Meet the Speakers

Learn more about the experts and contributors

Meet the speakers

Discover the remarkable biographies of our esteemed faculty of internationally recognised experts speaking over the four-day event. Each brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from years of dedicated work in their fields. From leading researchers to seasoned practitioners, our faculty has made significant global contributions to healthcare, research and advocacy. With diverse backgrounds and specialised expertise, they promise thought-provoking discussions, invaluable insights, and lively debates.

Day 1 Speakers >

Day 2 Speakers >

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Day 4 Speakers>

Meet the
event Co-Chairs

Dr. Jane Barratt, PhD and Dr. Cedric "Jamie" Rutland, MD will guide us through the four-day event while sharing their critical perspectives on the conversations happening throughout the event sessions.

Dr. Jane Barratt, PhD
Global Advisor,
International Federation on Ageing

An independent consultant, Global Advisor and former Secretary General of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA). Jane’s leadership continues to help drive the agenda for the world’s population ageing in many intergovernmental agendas including the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. Dr. Barratt earned her Master of Medical Sociology at the University of Surrey and her PhD in Demography and Population Studies at the University of Western Australia. She is an international speaker, Churchill Fellow, recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in Canada and a WHO Healthy Ageing 50 champion.

Dr. Cedric “Jamie” Rutland, MD
Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician,
Rutland Medical Group

A triple board-certified Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Internal Medicine physician and owner of Rutland Medical Group, a busy private practice in Newport Beach, CA. Dr. Rutland is an engaging clinical educator and healthcare leader with a distinguished medical career, consulting at the intersection of digital marketing, media production, and clinical education to shape the future of healthcare. Serves as a trusted advisor and partner to leading pharmaceutical companies, designing creative digital marketing and media strategies to expand audience reach and target medical professionals and the general public.

Meet Day 1 Speakers

Dr. Piyali Mukherjee
Vice President, Head of Medical Affairs, Vaccines, GSK

Distinguished for establishing elevated standards of excellence in Medical Affairs. Dr. Mukherjee has successfully formed and led high performing teams involved in the development and implementation of ambitious patient-centric strategic scientific objectives across a portfolio of early pipeline and licensed vaccines.

A medical doctor by training with a Master’s in Public Health. Dr. Mukherjee has served as a Medical Officer in the Indian Navy prior to starting her career in the pharmaceutical industry at Servier Laboratories. She joined GSK in 2012 and has held various roles of increasing responsibility leading teams involved in a number of vaccine assets.

Elizabeth Sukkar, MRPharmS, FRSPH, BPharm, MSc
Senior Research Manager, Policy & Insights, Global Health, Economist Impact

A senior research manager in global health in the policy and insights team at Economist Impact. Prior to this, she was the managing editor and global healthcare editorial lead at Economist Intelligence Unit’s Thought Leadership division.

Elizabeth Sukkar is the lead on global health projects that help build effective action to develop a sustainable health economy, with patients at the centre. She has led major research projects on universal healthcare, climate change and its impact on lung health, health literacy, self-care, sin taxes, patient-centred care and cancer care.

Dr. Kamran Khan, MD, MPH
Founder & CEO, BlueDot

A practising infectious disease physician and a Professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto. Motivated by his experiences during the 2003 Toronto SARS epidemic, Dr. Khan has been conducting research on global epidemics for over two decades, publishing landmark studies in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet, Science and Nature. His work during public health emergencies has led him into numerous advisory roles from the World Health Organization to the White House. To translate and disseminate scientific knowledge into timely action during public health emergencies, Dr. Khan founded BlueDot, a global infectious disease intelligence company.

Dr. Lisa Menning, MSc
Team Lead, Vaccine Demand and Behavioural Sciences, Dept. of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization

Currently Team Lead for vaccine demand and behavioural sciences, working in the Department of Immunization with WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Lisa brings almost 20 years of progressive experience in global health, social and behaviour change, communications, community engagement and advocacy, covering the non-profit, public and private sectors, working across multiple areas of public health. In her current role at WHO, Lisa manages a programme of work that is focused on confidence and uptake for vaccination and addressing hesitancy. Her focus is on developing normative guidance and supporting tools and materials that draw on the latest evidence from the social and behavioural sciences, providing technical support to regions and countries, and collaborating with partners.

Dr. Sridhar Venkatapuram, BA(Hons), MSc, MPhil, PhD, FRSA, FFPH(Hon)
Senior Lecturer, Global Health and Philosophy, King’s College London

An inter-disciplinary academic-practitioner in global health ethics and justice. He is an Associate Professor at King’s College London. Since early 1990s he has worked with WHO (HQ), NHS, Wellcome Trust, BMA, Human Rights Watch, and others. He lectures widely and publishes research on public health and global health ethics; global and health justice philosophy; capabilities approach; social determinants of health; and health equity.

Dr. Litjen (L.J) Tan, MS, PhD
Chief Strategy Officer, Immunization Action Coalition

Chief Strategy Officer at Immunization Action Coalition since 2013. Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the National Adult and Influenza Immunization Summit, Dr. Tan is former President of the Board of the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC). He is an editor for Vaccine, BMC Infectious Diseases, Medscape Infectious Diseases, and is a member of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Vaccine Study Group. Current appointments include serving as a special consultant for the EU Influenza Summit and the Asia-Pacific Influenza Summit and serving as a member of the Advisory Board for AVAC, Unity Consortium, the 317 Coalition, and the AMGA’s Adult Immunization Collaborative.

Meet Day 2 Speakers

Dr. Zain Chagla, MD
Associate Professor, McMaster University & Infectious Diseases Consultant

Medical Director of Infection Control, Head of Infectious Diseases Service, and Interim Senior Medical Director of Clinical Operations at St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. A member of the Institute for Infectious Diseases Research (IIDR) at McMaster University, and a board director of AMMI-Canada (Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases). Dr. Chagla holds a BSc and MD from Queen’s University, an Internal Medicine Residency from Western University, an Infectious Diseases Fellowship at McMaster University, and a Masters of Science (Infectious Diseases), and Diploma in Tropical Medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine.

Prof. Peter Openshaw, PhD, FRCP
Associate Professor, McMaster University & Infectious Diseases Consultant

A respiratory physician, pulmonologist and immunologist working on viral infections of the lung. Established the Department of Respiratory Medicine at St Mary's in 1988, which became part of Imperial College in the 1990s. The research focuses on immunopathogenesis of infection, spanning cell biology, animal studies and investigation of human disease (including volunteer challenge with RSV and flu). Theme Lead on the respiratory component of Imperial’s Biomedical Research Centre, providing coordination of NIHR-funded research in respiratory medicine at Imperial NHS Trust facilities. Also, Director of the Centre for Respiratory Infection, coordinating the activities of more than 20 principal investigators.

Ajit Johal, BSP, RPh, BCPP, CTH
Community Pharmacist & Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia

Providing immunizations and clinical education since 2012. A community pharmacist and an accessible provider of immunizations to patients in the community. In 2018, he started an organization called immunize.io with a mission statement of “taking our best shot at immunizing the world”. Through “immunize.io,” he has worked with numerous organizations and communities to address “vaccine hesitancy” and improve vaccine access locally, nationally, and globally. He champions community pharmacists as leaders of immunization services and presents on this topic at a national and global level. Also, a clinical assistant professor for the University of British Columbia Faculty of Sciences program.

Dr. Grace L. Chua, MD, FRCPC, FACC
Community Cardiologist, Mackenzie Health in Richmond Hill and Vaughan, Ontario

A community cardiologist with a very active private practice. Dr. Chua received her medical, cardiology training and fellowship in Adult Echocardiography and her Clinical Epidemiology at Toronto University. She was involved in clinical research leading to a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine that has been instrumental in initiating the declaration of conflict of interest in medicine that we see today. She was the Chief of the Division of Cardiology at Mackenzie Health from 2003-2017 and was the initiating force in the development of the hospital’s rapid access cardiology clinic and heart function service. Currently, her interests lie in clinical education and knowledge translation.

Dr. Vivien Brown MDCM, CCFP, FCFP, NCMP
Assistant Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto

A family physician and author - “The New Woman’s Guide to Healthy Aging” recently published to rave reviews. Educated at McGill University and currently appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Toronto University. An award winner for teaching, her major interests are in the area of health promotion and prevention for women, and continuing medical education, Adult Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Illness. The College of Family Physicians of Ontario named Dr Brown “Physician of the Year for the Region of Toronto”. Recently she was named one of Canada’s most influential women by the organization Women of Influence, for her work on advocacy on HPV vaccine for Canadians.

Theresa Tolle, BPharm, FAPhA
Independent Pharmacist, Florida

Owner of an independent Pharmacy in Florida focusing on patient services; immunizations and testing, compounding, diabetes education, MTM including medication adherence, packaging, and pharmacogenomics. She has previous experience in chain, long-term care (consultant), pharmacy and hospital. Theresa Tolle's professional activities have spanned local, state and national pharmacy associations, serving as President of the Florida Pharmacy Association, APhA Speaker of the House, Trustee at Large, and Immediate Past President of the American Pharmacists Association. Additional involvement includes serving as the Lead Luminary of CPESN Florida, a clinically integrated network of over 100 independent pharmacies within Florida.

Dr. Jennifer Caudle, DO
Family Medicine Physician & Associate Professor, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

A board-certified Family Medicine physician and Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Caudle is the Clerkship Director for the 3rd year Family Medicine Clerkship at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Caudle graduated with Honors from Princeton University and earned her medical degree from UMDNJ- School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is known nationally as an on-air health expert and appears regularly on the Today Show, CNN, HLN, The Dr. Oz Show, and many others.

Ms. Julissa Soto
Public Health Advocate, CEO & Founder, Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting

Dedicated leading advocate for Latino immigrant equality, inclusion, and health equity in Colorado nationwide, for over 20 years. Ms Soto's advocacy efforts have appeared in publications throughout Colorado, as well as NPR, Time magazine, Hispanic Executive, the American Public Health Association’s Public Health, Religion and Spirituality Bulletin, and a new documentary from the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition. A featured TEDx Talk speaker, her success in leading and managing evidence-based prevention programs serving new immigrants has been recognized at both state and national levels.

Meet Day 3 Speakers

Prof. Fuqiang Cui
Professor, School of Public Health, Peking University

Previously, technical officer of WHO headquarters, the Deputy Director of the National Immunization Programme, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Manager of Ministry of Health/Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunization. Prof. Cui currently serves as the Vice President of the Society of Prevention and control of infectious disease, the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association (CPMA). Author of four books and has published over 320 scientific articles in international journals such as JAMA, Lancet GH, Lancet ID, MMWR, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Emerging infectious diseases, International Journal of Epidemiology, Bull World Health Organ, Frontier in Medicine, and more.

Prof. Chuanxi Fu
Professor, Zheijiang Chinese Medical University

Professor Chuanxi Fu, from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, is a leading expert in assessing infectious disease burdens among vulnerable populations and tackling vaccine hesitancy in China. His research informs global guidelines and national immunization strategies, notably for rotavirus and influenza vaccines. As a Professor in Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Control, he chairs influential committees and serves on editorial boards of esteemed journals. Supported by substantial funding, including from the National Social Science Fund of China, Professor Fu spearheads innovative projects to enhance public health and vaccine education, ensuring his enduring impact on disease prevention and control.

Dr. Stefania Maggi, MD, MPH, PhD
Research Director, CNR Aging Branch-Institute of Neuroscience

A geriatrician Research Director at the CNR Aging Branch-Institute of Neuroscience in Padua, coordinating the national project on “Multicomponent interventions to improve functional and cognitive wellbeing in older adults in long term care facilities” in the frame program on Ageing-The National Recovery and Resilience Plan. President of the European Interdisciplinary Council on Aging (EICA) and Past President of the European Geriatric Medicine Society. Stefania Maggi has published more than 400 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journal and is Emeritus editor in Chief of Aging Clinical and Experimental Research (Springer). Her research focuses on the epidemiology of ageing and on the analysis of the major determinants of healthy aging through the life-course.

Prof. Jean Woo, MD
Co-Director, CUHK Institute of Health Equity

Director of the Jockey Club Institute of Ageing at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Honorary Consultant of the Prince of Wales and Shatin Hospitals, Hospital Authority. Prof. Woo’s research interests include chronic diseases and geriatric syndromes, health services research, nutrition epidemiology and intervention, quality of life issues at the end of life, with over 1000 articles in peer-reviewed indexed journals.

Graduated from Cambridge University. She joined the Department of Medicine at the Chinese University, Hong Kong as Lecturer and becoming Department Head.

Prof. Tamas Fulop M.D, PhD, FRCPC
Internist-Geriatrician & Senior Researcher at Research Center, University of Sherbrooke

An internist-geriatrician and senior researcher at the Research Center at the Université de Sherbrooke, he attained his medical degree from the faculty of medicine at Geneva University before earning his Ph.D. in Hungary. Following this, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at Paris XII before joining the Université de Sherbrooke in 1993. Specializing in immunology in aging and age-related diseases, he has authored over 380 papers and has overseen the memory clinic for over a decade. Additionally, he leads the oncogeriatric specialized clinic and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Gerontology. Recognized for his contributions, he is a fellow of both the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Gerontological Society of America.

Prof. Peter Richmond, MBBS, MRCP(UK), FRACP
Consultant Paediatric Immunologist & Paediatrician, Perth Children’s Hospital

A Consultant Paediatric Immunologist and Paediatrician at Perth Children’s Hospital, and is Head of the Immunology Department at the Child and Adolescent Health Service in WA. He also heads the Vaccine Trials Group within the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at the Telethon Kids Institute, and is Head of the Discipline of Paediatrics at the UWA Medical School. His major research interests are in the prevention of meningitis, pneumonia, respiratory infections and otitis media. He has authored over 300 scientific publications in these areas and has worked in vaccine research for over 25 years.

Meet Day 4 Speakers

Dr. Ramanan Laxminarayan, PhD, MPH
Founder & President, One Health Trust

A senior research scholar at Princeton University, and director of the WHO Collaborating Center on Antimicrobial Resistance in New Delhi. He is an affiliate professor at the University of Washington, senior associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland and the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Laxminarayan chairs the board of GARD-P, a global product development partnership created by the WHO that aims to develop and deliver new treatments for bacterial infections. He is founder and board chair at HealthCubed, which works to improve access to healthcare and diagnostics worldwide.

Dr. Souha S. Kanj, MD
Head of Infectious Diseases at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon

A tenured Professor of Medicine, Associate Vice President for Global Affairs, Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Chair of the Infection Control Program and co-Chair of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.

Professor Kanj is extensively published, with more than 270 papers. She has received numerous honors and awards, in 2023, she received the Intissar Al Ahdah award for impact of research in women at AUB. and ranked by the “World Scientist and University Ranking 2021” No. 1 in the field of Infectious Diseases in Lebanon, No. 8 in Asia and No. 76 in the world.

Prof. Sam Kariuki, DVM, MSc, PhD
Director, Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) Eastern Africa

Previously, he was Acting Director General at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) (2021-2023) and Director of Research and Development (2018-2022). He is Fellow, African Academy of Sciences and Honorary Faculty, Wellcome Sanger Institute, visiting Professor of Tropical Microbiology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and the Ohio State University One-Health Initiative. He is also a member of the American Society for Microbiology and Section Editor, Journal of Medical Microbiology. Over the last 25 years his team has researched and published on the epidemiology and genomics of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and genomic surveillance of key enteric pathogens endemic in Kenya and the region.

Dr. Mateusz Hasso-Agopowicz, PhD
Technical Officer, World Health Organization (WHO)

His work focuses on spearheading initiatives aimed at elucidating the comprehensive public health benefits of vaccines especially those of high impact in low- and middle-income countries. He leads the programme on Vaccines and AMR. With a passion for global health and a commitment to advancing immunisation strategies, he is at the forefront of efforts to promote vaccine advocacy and ensure equitable access to lifesaving immunisation programs worldwide. Dr Hasso-Agopsowicz completed his PhD in immunology and epidemiology of infectious diseases from the London School of Hygiene of Tropical Medicine.

Carmen Eleta Carrascal

Embark on a journey of courage with our guest — an oncology patient from Spain—who will share her unique story of resilience. Through her narrative, she not only represents her own experiences but also echoes the sentiments of fellow oncology patients. Join us as she sheds light on the significance of prevention in her life, adding depth to the conversation surrounding holistic healthcare approaches.

Peter Deussen

Enter the world of perseverance with our guest, a UK COPD patient , also representing patients with respiratory conditions. Through his journey, he embodies resilience and advocates for fellow COPD patients, striving for a life unaffected by the condition. Join us as he shares his thoughts on patient empowerment and the role of prevention, while also shedding light on the collective hopes of COPD patients everywhere.

Steven Homewood

Embark on a journey of empowerment with our guest— a UK asthma patient dedicated to sharing the transformative power of lifestyle changes for well-being. Through his own experiences, he illuminates pathways to empowerment, inspiring others to take charge of their health. Join us as he shares insights and encouragement, fostering a community of support and empowerment for asthma patients seeking a better quality of life.

Davide Mazzoni

Join our Italian patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus who has over the years fervently championed patient empowerment and spearheaded initiatives aimed at amplifying patients' needs and priorities. Join us as he shares his profound insights and passion for fostering empowerment, inspiring others to embrace lifestyle changes for improved well-being.