentary Network for over five years and has participated in several events or activities in places ranging from Lisbon, Geneva, Washington DC, Berlin, and Nairobi, among other places.

Adolfo Jose A. Montesa is a Philippine policy researcher and data analyst specializing in health taxes—with a particular focus on tobacco taxation as a sustainable financing instrument for tobacco control and broader health priorities. He is currently a Policy Advocacy Officer at the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA), a global civil society network advancing evidence-based alcohol policy and engagement with the World Health Organization, and a Co-Convenor of the People’s Budget Coalition, advancing evidence-based reforms for more equitable and transparent public financing.

From 2017 to 2025, AJ served on the fiscal policy team of Action for Economic Reforms (AER), where he led policy research and advocacy to protect and strengthen tobacco tax measures, including work on the political economy of reform, revenue mobilization, and the case for aligning health taxes with development goals. He previously served as Lead for Data Management at WR Numero, a non-partisan public opinion research firm. While he remains a consultant with AER’s Industrial Policy Team, he is no longer involved in the organization’s taxation and fiscal policy work, and he speaks at the Summit in his personal capacity as a health tax researcher.

AJ graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines School of Economics and is completing his MA in Economics.

Usman is a former member of Parliament in Nigeria. Was Deputy Chair Com on Health from 2015 to 2019. Sponsored motions and legislation aimed at strengthening the Nigerian health system and improving the quality of health care delivery. Since 2019, has worked with the World Bank Nigeria and several NGOs supporting Nigerian legislature at national and sub-national levels. Now working with the Speaker of the House of Representatives as an SA.

Oscar Rwegasira Mukasa is a senior policy analyst, researcher, and advocacy leader with over 20 years’ experience influencing policy, legislation, and financing through evidence-based engagement with government in Tanzania and beyond. He is a Senior Policy and Government Engagement Advisor with the STOP TB Partnership Tanzania Chapter and a former Member of Parliament (2015–2020). He brings strong expertise in public health, governance, systems strengthening, and applied policy analysis.

Dr. Mellany Murgor, based in Kenya, is a Public Health Practitioner and youth advocate advancing occupational health, NCD prevention, and community wellbeing. She serves on the WHO Youth Council Steering Committee and is an Ambassador for the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) Congress.

Her work connects policy to practice, integrating climate change, intergenerational equity, and workforce health into legislative and community action. She champions evidence-informed laws that protect young and vulnerable populations across the lifecourse and drive inclusive, mentally healthy, and resilient societies.

Dr. Anthony Mveyange is a Tanzanian development economist and pan-African executive leader with 17+ years building research institutions, shaping policy, and mobilizing over $40 million in donor funding across Africa. He leads a $20M+ portfolio as Director of Programs, Synergy at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), where he oversaw Kenya’s $500M Science, Research and Innovation Blueprint, following C-suite roles at the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) and TradeMark Africa, and a Research Economist role at the World Bank. His independent consulting spans TradeMark Africa, Porticus, AERC, the World Bank Group, and UNU-WIDER, and he serves on boards across Africa, Europe, and North America. A Fulbright Scholar and Kenya’s 2025 Top 100 Executive Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, he has spoken at UNGA, the Africa Roundtable, Forward African Leaders Symposium (FALS), the AU Heads of State Summit, COP, and the Pan-African Parliament, and is a regular economic and public policy analyst on BBC, CGTN, Deutsche Welle, TRT, and Azam TV in Tanzania. In 2020, the World Manufacturing Forum named him among 12 global experts shaping its White Paper on Global Value Chains during COVID-19.

Dr. Galyna Mykhailiuk is a Ukrainian member of Parliament, Deputy Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement, and Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. A Doctor of Legal Sciences, Professor, and Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, Dr. Mykhailiuk is actively engaged in international parliamentary cooperation, including within the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and co-leads the Groups on Interparliamentary Relations with Japan, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand. Dr. Mykhailiuk also serves as the co-chair of the Network of Women Legislators in Defense, Security, and Peace Portfolios (WLID), leading interparliamentary cooperation of countries in the Global North.

Dr. Raymond John “RJ” Naguit is a public health physician and policy reform advocate with expertise in health systems strengthening, substance use, and sexual and reproductive health. He has extensive experience in policy development, program design and implementation, capacity-building, and strategic partnerships across government, civil society, academia, and international development organizations.

Since 2018, Dr. Naguit has been a Fellow of the Institute of Politics and Governance (IPG), where he has worked with local government units, civil society organizations, and communities to advance evidence-based and health-centered approaches to drug policy, including the development and implementation of alternative programs for people who use drugs.

He currently serves as Lead of the Project ACCEPT Drug Education Network, a national network that promotes evidence-based, health- and human rights-centered approaches to substance use. Working alongside people with lived and living experience, healthcare professionals, and community partners, the network co-developed the Philippines’ first community-led harm reduction training modules. He also serves as Co-Lead of the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians’ Thematic Working Group on Substance Use and is an active member of the Drug Policy Reform Initiative (DPRI), where he
continues to advance policy reforms and strengthen the capacity of health professionals and communities to respond to substance use through a public health lens.

Dr. Naguit earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Medicine from the University of Santo Tomas, a Master of Community Development from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and a Master of Science in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) as a Chevening Scholar. He also holds a Diploma in Substance Use Interventions from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Maha Abdel Nasser is a member of Parliament and Vice President of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party. She is one of the main opposition figures and fought several battles against the government on crucial issues concerning health & education. Maha holds an engineering degree, an MBA, and an online PhD degree in Political Marketing. She also has more than 35 years of experience in the areas of sales, marketing, and business management in the ICT industry.

Denis Naughten is an experienced policy leader with nearly thirty years as an MP in Ireland and former Minister for Communications, Climate Action, and Environment. Renowned for bridging science, technology, and policy, Denis brings global expertise in turning research into effective health initiatives and evidence-based policies. He has played a key role in international legislative frameworks, advocating for ethical innovation and improved outcomes for those affected by chronic illness.

I am currently running my private pharmacy. I am a former Member of Parliament. I am actively involved in drug awareness campaigns in my community. We also run campaigns against drugs and substance abuse. Karoi has a population of about 100000 people. Currently there is a prevalence of marijuana and amphetamine abuse amongst young people.

Hon. Esther Muthoni Passaris is a Member of Parliament representing Nairobi County since 2017 and a Member of the Pan African Parliament since 2023. She is a businesswoman, political leader, and social entrepreneur recognized for her impact on public-private partnerships and urban development. In 2002, she founded Adopt-A-Light Ltd, revolutionizing outdoor advertising and lighting in informal settlements, which earned her Kenya’s Order of the Grand Warrior and UN-HABITAT’s Business Award.

She currently serves on the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Development, and Public Works and the Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy. She is a founding member of the Kenya Parliamentary Caucus on Sustainable Development Goals and Business. She is a member of global networks like the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights (EPF), and the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA).

Amar ‍Patnaik, Ph.D., is an Indian politician and former member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) representing Odisha. He used to be an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service and is now, by and large, credited for his knowledge of governance, finance, and public policy.

Ramesh Paudyal is an ex-Bagmati Province MP (2017–2022, Bibeksheel Sajha) and holds sociology & political science degrees (Nepal) and a Masters of Management of Development (Wageningen Univ., Netherlands). 20+ years as a development consultant & tourism entrepreneur. Expert in rural Nepal WASH & health, focused on deprived communities. Current APPFE Executive Committee member (Asia Pacific Eval. Assoc.), advocates for dev. evaluation. Joined the RSP central committee in early 2026 with Balendra Shah’s team.

As a professor of higher education, I was the Vice Rector of the University of Cape Verde. I was the Vice President of the UCID party for two terms and am currently President of the party’s National Council. I am currently serving my second term as a member of parliament. I belong to the network of women parliamentarians and have been working with women to organize the party’s women’s wing. I actively participated in the drafting of the parity law. I was president of the Municipal

Ms. Bianca Carvalho is the co-chair of the Planetary Health Working Group of the WHO Youth Council. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Health from the Geneva Graduate Institute. Currently she is a fellow at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and a writer for Geneva Health Files.

Her research agenda, projects, and publications encompass global health governance, access to medicines, intellectual property, and the intersection of climate change and health.

Dr. Mitch Prinstein is the John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Co-Director of the Winston Center for Technology and Brain Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He also serves as Senior Science Advisor to the American Psychological Association and as Principal Investigator at the AI Psychological Research Coalition. His work examines the impact of social technologies on children and young adolescents, particularly their social, psychological, and brain development.

Dr. Prinstein has advised and consulted with numerous government agencies, including the White House and the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General; international organisations such as the OECD, World Economic Forum, and World Health Organization; and nonprofit organisations including Common Sense Media and the National PTA.

He is also an expert with the Human Change Foundation, where he raises awareness about the impact of digitalised childhood on children’s development and societal cohesion.

50 years of age. Holder of a master’s degree in International Relations (Zimbabwe Defence University), a master’s in Human Resources (International University of Management Namibia), and currently on a 3rd-year law degree at the University of Zambia. Politician for the past 20 years and having interest in health-related issues, particularly funding and support. An avid golfer.

Born on December 9, 1962, in Valencia, Spain. Member of Parliament. Graduate in Medicine and Surgery from Valencia University. Specialization in Family Medicine and Community Health. Mayor of Quart de Poblet, Valencia (1999 – 2023). Provincial Deputy for Valencia (2003 – 2011). Member of the Valencian Parliament (2011 – 2023). Secretary and Vice President of the Valencian Parliament (2011 – 2019). Secretary of Health and Mental Health on the National Executive Committee of the Valencian Community.

Professor Elil Renganathan is Professor of Public Health and Policy at Monash University Malaysia, with a focus on strengthening public health systems and policy development. He is a senior international expert with over three decades of experience in global public health, including 25 years in leadership roles at the World Health Organization. He has made critical contributions to Malaysian healthcare policy, including as a member of the Advisory Council for the Malaysian Health White Paper. In addition to his continued contribution to WHO’s work globally and regionally, he is increasingly engaged within the ASEAN health sector. He oversees the Policy Hub for Public Health Emergencies, a regional collaborative platform, hosted at Monash University Malaysia.

Alda Recas Martín is a nurse, healthcare activist, and member of the Spanish Congress of Deputies representing Más Madrid within the Plurinational Parliamentary Group Sumar.

She is an expert in international public health and also holds a master’s degree in healthcare management. Throughout her professional career, she has worked as a nurse in different areas of the healthcare system (most recently as a school nurse) and with various NGOs, traveling to territories with complex humanitarian contexts.

With the arrival of Mónica García at the head of the Ministry of Health, she was appointed advisor in the Secretariat of State. In 2024, she became a member of the Congress of Deputies, where she serves as a spokesperson in the Health Commission and chairs the Social Rights Commission.

Neren Rau assumed the role of Director: Policy at CEPI in August 2022. A seasoned corporate executive with extensive policy, business advocacy, public/media relations, stakeholder relations and negotiation expertise, Neren served as Director of External Affairs at MSD Sub-Saharan Africa for almost 7 years.

In the 12 years prior, Neren evolved his experience of representing enterprises on local and international platforms, as well as to the highest levels of government and in the media. He was CEO of South Africa’s (then) largest organised business structure, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also worked at: the SA Reserve Bank and the National Treasury. He lectured at both Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg.

Neren has served as an Executive Director or as an Independent Director on the Boards and Audit Committees of several private and public companies.

Dr. Lorenzo is a biologist, licensed medical doctor, professor, climate and health volunteer, and mentor. From humble beginnings as a passionate campus volunteer to becoming a national advocate for mental health, climate resilience, and youth empowerment, Dr. Lorenzo has dedicated his life to transforming compassion into action.

Since then, he believed that he has been empowered to serve and saved by this opportunity to lead and give back. Being in the space for more than 14 years, he has been involved in local projects, national endeavors, and global efforts on health, climate, education, peace, and development.

Clinical Professor at St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea. Former member of the 21st National Assembly (Democratic Party), serving as Vice Chairman of the Gender Equality & Family Committee and member of the Health & Welfare Committee. Previously Director of the Korean Parliament Forum on Global Health, Secretary General of the Korea-Africa Foundation, and party spokesperson. Combines medical expertise with extensive policy experience in healthcare, gender equality, and international relations.

Sonia Sidhu has served as a Member of Parliament for Brampton South since 2015. With nearly two decades of health care experience, she is a leading advocate for national health initiatives. As a long-time member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, she has helped shape policies on mental health, dental care, and Canada’s COVID-19 response. She is also recognized for introducing the legislation that created Canada’s National Framework for Diabetes.

Gurdeep Singh is a Pakistani politician who is currently serving as a member of the Senate of Pakistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since March 2021. He belongs to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He is also the first Pakistani Sikh to be elected as a Senator in the Senate of Pakistan.

Paige Snider is the Senior Partnerships Advisor at the Pandemic Fund, responsible for strengthening engagement with key stakeholders, including sovereign contributors and non-sovereign partners like the private sector, foundations, and philanthropies, and overseeing development of the innovative finance strategy and portfolio.

She brings more than 25 years of experience to the role and is an experienced leader of teams that deliver strategic policy and stakeholder impact. She has a deep background in communications, advocacy, and partnerships with public and private sectors, as well as with NGOs and international organizations. After spending more than a decade designing and managing international economic development projects funded by USAID, she spent close to 15 years in China working to advance global policies and engagement with key counterparts. She spent nearly five years working for the U.S. State Department Economic Section and then from 2017 to 2022 worked at WHO China as the Senior Adviser for Communications and External Relations. Priority areas included policy analysis, partnerships, and communications on expanding access to diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments of communicable diseases, reducing risks associated with noncommunicable diseases, promoting integrated and accessible aging services, and promoting increased health budgets for basic health services.

Dr. Zachary Stein was trained at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and education and currently works in fields related to mitigating global catastrophic risks. He is considered a leading authority on the future of education and contemporary issues in human development.

A co-founder of three nonprofit organisations, Dr. Stein is currently the Founder and Director of the AI Psychological Research Coalition. He has authored dozens of peer-reviewed papers and several books, including the widely acclaimed Education in a Time Between Worlds: Essays on the Future of Schools, Technology, and Society.

He is a sought-after and award-winning speaker who addresses audiences across diverse sectors, disciplines, and worldviews. Dr. Stein is also an expert with the Human Change Foundation, where he raises awareness about the impact of digitalised childhood on children’s development and societal cohesion.

Seasoned health and governance advocate with a good record of delivering impactful interactions in complex environments. A former MP who focused on healthy equity and community developments worked with VSO RAISA in the SADC region, specializing in HIV/AIDS interventions. A voice for vulnerable children and women, she excelled at bridging the gap between national policy and regional implementation.

Conferences of UNITE have always been encouraging and richly insightful for my job. It has always been a real opportunity to have one-on-one exchanges and discussions on pressing issues. I deeply appreciate UNITE for this.

Member of Parliament from April 2020 to August 2024 as Minister for the Ministry of Justice.

Member of Parliament from Dec. 2024 to present as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

Knowledgeable with public administrative functions, having worked with the public sector & civil societies for more than ten years (2004-2019).

Extensive understanding of legislative requirements and concepts of development control & administration of state lands and native land tenure in Kiribati with contemporary challenges in the context of small island developing states.

Dr Atsuro Tsutsumi is Coordinator (Regional Advisor) for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. He has extensive experience in global mental health, mental health policy, and research. His work focuses on integrating mental health into primary health care and broader health and social systems, supporting countries to develop evidence-based policies and programmes. Before joining WHO, he served as a Professor and Director at Kanazawa University, Japan, where he led national and international research on global mental health. He holds a PhD from the University of Tokyo, Japan.

Dr. Chonlathan Visaruthvong is an economist specializing in health taxation, with expertise in excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). She currently serves as a Technical Officer in the Fiscal & Legal Measures for Health Unit (FLM), Department of Health Determinants, Promotion, and Prevention (DPP) at the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Visaruthvong earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Thammasat University, Thailand, and both her Master’s and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago, United States. With more than 25 years of experience in tax policy and administration, she has worked extensively across a wide range of excise products, including petroleum, automobile, SSBs, tobacco, and alcohol. In addition to her role at WHO, Dr. Visaruthvong has served as a technical consultant and excise tax expert for international organizations such as the World Bank and the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA). She has provided strategic advice, expert guidance, and training on excise taxation, particularly in the areas of tobacco, alcohol, and SSBs, contributing to global efforts to strengthen fiscal measures for public health.

Monina Vasquez Vierneza serves as the Global General Counsel & Executive Director, Legal, Compliance, Risk & Assurance (LCRA) at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). In this capacity, Ms. Vierneza is responsible for governance, legal strategy, risk management, and accountability within CEPI, a leading institution in global pandemic preparedness and response. Her remit includes protecting public and philanthropic investments while facilitating swift, coordinated actions to address epidemic and pandemic risks.

Ms. Vierneza oversees the legal and regulatory frameworks for CEPI’s programmes and operations in more than 30 countries, ensuring that the organization’s operating and contracting models align with the expectations of sovereign donors, multilateral institutions, and philanthropic stakeholders. Additionally, she leads CEPI’s Oslo Headquarters, acting as the primary representative in engagements with governmental and diplomatic counterparts.

Carmen Willen currently leads the Governance and External Relations team in the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the first international public health treaty adopted under the auspices of WHO. In this capacity, she coordinates the treaty’s governance processes, oversees diplomatic outreach to maintain strong global commitment to tobacco control and public health, and manages key strategic engagement initiatives, including parliamentary engagement.

From 2021 to 2023, Carmen was seconded to the World Health Organization (WHO), where she contributed to major global health initiatives across several departments, including the WHO COVAX team, supporting equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and the Department of Health and Multilateral Partnerships, where she strengthened cooperation with global health stakeholders and international development partners.

Throughout her career, Carmen Willen has worked with a range of international and diplomatic institutions around the world. She previously served at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), worked with the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C., and volunteered in Cambodia as a field officer for Transparency International, focusing on anti-corruption and civil society strengthening. She joined the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC in 2015, bringing extensive experience in multilateral negotiation, intergovernmental coordination, and policy advisory work.

She holds a Master’s Degree in International Negotiations and Policy-Making.

Tonya Winders. MBA is currently the President and acting Chief Executive Officer of the Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform, the global voice representing the more than one billion people living with atopic & airways diseases & the more than 200-member patient advocacy organizations in GAAPP.  

Tonya has over 25 years’ experience in leadership roles within the allergy and asthma industry in both for profit & nonprofit sectors. She serves on several expert panels including WHO GARD & GINA  & has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Furthermore, she is on the board of directors for We CU & serves in local ministry roles. 

Personally, Tonya is the mother of five children, four of whom have asthma and/or allergies.  She is also the caregiver for her parents who live with COPD. She enjoys spending time with her husband of 30 years Brian and doting on her grandchildren. 

Tonya Winders is a paid speaker and advisor for AstraZeneca, Chiesi, Eli Lilly, GSK, Novartis, Roche, & Sanofi Regeneron. 

Dr. Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen is a trained medical doctor, lawyer, and policymaker. He holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD), a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), and a Master of Laws (LLM) in Medical Law, enabling him to bridge clinical practice, legal ethics, and healthcare regulation.

He previously served as the Chair of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Health, leading parliamentary oversight of Malaysia’s national health policies. He was also appointed as Special Advisor to the Minister of Health, YB Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, providing strategic advice on medico-legal issues and healthcare system reforms.

He currently serves as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bandar Kuching and continues to champion evidence-based, patient-centred healthcare governance

Xi Yin leads the Health Promotion and Policy Unit in the Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO). In this role, she oversees regional efforts to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases and injuries, supporting countries in implementing evidence-based policies to address major risk factors—including alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and unhealthy diets. She provides strategic leadership across multisectoral prevention agendas, strengthening policy coherence, surveillance, and regulatory measures to advance public health.

Previously, Xi served as Coordinator/Regional Adviser for the Tobacco-Free Initiative at WPRO and from 2019 to 2022 was based at the WHO China Office, where she led the tobacco control and NCD prevention team, supporting national and subnational reforms to strengthen population-level risk-factor reduction.

Before joining WHO, Xi spent more than a decade in global public health advocacy as Regional Director for East Asia and Pacific Programmes at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (Global Advocacy Incubator). Over her 12-year tenure, she led advocacy strategy development, coalition building and policy implementation efforts that contributed to major public health advances across different countries in Asia-Pacific.