Associate Professor, IAE Paris - Sorbonne University | Scientific Director of Research Lab "Entrepreneurship Territory Innovation" | Professor, International Academy of Architecture

Carlos Moreno is a distinguished Franco-Colombian urban planner and professor, residing in Paris. He is best known for pioneering the "15-Minute City" concept, which promotes sustainable, human-centric urban living. This concept has been widely adopted by mayors and international organizations working towards more sustainable cities around the world and has since become a global movement. In Paris, his ideas have been embraced by the city's mayor, Anne Hidalgo, contributing to the city's transformation.

Serving as a scientific advisor to various international organizations, he is recognized for his contributions to urban planning. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Housing and Communities. As a professor at the IAE Paris Sorbonne, University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, his work has earned international acclaim, including the Obel Award in 2021 and the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour in 2022. In 2023, he was inducted into Sigma Xi, the world's largest scientific honor society, founded in 1886 at Cornell University. His books have been translated into numerous languages, reflecting his global influence. Pr. Moreno actively contributes to the global discourse on urban and territorial transformation, focusing on creating livable cities that prioritize residents' well-being

President, High Atlas Foundation

Yossef has been dedicated to the field of international development since joining the Peace Corps in Morocco (1993-1995). Dr. Ben-Meir is currently a visiting professor at the University of Virginia and was a faculty member at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (2009-10). Dr. Ben-Meir holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of New Mexico (2009) where he also taught, an MA in international development from Clark University (1997), and a BA in economics from New York University (1991).

Senior Director, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Karabi Acharya is a leading global public health practitioner with a strong interest in the health impacts of social isolation and loneliness. She’s spent over 25 years weaving together her expertise in anthropology, public health, adult learning and systems thinking to improve health and wellbeing around the world. Dr. Acharya has lived and worked in over 20 countries across Europe, Africa and South Asia with organizations that include the World Health Organization, UNICEF, World Bank, Ford Foundation, USAID. She is currently Senior Director of the Global Ideas for US Solutions portfolio at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted to health. She is a founding member of the RWJF Equity Leadership Group which is tasked with building a culture of equity, justice and belonging inside RWJF.

Dr. Acharya has written and spoken extensively on a host of issues relevant to health and wellbeing, including health equity, child health, infectious diseases, immunizations. Throughout her career, she has emphasized the importance not only of listening to marginalized people but shifting power to achieve a better world for all. She is the author of three book chapters, eleven peer-reviewed papers and presentations, and over twenty blog posts. She is the host of the ReImagined in America webinar series at RWJF and recently curated a series of articles with the Stanford Social Innovation Review focused on the imperative for learning globally to act locally.

Clinical Research Fellow, Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Rob Hughes is a doctor and public health professional specialising in child health, development, and wellbeing. He trained in clinical medicine at Bristol University, holds a BSc in Global Health from UCL, and earned a Masters in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health as a Kennedy Scholar. Rob previously worked with the UK Department for International Development in various roles across Pakistan, Yemen, Whitehall, and Zambia, and later served as a Senior Fellow at the Children's Investment Fund Foundation in London.

Currently, Rob is a Clinical Research Fellow at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), focusing on how changing urban environments affect children and young people. He is the Principal Investigator for the Children, Cities and Climate Action Lab at LSHTM, which brings together researchers, young people and policy makers to try to accelerate action on urban climate and health. Rob's other research addresses the impact of care settings and childcare provision on urban early childhood development in low- and middle-income countries, as well as the impacts of COVID-19 on child health and is investigating the use of digital technologies in research and interventions.

He also recently co-founded TANDEM, an innovative tech startup developing digital tools to support child development and wellbeing. He had consulted for the Clean Air Fund, Google X, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, WHO, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

In addition to his research, Rob is involved in teaching at and beyond LSHTM, organising and delivering lectures on epidemiology, policy and global health.

New Longevity Co-Leader, Ashoka

Maria Clara Pinheiro co-leads Ashoka’s New Longevity initiative, which aims to create a new architecture for lifelong contribution—harnessing the changemaking potential of people of all ages to drive positive societal change. Maria Clara has held leadership roles in Brazil, India, and the United States, where she has supported social innovators, built entrepreneurial teams, and led global programs and partnerships for Ashoka.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was elected WHO Director-General for a five-year term by WHO Member States at the Seventieth World Health Assembly in May 2017. In doing so, he was the first WHO Director-General elected from among multiple candidates by the World Health Assembly, and was the first person from the WHO African Region to head the world’s leading public health agency.

Born in the Eritrean city of Asmara, Tedros graduated from the University of Asmara with a Bachelor of Biology, before earning a Master of Science (MSc) in Immunology of Infectious Diseases from the University of London, a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Community Health from the University of Nottingham and an Honorary Fellowship from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Following his studies, he returned to Ethiopia to support the delivery of health services, first working as a field-level malariologist, before heading a regional health service and later serving in Ethiopia’s federal government for over a decade as Minister of Health and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

As Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012, he led a comprehensive reform of the country’s health system, built on the foundation of universal health coverage and provision of services to all people, even in the most remote areas.
Under his leadership, Ethiopia expanded its health infrastructure, developed innovative health financing mechanisms, and expanded its health workforce. A major component of reforms he drove was the creation of a primary health care extension programme that deployed 40 000 female health workers throughout the country. A significant result was an approximate 60% reduction in child and maternal mortality compared to 2000 levels.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016, he elevated health as a political issue nationally, regionally and globally. In this role, he led efforts to negotiate the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, in which 193 countries committed to the financing necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Prior to his election as Director-General of WHO, Dr Tedros held many leadership positions in global health, including as Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, and Co-chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Board.

After taking office as WHO Director-General on 1 July 2017, Tedros initiated the most significant transformation in the Organization’s history, which has generated a wide range of achievements.

Chief, Environmental Health Division, Health and Health Protection Ministry of the Kingdom of Morocco

Rachid Wahabi is a member of the WHO international network of “experts in the evaluation of chemical origin health risks”, and the “RegNet” international network that groups drinking water managers from different countries. He coordinates various technical areas relevant to the Ministry of Health: The National Committee for the Normalization of Drinking Water, the Evaluation Committee for Pesticides in the Health Sector, and the Evaluation Committee for Food Product Related Health Risks.

Research Professor, Barcelona Institute for Global Health

Cathryn Tonne is an environmental epidemiologist focusing on the health effects of air pollution from outdoor and household sources and their intersection with sustainable development. Her research has investigated exposure patterns and health effects of air pollution in high- as well as low- and middle-income countries.

One of her main research interests is in the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation. She is co-director of the Lancet Countdown for Health and Climate Change in Europe and leads the working group focused on mitigation actions and health co-benefits. She coordinates CATALYSE, a five-year Horizon Europe project focused on climate change and health and previously led the European Research Council funded Cardiovascular Health effects of Air pollution in Telangana, India.

She was awarded the Tony McMichael Mid-term career award from the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology in 2022 for her contributions to environmental epidemiology and has held several competitive personal fellowships from funders in the US, UK, and Spain (Ramon y Cajal 2017-2021).

Her doctoral training was in Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the Harvard School of Public Health (ScD). She has a Master of Public Health, with a focus on environmental health, from Columbia University, and a BS in Chemistry from UC Berkeley.

Director-General Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases, World Health Organization

José Luis Castro’s appointment demonstrates WHO's commitment to prioritizing respiratory health. His efforts will support WHO in shaping policies, building partnerships, and driving actions to improve the health of people worldwide.

In June 2024, José Luis completed his tenure as President and CEO of Vital Strategies, the global health organization he founded and led for 20 years. During his tenure, Vital Strategies grew from a small nonprofit primarily focused on lung health to an organization with a budget of US$ 100 million and a global team of more than 400 people working on global health issues ranging from tobacco control to air quality to overdose prevention and data for health. The organization now works in 80 countries and has impacted the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

In October 2020, Mr. Castro concluded his six-year term as the executive director of The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. During his leadership, the organization expanded its global portfolio and forged new strategic partnerships, including with the Global Fund, USAID, DFID and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

He served from 2017 to 2019 as the first president of the NCD Alliance, a network of over 2,000 civil society organizations in more than 170 countries dedicated to combating the global noncommunicable disease epidemic.

José Luis earned his Masters of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania and was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from Pace University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts and a member of the European Respiratory Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Unit Head, Urban Health, World Health Organization

Dr. Nathalie Röbbel is the Lead for WHO’s work on Urban Health at the WHO, in the Department on Social Determinants of Health. Prior to this she was leading WHOs work on air pollution and housing in the Department for Environment, Climate Change and Health. One of her main areas of work was the development of WHO Housing and Health Guidelines and WHO’s efforts to address slum upgrading through housing policies and other social policies and interventions.

Before joining WHO HQ, she worked as a technical officer at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, in Bonn and Copenhagen, where she was responsible for environmental health performance reviews and involved in several urban health-related projects.

Dr. Röbbel holds a Ph.D. from the Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn, Germany.

Deputy Head, Anti-Vectorial Control at the National Institute of Public Health (INHP), Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage in Côte d'Ivoire | Hygiene and Disinfection Commission, Public Health Operations Center (COUSP)

Dr. Diakaridia oversees several initiatives, including the INHP-Endeavour Mining project combating malaria vectors in Zouan-Hounien and nearby mining-affected villages. He is responsible for entomological surveillance of arboviruses in Côte d'Ivoire and serves on the West African Health Organization's Rapid Response Team. Dr. Diakaridia is also an active member of various professional societies, including the Entomological Society of Côte d'Ivoire, the Parasitology and Mycology Society, and the French Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health.

Dr. Diakaridia holds a Ph.D. in Animal Biology with a specialization in Medical Entomology from the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University (2013), a DEA in General Entomology (2005), and degrees in Animal Biology from the University of Cocody, Abidjan. Additionally, he serves as a substitute member of the Pesticide Committee and was part of the Health Commission for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) organizing committee in Côte d'Ivoire.

Former Chairman and CEO at Rabin Martin, USA | Board Chair, International Society for Urban Health

Jeffrey L. Sturchio is past Chairman and CEO at Rabin Martin, a global health strategy consulting firm, and former President and CEO of the Global Health Council. Before joining the Council in 2009, Dr. Sturchio was vice president of Corporate Responsibility at Merck & Co. Inc., and president of The Merck Company Foundation

He is currently also chairman of the U.S. Corporate Council on Africa, chairman of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, TB and Malaria, chairman of the BroadReach Institute for Training and Education, and a member of the boards of ACHAP and the Science History Institute. Dr. Sturchio is also a visiting scholar at the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University; Senior Associate at the Global Health Policy Center of the Center for Strategic and International Studies; a principal of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network; Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Arthur W. Page Society; and an advisor to amfAR, the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations, the Rutgers Global Health Institute, and the TB Alliance. He received a BA in history from Princeton University and a PhD in the history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania. His publications include The Road to Universal Health Coverage: Innovation, Equity and the New Health Economy (edited with I. Kickbusch and L. Galambos‎, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019).

Head, Obesity Health Equity | Director, Cities Changing Diabetes

Jo Jewell is Head of Obesity Health Equity and Director of the Cities Changing Diabetes programme. Jo’s experience includes time at UNICEF where he was recruited to develop the first organisational strategy to address unhealthy diets and prevent childhood overweight and obesity. He led three global partnerships on UNICEF’s side for the childhood overweight and obesity prevention agenda. Before joining UNICEF, Jo worked as a technical officer at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, also with a focus on nutrition, physical activity and obesity. Prior to that he worked for the World Cancer Research Fund International. He has a MSc in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Clinical Professor of Global Health, New York University School of Global Public Health | Board Chair Emeritus, International Society for Urban Health

Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, is Clinical Professor of Global Health at the New York University School of Global Public Health and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine. She is President Emeritus of The New York Academy of Medicine and Immediate Past President of the International Society for Urban Health (2017-9). She served as Dean of the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University from June 1997 to November 2002. Prior to that, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from November 1993 to January 1997, and as Acting Assistant Secretary from January 1997 to May 1997. While at HHS, she was the U.S. representative on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) from 1994–1997. She served in a variety of senior positions in and as President of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal system in the United States, from December 1985 until October 1989. In NYC, she currently serves on the Board of the United Hospital Fund, is Vice Chair of the NYS Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) and Chair of its Public Health Committee. Nationally, she is on the Boards of the National Hispanic Health Foundation and the Health Effects Institute. She was elected to membership in the US National Academy of Medicine (formerly IOM) in 1992, served on its Board on Global Health, and served two four-year terms as its Foreign Secretary from 2003 to 2011, She was elected to membership of the National Academy of Public Administration in 2015. She is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. Dr. Boufford attended Wellesley College for two years and received her BA (Psychology) magna cum laude from the University of Michigan, and her MD, with distinction, from the University of Michigan Medical School. She is Board Certified in pediatrics.

Urban Lead, UNICEF

Mr. Thomas George has more than 35 years of experience in International Development. He is currently the Global Lead for urban programme in UNICEF. Before taking up this role in UNICEF HQ, he has worked in several country offices and field offices of UNICEF developing and implementing programmes for children in different settings. Prior to joining the UN in 1993, he was with the Indian Civil Services. He has a Masters in Sociology.

Executive Director, International Society for Urban Health

Giselle Sebag, MPH, LEED AP, is the Executive Director of the International Society for Urban Health. She is a globally recognized urban health leader with over 15 years of experience advising governments, multilaterals, NGOs, and private sector companies and practitioners to develop sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities that promote and enhance resident health and wellbeing.

Prior to leading the International Society for Urban Health, Giselle was a public sector cities consultant at Bloomberg Associates, where she advised mayors developing evidence-based urban health solutions with the aim of improving the lives of the greatest number of citizens. Previously, Giselle was the Vice President of Programs at the Center for Active Design (CfAD), where she oversaw the development, planning and implementation of innovative CfAD programs such as Fitwel, which was developed in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement design and environmental changes that support healthier workplaces, homes, and communities. Prior to that, Giselle was Head of the Built Environment portfolio at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) where she advised Fortune 500 companies, governments, multilaterals, philanthropic foundations and NGOs in strategic planning, partnership building and evaluation of their healthy cities ‘Commitments to Action.’

Giselle holds a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, joint M.Sc. degrees in international cooperation and urban development from the Technische Universität Darmstadt and international cooperation in sustainable emergency architecture from the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, and bachelor's degrees in architecture and government from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture (UTSOA) and College of Liberal Arts.

Director, Geneva Office, UN-Habitat | Co-Chair, RBM End Malaria Now

Dr Graham Alabaster is a public health engineer by profession and is UN-Habitat’s Director of the Geneva Office, where he represents the Executive Director of UN-Habitat. He is responsible for liaison with Geneva-based member states missions and international organisations. He holds a BSc (Hons.) in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Civil Engineering. After an early career in academic research in the UK and Africa, and a period in industry, he joined UN-Habitat in 1992.

Since then, he has looked after many different portfolios including: slum upgrading, environmental infrastructure; health and environment; water, sanitation and waste management.

In addition, he has been responsible for developing relationships with the regional development banks and the private sector. During this period, he has been on secondment to both the World Health Organisation (WHO), and UNHCR, where he has applied his expertise to preventative health in urban settings and humanitarian environments. The work has usually included both policy advice to members states and project design and implementation. He was responsible for the development of the UN-system wide monitoring mechanism for SDG 6 on Water, and also the co-custodian of indicator 6.3.1 on wastewater.

He is currently the co-chair of the RBM End Malaria Now, Multi-sectoral working group, and is a Lancet Commissioner for the build-out of Aedes-borne diseases in cities. In addition, he represents UN-Habitat on many inter-agency bodies and advisory groups. He has also produced a variety of publications including global reports and technical papers in journals. He has over 35 years- experience in the urban sector and has worked in over 50 countries in all regions of the world. 

Director of Programs & Healthy Housing, International Society for Urban Health

Sarah Ruel Bergeron, RA is the Director of Programs & Healthy Housing at the International Society for Urban Health. She is a licensed architect and global health expert who has won awards and international recognition for her previous work for Archive Global, implementing housing interventions that improve health outcomes in at-risk communities around the world. She has participated in expert group meetings with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and UN-Habitat and presented at numerous conferences about the topics of healthy housing, implementation, research, and advocacy. She has substantial proficiency working in multiple languages (English, Spanish and French) as well as across disciplines both in her partnerships and within her teams. Her background includes extensive experience in project ideation, grant writing, and project management as well as affordable housing, healthcare architecture, and construction, with a focus on sustainable design, resiliency, and hazard mitigation in vulnerable environments.

Former Coordinator WHO Public Health and Environment Department, Geneva | Board Vice Chair, International Society for Urban Health

Dr. Carlos Dora has a distinguished career in global public health and environment. Until recently, he coordinated the WHO’s global work on health impacts of sector policies (energy, transport, housing, extractive industry) and on articulating a global response to air pollution. He led the development of a new Urban Health Initiative to strengthen health systems capacity in cities to support health, climate and air quality benefits from urban policies, which is under pilot implementation in Africa and Asia. He also led the development of a framework for how public health can contribute to Habitat III objectives and the New Urban Agenda. He previously led knowledge synthesis about the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation policies, in a “Health in a Green Economy” series and contributed to the development of health indicators for post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. He has worked to include health into strategic environment assessments and into Development Banks Safeguards. He contributed to establishment of an inter-ministerial process for transport health and environment in Europe (THE PEP), led a health task force in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, and earlier engaged in health risk assessments in the ex-Soviet Union. He has worked in academia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and as a visiting professor at Columbia University School of Public Health. He worked at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, with the World Bank, and in the organization and innovation of primary care systems in Brazil, where he also practiced clinical medicine. He has served in many science/policy committees at national and international levels and is engaged in many global partnerships. He currently advises governments, civil society and philanthropy about health as it relates to non-heath sector policies and the urban environment. His research and publications include health impact assessment as well as perceptions and communication of science and health risks by scientists, media and politicians. He is a medical doctor and an epidemiologist with an MSc and a PhD from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Environmental Epidemiologist, Tennessee Department of Health

Angelina Uzor is a physician and public health professional from Nigeria, with over six years of combined experience in clinical medicine, public health, and environmental health research on both national and international stages. She is currently an Environmental Epidemiologist with the Tennessee Department of Health, where she leads efforts to understand the impacts of environmental exposures and climate change on human health. Her work helps inform interventions and shapes policies to protect public health. 

Passionate about children’s health and environmental justice, Dr. Uzor has made significant contributions as a children’s environmental health researcher. Her work focuses on neonatal and child health outcomes, environmental health, climate change, mental health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Through her research, she has been instrumental in breaking the cycle of children’s environmental health disparities and addressing health inequities.

Dr. Uzor is also an advocate for sustainable development, serving as an actor with Sustainable Development Goals Group Nigeria, where she promotes sustainable practices to build healthier communities. Additionally, as a delegate for the International Youth Society Nigeria chapter, she actively advocated for youth empowerment and their inclusion in national development agendas.

Dr. Uzor earned her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from Saratov State Medical University and her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental Health from East Tennessee State University. Her unique expertise which spans clinical practice, epidemiological research, and advanced data analysis enables her to address complex environmental health challenges and advocate for evidence-based, sustainable solutions.

Clinical Professor of Global Public Health and Sustainable Development, University Cambridge | Founder & CEO, UrbanBetter

Tolu(llah) Oni is Clinical Professor of Global Public Health and Sustainable Development at the University Cambridge and Founder & CEO of UrbanBetter. She is an Extraordinary Professor in Architecture at University of Pretoria and Honorary Professor in Public Health, University of Cape Town.

A Public Health Physician and urban epidemiologist, her work supports a coordinated approach between science, policy and societal role players, identifying creative and long-term strategies to address complex urban population and planetary health challenges in rapidly growing cities.

She has served as scientific adviser for several organisations including International Society for Urban Health, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Planetary health board and the World Obesity Federation. She is an editorial board member of PLOS Global Public Health, Lancet Planetary Health, Cities and Health, and the Journal of Urban Health.

In recognition of her work, she has been profiled in the Lancet journal, Science magazine, and the British Medical Journal, and is a Fellow of the International Science Council, African Academy of Sciences, Next Einstein Forum Fellow and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.

Head of Mitigation for Climate and Health, Wellcome Trust

Rachel joined Wellcome in August 2023 to lead the research programme to support science and evidence generation of the health co-benefits of mitigation in order to drive low-carbon, health positive policy and action.  

Prior to Wellcome, Rachel was Director of Knowledge and Research at C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. During her time at C40 she developed and led a priority programme of research on the multiple benefits of urban climate action, launched of C40’s flagship Knowledge Hub, and led research for C40’s Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy and was Deputy Editor-in-Chief for the centre’s associated Journal. Before C40 Rachel was Chief Executive of Peterborough Environment City Trust, leading the Trust’s work on sustainable behaviour change and engagement project delivery, as well as, working strategically with city partners to develop a sustainable city plan. As part of her work on sustainable cities Rachel established and led the Sustainable Cities Network, an informal network of leading UK cities to enable sharing of best practice and challenges. Rachel has a PhD from the University of Leeds on the processes and practices of sustainable transition and decision making in cities.   

Director, Billion Minds Institute | Chair, COP2 | Assistant Professor, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

A psychiatrist who approaches mental health as a building block of social policy and progress, Gary founded Billion Minds as a “think-action tank.”  The intention of Billion Minds is to link mental health to problems of great scale, specifically to the climate crisis, and to safeguarding sustainable societies through a humane social climate.  COP2 was one outcome of that work—a global network aligned about converging growing activity and learning on climate-psychological resilience connections and putting them to global scale.  An initial effort from that was to produce an implementation Roadmap in collaboration with the UNFCCC Race to Resilience and aligned partners to incorporate the goal of building capacity to promote psychological resilience within the global goal of promoting climate resilience to 4 billion people by 2030.

Gary is also the former Executive Deputy Commissioner in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene where he led the Division of Mental Hygiene and its development and implementation of the innovative NYC-wide public mental health initiative, ThriveNYC. Before joining city government, he was Medical Director for Behavioral Health across the Health and Hospitals Corporation of the City of New York, and served as Founding Editor in Chief of the open access journal Global Mental Health.  As Director of the NYU Program in Global Mental Health, Gary partnered with other groups globally to test and scale community-led models of mental health promotion and access in less resourced countries that are now widely used.

A graduate of Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where he also earned his undergraduate degree, Gary earned his MPH at Harvard School of Public Health and a doctorate in the Department of the History of Science at Harvard University.

Professor and Researcher, Mohammed V University, Rabat | Founding member, CIRPEC

Since 2021, the UN-Habitat Country Office in Morocco has been led by Professor Abdellatif Bouazza, an accomplished Economics PhD holder with over 29 years of experience as a university professor. His career encompasses a range of professional roles, including Social Development Director at the Ministry of Solidarity, Women, Family, and Social Development, as well as Director of the Social Development Agency, where he oversaw a team of 420 employees.

He obtained his PhD in economics and management from Mohammed V University of Rabat, where he was a professor of economics, social policy, and social development. He was also the director of the Moroccan Institute for Advanced Studies (IMEA). He has also participated in high-level training courses in prestigious universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, where he obtained a "Certificate in Social Policy Evaluation" in 2009. He also has a certificate in Leadership from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in the UK. 

Between 2006 and 2016, Professor Bouazza held senior positions in the Moroccan State, respectively as Director of Social Development at the Ministry of Solidarity, Family, Women and Social Development (2006-2014), and Director of the Social Development Agency (ADS), which is a public institution whose mission is to reduce poverty and social exclusion through the implementation of projects and programs for the socio-economic integration of disadvantaged populations.

Professor Bouazza is a founding member of CIRPEC, an interdisciplinary research center for performance and competitiveness under the auspices of Mohammed V University of Rabat. He is also a member of several organizations and associations including the American Evaluation Association, the Moroccan Evaluation Association, the French Association of Economic Science, the Moroccan Medical and Solidarity Association, and the Moroccan Association for Management Science.

Head of Global Health, Save the Children UK

Samy is a thought leader in Global Health and International Development, with 17 years of progressive experience working with governments, INGOs, the private sector and multilateral organizations. He and his team have helped shift the needle on major global health policy issues across reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health, and are extensively published in subjects like childhood pneumonia, improved care for premature and low birth-weight babies, under-immunization, maternal mental health, community health workers programmes and policies, diarrhoea control and health-seeking behaviours, among many others.

Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine | Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine | Medical Director, The Rubin Center for Autism and Developmental Pediatrics | Director, Break the Cycle Program, Southeast PEHSU at Emory | Founder, Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc.

Leslie Rubin is a Developmental Pediatrician who cares for children with developmental disabilities and their families and is the primary editor of 3 editions of a textbook addressing health care for children and adults with developmental disabilities.

In 2004, he started the annual Break the Cycle of Children’s Environmental Health Disparities program to raise awareness among university students andcultivate future leaders to address the challenges of children’s health disparities. To date there have been 19 annual programs with over 200 students from across the USA and from countries in Latin American and Africa. This program has published more than 200 papers in international journals and 16 books in a Public Health series. In July 2024 he successfully launched the first Break the Cycle of Children’s Health Disparities in Africa program.

He serves on national and international committees, relating to children with developmental disabilities, children’s environmental health, and health disparities in the context of social, economic, environmental and political determinants of health, with a goal to reduce children’s health disparities and promote health equity for all children.

Lead for Policy, Strategy and Operations, United Nations’ Health4Life Fund

Mamka Anyona is a global health professional with more than a decade of experience working in government, academia, philanthropy, and international organizations.

Prior to joining the UN Health4Life Fund, Mamka supported the establishment of UNICEF’s programming for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and led the Open Society Foundations’ work on innovative financing for global health. Mamka has also consulted for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, amongst other international organizations.

Although Mamka’s career has focused on policy, programming, and advocacy to address the growing global burden of noncommunicable diseases, she also conducts research and writes about the dynamics of global health governance and their implications on health outcomes and equity. She has been a notable voice in the growing movement to decolonize global health.

Mamka has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and has authored opinion pieces on leading publications such as Devex, Al Jazeera, The Guardian and African Arguments.

She sits on the governing board of the Lwala Community Alliance and formerly represented Open Society Foundations on the board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

Mamka hails from Kenya, where she trained and practiced as a clinician. She also has a master’s degree from the University of Copenhagen, and a Doctor of Public Health degree from Harvard University.

Deputy Mayor, Dakar City, Senegal

Daouda Gueye is responsible for overseeing the city's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives. A graduate of the University of Technology of Troyes in France, where he earned his degree as an IT Engineer, Daouda has built an impressive career in the technology and innovation sector. He has held key roles as a Test Manager, Scrum Master, and Agile Coach, working with prominent international companies such as Accor Hotels, AXA Group Solutions, ENGIE, and Orage, and has gained valuable experience across diverse locations including Spain, India, Egypt, and England.

In addition to his technical expertise, Daouda holds a degree in Expert Consulting on Innovation from IPE Business School in Paris and has completed further studies in political leadership in Africa at Sciences Po Paris. He is also certified by Harvard Business School in Strategy Execution.

As a thought leader in the field of urban innovation and ICT, Daouda has spoken at numerous prestigious international conferences, including GITEX Africa in Marrakech, Casa Smart Cities in Casablanca, BRICS International Innovation in Russia, the Strong Cities initiative at the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, UNESCO Creative Cities in South Korea, and Global GITEX in Dubai.

Among his notable projects are Dakar Innovation Days, as well as cutting-edge initiatives such as the City Drones project, Smart Graveyard, and Smart Parking. His achievements have earned him recognition, including the BRICS International Innovation Award in 2023 and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Prize.

Vice President, Eurometropolis of Strasbourg

Dr. Françoise Schaetzel is municipal councilor in charge of air quality at the City of Strasbourg and Vice President of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, responsible for operational urban planning, environmental health, and air quality. She is also in charge of the low-emission zone. Additionally, she serves as President of the Strasbourg Urbanism Agency (ADEUS).

By background, Françoise Schaetzel is a medical doctor specialized in public health. She has been a professor at the French National School of Public Health (now the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health) and a senior civil servant at an interministerial body responsible for social and health public policies.

Leader, Youth for Climate Morocco

As a dedicated environmental engineering researcher and sustainable development professional, Omaima's interest in environmental concerns and climate action extends beyond academics to active advocacy and successful project implementation. As the leader of Youth for Climate Morocco, she is profoundly devoted to generating good change in environmental sustainability through grassroots initiatives and community participation. Her broad competence includes not just a solid academic basis in environmental science and engineering, but also hands-on experience in project management, sustainable development, and regulatory frameworks. This complete skill set enables her to tackle environmental concerns with a broad perspective and develop new solutions that meet the demands of both society and the environment.

Furthermore, Omaima's hands-on approach to transformational initiatives has helped her build a reputation for effective project design and implementation. Whether working with local communities, government agencies, or international organizations, she seeks to build partnerships that increase the effect of environmental programs while also encouraging inclusive involvement.

Furthermore, her advocacy activities include empowering youth and supporting women's participation in environmental decision-making processes, recognizing the critical role they play in crafting a sustainable future. Through her efforts, she hopes to inspire collective action, raise awareness, and effect significant change towards a more resilient and ecologically sustainable future.

Urban Nature Based Solutions Associate, World Resources Institute

Charity Mumbi is the Urban Nature Based Solutions Associate at the World Resources Institute (WRI), supporting the Africa Climate Resilient Cities Program in Kenya, through the coordination of Resilient and Equitable Cities program, Green- Gray Infrastructure Accelerator Initiative and other city engagement work in Kenya. Charity’s fundamental role as the NBS associate is to coordinate the scoping of NBS opportunities and implementation of Nature Based Solutions projects, lead stakeholders’ management and partners engagement on urban climate resilience, for prioritization of climate resilience action plans in cities and mobilize funds through development of large-scale grants and funding proposals to unlock additional resources for NBS projects and partners. To meet this responsibility and attain impact, she is working closely with the vulnerable urban communities, to enhance their climate resilience through a psychological and well-being, social and economic strengthening approach.

Prior to joining WRI, Charity worked as a research manager in Slum Dwellers International- Kenya (SDI-K), coordinating climate change and resilience action research, partnerships building and strengthening, proposals writing and fundraising, projects and teams management, data management, policy research for evidence informed decision making, and citizen led urban development process. She also worked with Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) as a research assistant and designed a data collection tool aimed at fragmenting the social, economic, infrastructural and psychological costs of climate disasters to human livelihoods and crafting contextual community resilience mechanisms as a response to the climate disasters. Previously, she also worked with Centre for Urban Research and Innovation as a researcher, and played a fundamental role of developing transportation, environmental, and economic plans for Kitui county.

Charity Mumbi holds a Bachelor degree in Urban and Regional planning, and a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Urban Development, both from the university of Nairobi. She has a second ongoing Master of Science Degree in Carbon management at the University of Edinburgh.

Charity’s principle is to plan with, not for, the urban vulnerable populations to attain a just urban development, environmental restoration and climate resilience transition. Additionally, she cherishes engaging with the grassroots communities and empowering their socio-psychological resilience in the face of climate disasters, which compelled her to study on basic counselling and psychology, to extend professional socio- psychological help to communities.

Municipal Councillor and Vice President, Anfa Municipality

A leader in sustainable development and youth development, Oumaima is serving as a Municipal Councillor and Vice President of Anfa Municipality in Casablanca, Morocco, where she champions sustainable development, clean-tech, and youth empowerment.

Currently serving as a Municipal Councillor for the City of Casablanca, Morocco, she advocates for green infrastructure, gender equality, sustainable transportation, and waste reduction initiatives. Her innovative approach has resulted in securing funding for youth-led climate projects and streamlined processes for youth associations to thrive. More recently, she launched, in partnership with the private sector, the first AI augmented nursery for kids and the first free AI training for young adults in Casablanca. As the CSR Manager at EGC Environment, she drives sustainability in large-scale infrastructure projects. She has a strong financial background from her previous work as an Analyst at HSBC Private Bank in New York, working with investment bankers managing a global AUM of $338 billion. In New York, she volunteered at the Newark Asylum Office as an interpreter for refugees fleeing war and conflict, helping them navigate the asylum process in their pursuit of a better life in a stable country. 

While studying for Master's in International Politics from SOAS University of London, she worked as a Junior Analyst at the Consulate General of Morocco in London, providing key research on investment projects in energy, agriculture, and waste management for the Moroccan diaspora and foreign investors. She also earned a BSc (Hons) in Business with Economics from the University of Brighton.

Oumaima’s international experience has led to her nomination as an Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leader and has allowed her to represent Morocco at various international forums, including COP27 and COP28.  She is the youngest elected official in Casablanca, reflecting her passion for creating positive, lasting change both locally and globally. 

Postgraduate Researcher on Environmental Health, The University of Zambia

Goodson Shalubala is currently studying for a Masters of Public Health in Environmental Health at The University of Zambia in the School of Public Health under the Department of Environmental Health, where he is doing a postgraduate research – “An Evaluation of clean cookstove technologies adoption in the selected townships of Lusaka District of Zambia”.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Health from the University of Zambia, School of Public Health and currently working as a tutor at the same institution in the department of Environmental Health for undergraduate studies.

In the field of research, Goodson has worked as a research assistant on the Kabwe Mine Pollution Amelioration Initiative (KAMPAI) with focus on mothers and children and the responsibilities that ranged from administering the Quality- of-Life Questionnaire and collection of samples for both the mothers and their children.

Assistant Professor of Architecture, Helwan University | Youth Advisory Board member, UN-Habitat

Dr. Zeina ElZein is UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board member from Egypt and an Assistant Professor of Architecture, specialized in Integrated Urban Water Management and the Water, Energy and Food Nexus, at Helwan University. She is an established Editor and Consultant, who served as jury and reviewer to international funds, conferences and journals. She is currently assigned as UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board.

Zeina is a previous visiting researcher at the Humboldt University in Berlin and Fulbright Alumna at the University of Texas in Austin. She was awarded the Volkswagen Foundation Award and the 10th IALE World Congress Award. She led sustainable development projects. She has also consulted on water management and community urban greening projects.

She participated in establishing a new undergraduate program: Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design, at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University. The program includes interdisciplinary courses to equip architects with the knowledge and experience to address global challenges and sustainable development goals in cities. She, along with her team, was awarded the best integrated sustainable development scheme for an off-grid community in Matrouh, Egypt. She developed, along with her team, at the American University in Cairo, a user friendly urban agriculture prototype that can be used indoors or outdoors for healthy food production with minimum water resources.

Coordinator, UrbanBetter Lagos Cityzens Hub

Waziri studied Economics (Bsc and Msc) at the University Of Abuja and University Of Lagos respectively. He is also an Environmentalist, a fitness enthusiast, runner and lover of adventure. His concern for physical and mental health resulted in co-founding "Fit Trackers", a run and fitness group that promotes healthy living. He also started World Environmental Education Desk (wEEd), an initiative that uses social media, mainly TikTok, for advocacy and simplifying environmental issues. 

Currently, he is the Coordinator of UrbanBetter Lagos Cityzens Hub where he works with youth champions called Cityzens Run Leaders, using tech, citizen science and physical activity to drive data informed advocacy for clean air and healthy urban places, while also facilitating youth participation in decision making that shapes the future of cities.

Secretary of State, Minister of National Land Use Planning, Urban Development, Housing and City Policy

Dr. Fatna El Khiel, who was appointed by HM King Mohammed VI, on Wednesday, April 05, 2017, Secretary of State to the Minister of National Land Use Planning, Urban Development, Housing and City Policy, in charge of housing, is a doctor specializing in public health. As member of the political bureau of the Popular Movement Party, Dr. El Khiel was Advisor to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) between 2000 and 2002. She was a Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2016 and was elected Vice President of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2008. Between 2003 and 2015, Dr. El Khiel was in charge of the Presidency of the Provincial Council of Kenitra. She is the head of the Communal Council of Arbaoua since 2009 and is the vice-president of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) since 2010. Dr. El Khiel is President of the REFELA-Morocco national chapter, and by the same title, she is the Vice-President of the continental network of REFELA for the North Africa Region. Fatna El Khiel is married and has two children.

Mayor, City of Rabat                                          

Born in Rabat in 1981 and originally from Tafraout, Fatiha El Moudni grew up in a strict but influential environment. Her father, surrounded by people of different nationalities, backgrounds, and ideologies, inspired her to take an interest in associative, economic, and political life. Her rich and diverse background earned her the current appointment as Honorable Mayor of Rabat, since 25 March 2024. Starting as the Secretary of the Rabat City Council and a substitute at the UCLG World Council, she has clearly demonstrated her leadership and commitment by chairing numerous commissions and taskforces, and actively participating in various forums. She held several key positions in the statutory bodies of many important international organizations and networks. Her roles as Co-Chair of the Strong Cities Network, President of the International Association of Urban Lighting (LUCI), and Vice-President of Metropolis, among others, highlight her dedication to urban development and international collaboration. Serving as the UCLG Treasurer and being part of the LRG Advisory Group to the UN General Secretary would indeed provide her with significant platforms to influence global urban governance and financial management.

After following a purely Moroccan academic path, then American university, her extensive international experience in countries like England, Turkey, Ireland, the UAE, Germany, and South Korea has undoubtedly shaped her into a well-rounded and accomplished businesswoman. Creating the “African League for Leadership” and serving as vice-president of the “Association of Youth People for Social Development in SOUISSI district” are significant contributions. These roles allow her to share her wealth of experience and foster social inclusion and good governance in Morocco. Ms. EL Moudni’s ability to balance her roles as a CEO and her associative commitments is truly admirable. Her patriotism and dedication to her country’s development have clearly driven her to engage in political life and make a significant impact. In recognition of her impressive career, she received the "New Leader for the Future" award at the Crans Montana Forum in 2015, followed by another award "African Young Leader" in 2019. Ms. EL Moudni continues to make a significant impact through her involvement in various associations that support women in vulnerable and challenging situations. Her dedication to these causes demonstrates her unwavering commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society. 

Her active participation in political life reflects her commitment to contributing her energy and rigor to the development and evolution of her country. She is particularly focused on promoting sustainable development, social inclusion, and gender equality. Her leadership and dedication continue to inspire and drive positive change in Rabat and beyond.

Adjunct Assistant Professor, The City University of New York | Implementation Science Section Leader, ISEE Lab at NYU School of Global Public Health | Doctor of Public Health Student, NYU School of Global Public Health

Emeka Iloegbu is a public health microbiologist and laboratory epidemiologist with over 15 years of experience specializing in Bacteriology, Virology, and Hematology. He is currently a third  year Doctor of Public Health student at New York University School of Global Public Health.

Emeka's clinical laboratory and community health expertise includes significant contributions responding to health emergencies involving H1N1, MERS-CoV, Zika, Ebola, COVID-19, and Monkeypox (MPX). He is well-versed in quality interventions and utilization of laboratory diagnostics, having served as a Quality Management Officer at the New York City Department of Health Public Health Laboratory. He also managed the quality system workflows for the Department of Homeland Security BioWatch Select Agent Program.

In his academic appointments, Emeka serves as an Assistant Professor within the Department Biological Sciences at the City University of New York where he is currently training the next generation of laboratory scientists. He is the section leader in NYU’s Implementation Science (ISEE) Lab, where he leads research on HIV syndemics. He is currently a Research Translation Fellow for Market Access Africa where he focuses on strengthening health system capabilitieswithin in African countries affected by re-emerging infectious diseases.

Beyond his clinical laboratory and research contributions, Emeka is actively engaged in global public health policy. He is the founding member of the Global Health Policy Task Force for the World Federation of Public Health Associations, and serves as their United Nations representative in New York where he participates in high-level dialogues on pandemic preparedness, health system strengthening, anti-microbial resistance and human rights law.

Director, Health, The Rockefeller Foundation 

Emilia Carrera serves as a Director for the Health Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation. In her role, Emilia develops and manages a portfolio focusing on responding to the impact of climate change on human health by leveraging climate information for health decision and action across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa. Previously, her portfolio for the Global Vaccination Initiative consisted of country-led efforts in response to Covid 19 pandemic in East and Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. 

Emilia joined The Rockefeller Foundation in 2019 when she started as part of the Equity and Economic Opportunity team. Prior to joining the Foundation, Emilia served at 100 Resilient Cities where she managed delivery of a resilience program in more than ten cities across Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and the U.S. Previously, Emilia worked in public and global health programs and research on HIV, sexual and reproductive health, and maternal and infant health programs in various regions. She has experience working with and in the public sector, research institutions, NGOs and private implementing partners.  

Emilia received her Master of Public Health from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and her B.A. in Biology from the University of Chicago. 

National Coordinator, National Youth Caucus of Kenya | Director, Young Africans for Sustainable Africa | African Youth Representative, UN-HABITAT Youth Advisory Board 

Jonathan Oriki is a 23-year-old multi-award-winning youth advocate, environmentalist, and social justice activist from Kenya. He recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Clinical Medicine and Surgery from Kenya Methodist University. He currently serves as the African Youth Representative to the UN-HABITAT Youth Advisory Board, the National Coordinator of the National Youth Caucus of Kenya, and a director at Young Africans for Sustainable Africa. Jonathan is also the outgoing President of the Kenya Clinical Medicine Students Association (CliMSA-Ke) and the Young Clinician Representative to the Global Association of Clinical Officers and Physician Associates. He has been a UN Volunteer since he was 19 years old. 

These leadership positions have enabled him to channel his energy and experience into driving systems change and maintaining strong relationships with decision-makers, key stakeholders, and opinion shapers in health. He is passionate about health equity, global health advocacy, and public health policies that influence the health of infants and adolescents, and he is committed to advancing the journey toward Universal Health Coverage. 

Jonathan Oriki believes in challenging the status quo in healthcare delivery to ensure that health is truly a right and not a privilege. His dedication centers on leveraging his influence to empower youth and promote sustainable development across Africa. He is enthusiastic about contributing to the burgeoning youth movement dedicated to sustainable urbanization, working together to forge a more just and sustainable future for all. 

Doctoral Student , Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Cocody 

Claver Adjobi is currently pursuing his PhD in Medical Entomology at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Cocody, in collaboration with the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques in Côte d'Ivoire. He earned his Master's Degree in Medical Entomology in 2017 from Nangui-Abrogoua University, formerly known as Abobo-Adjamé University. Since 2021, he has served as Assistant to the Principal Investigator on the SNIS-DENGUE project in Côte d'Ivoire. Additionally, he is an active member of the Entomological Society of Côte d'Ivoire (SECI). 

Environmental Education Manager, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo 

Sinah Magolo is an Environmental Education Manager at The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, an entity of the City of Johannesburg, South Africa.  She has 21 years of experience as an Environmental Education Practitioner. Her interests lie in citizen participation and advocacy in solving local environmental issues, promoting greening in communities through tree education and awareness, and food gardening in schools, especially schools that are situated in marginalized communities across the City of Johannesburg. She further participates in youth development skills programs to enhance their employment opportunities in the environmental sector through mentoring and coaching. She holds a BA in Education from the University of Venda, a Bachelor of Education in Technology Education and a Master of Education in Environmental Education, both from University of Pretoria, and a Master's Degree in Business Leadership from the University of South Africa. 

Director of Sustainability, Bupa

Glyn is Bupa’s Group Director of Sustainability, member of Bupa's Strategic Development Forum and a proud sustainability solutionist.

Reporting into Bupa’s Chief Sustainability and People Officer, Glyn is responsible for the design and implementation of Bupa's global sustainability strategy, which recognises the intersection between, and interdependence of, human health and the health of the planet. Glyn also directs delivery of Bupa’s science-based targets and net zero commitments and solutions delivering on Bupa’s climate, health and nature ambitions.

Glyn previously held roles in strategy and legal teams at Bupa, and was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2009 (although is not currently practicing law).

Vice President of Global Health Strategies, Fast Track Cities

Sindhu Ravishankar is the Vice President of Global Health Strategy at the Fast-Track Cities Institute the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. For the past decade, she has worked on the Fast-Track Cities initiative which is global partnership between over 550 cities around the world and four core partners, including IAPAC, UNAIDS, UN-Habitat and the City of Paris, aimed at accelerating local HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV) responses to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 by 2030. Sindhu has lived and worked in the United States, South Africa, India, and the UK, and has primarily focused on HIV and intersecting health issues including mental health, substance use, reproductive health, and more recently, environmental health. She holds an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Oxford and is currently a PhD student at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Director Global Vaccines Public Affairs, Partnerships and Access, Takeda 

Elvis Garcia has dedicated his life to advancing global health through extensive work in humanitarian aid, research, and vaccine access. An alumnus of Harvard University, he holds a Doctorate in Public Health and Master’s degrees in Engineering, Architecture, Political Science, and Public Health. 

 With over a decade of experience with Doctors Without Borders, Elvis has worked in more than 20 countries, tackling critical health crises. As an advocate of sustainability and community integration, his interventions emphasize the use of vernacular architecture to achieve greater impact. He has had the chance to use this approach in designing health clinics, hospitals, temporary structures, laboratories, and cholera and Ebola centers around the world. This approach blends local traditional construction techniques with modern medical requirements, ensuring effective and culturally appropriate solutions. 

 Elvis joined the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2019, to address a void in design education and policymaking, by launching a pioneering course on the intersection of epidemics and urban design. This course aimed to bridge a dramatic gap that profoundly affects people’s lives, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated approaches in public health and urban planning. 

 Since joining Takeda’ pharmaceuticals in 2018, Elvis has focused on access to vaccines, particularly for dengue. His leadership in coalition building and innovative affordability initiatives has cemented Takeda’s dengue vaccine launch strategy as an industry benchmark. 

 Elvis continues to influence global health as a lecturer at IE University and as a speaker, featured by CNN, BBC, DW, France 24, El Pais, and others for his insights during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work exemplifies the critical intersection of urban planning, health, equity and access in improving global health outcomes. 

Head, Novartis Foundation

Ann Aerts is Head of the Novartis Foundation, an organization committed to transform the health of low-income populations, by leveraging the power of data, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to reimagine health and care around the world.

Ann holds a Degree in Medicine, a Masters in Public Health from the University of Leuven, Belgium, and a Degree in Tropical Medicine from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium.

Passionate about improving population health through data, digital and AI, Ann chairs the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development Working Group on Digital and AI in Health and is a member the Philips Foundation Board. Ann served as a member of the US NASEM Committee on Improving the Quality of Health Care Globally and on the US NAM Commission on Healthy Longevity. She was named one of the top 50 innovators in 2020 by the World Summit AI community.

Community Development Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Julian is a Community Development Specialist with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Julian supports the New York Fed’s convening, research, and thought leadership on climate resilience, health equity, and impact investing, as well as the Community Development team’s internationally focused efforts. He also serves as Co-Secretariat for the New York Fed’s Community Advisory Group, a committee of leaders from throughout the Second District advising President John Williams on real-world economic conditions.  

Julian is a fourth-generation New Yorker and previously served as Associate Director of Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park Conservancy, leading programs, fundraising, partnerships, and strategy. He has also worked for the World Resources Institute’s Natural Infrastructure Initiative, for the Yale Urban Initiative, and in renewables finance and development. Julian co-founded and serves as Co-Chair of the Brooklyn Parks and Open Spaces Coalition and has previously served on Brooklyn Community Board 2 and the Brooklyn Hospital Center’s Community Advisory Board. He holds a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment, where he focused on urban political economy and environmental justice, and was awarded a research fellowship the Hixon Center for Urban Sustainability. He graduated from Middlebury College, cum laude, double majoring in philosophy and environmental policy, earning high honors in philosophy. 

Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain, Coordinator Urban Planning and Health

Carolyn Daher is a specialist in public health, with university studies in this area (Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) and Psychosocial Intervention (Barcelona University). She is currently the Coordinator of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at the Barcelona Global Health Institute (ISGlobal). Her research is based on understanding how urban design can impact the health of the population. Her work centres on generating greater impact on politics and society by means of scientific evidence and ensuring that evidence-based practices are used when creating and implementing health intervention projects. She is currently Coordinator of ISGlobal’s Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative. 

Consultant - Strengthening Capacities for Urban Health, 
World Health Organization 

Francisco was born in Quito, Ecuador, and grew up in Canada before returning to Quito to work. His career began in urban planning and has evolved to focus on urban health in resource-limited contexts. 
 
Before IHTM, Francisco worked for the municipality of Quito leading a healthy neighbourhoods programme to improve inequities by empowering communities to take control of local conditions. 
 
Francisco is currently working to develop the WHO's global capacity strengthening programme for urban health. It involves a capacities self-assessment tool and a blended learning training course being piloted in eight cities spanning five continents. Francisco is also co-chair of the Expert Advisory Council of the International Society of Urban Health and can be found delivering training to city practitioners on social participation in health. 

Director, UNICEF Programme Group

Since joining UNICEF in 2000, Mr Laryea-Adjei has served in various roles at country, regional and HQ locations, including Regional Director for South Asia, Director of Evaluation, Deputy Director responsible for corporate strategy, Deputy Representative, and Chief of Social Policy.

Before joining UNICEF, he served as a Senior Analyst for the Planning Commission of Ghana, engaged in part-time university-level teaching, and worked with community groups on integrated development. He also provided advisory and research services in several African countries, India, and the Netherlands.

Mr Laryea-Adjei has invested considerable effort in improving policies for children and their implementation throughout his career. He has led the drafting of various policy instruments in many countries and coordinated the preparation of the UNICEF strategic plan. He is the author of two books and several articles in peer-reviewed journals on various topics, such as inclusive education and child benefits and COVID-19 impacts on vulnerable population groups.

Mr Laryea-Adjei is a national of Ghana and holds a PhD from the Faculty of Economics, Erasmus University in Rotterdam. He is married and has two boys.

Christelle is the Programme Management Officer for UN-Habitat. Her work focuses on mainstreaming gender in planning processes, engaging vulnerable groups in city planning decisions, and supporting innovation and technology in urban projects. Her responsibilities include mobilizing resources, managing Minecraft experts, running workshops and training sessions, following up on the implementation of public space projects, and communicating progress to donors. She has facilitated over 20 Block by Block Workshops in Haiti, Lebanon, China, Niger, Ghana, Uganda, Vietnam, and Guinea and has represented Block by Block and UN-Habitat at global events including the World Urban Forum.

Christelle is certified in Global Talent, WYSE Advanced Leadership, and Building a Better Response and speaks Arabic, English, French, Italian, Spanish, and sign language. Before joining UN-Habitat, she worked in Cape Town as an urban planner. She holds a master’s in International Cooperation from the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya and a master’s in Architecture from Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - USEK. She lives in Nairobi, Kenya.

Special Envoy, International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA)

Connecting research, policy and practice, Dr Gayle Souter-Brown is a holistic systems thinker. A Taylor Francis-named UN Sustainable Development Goal Thought Leader, her multidisciplinary approach bridges health, ecology, and landscape architecture. This novel, innovative methodology embraces goals #3 Good health and wellbeing, #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, #13 Climate Action and #15 Life on Land.

Her research and practice explore human-nature interaction as it impacts stress and hence incidence of non-communicable disease. Effects of the qualities of the built and natural environment on physical activity, diet, workplace wellbeing and the wider social and environmental determinants of health feature across her work. Unafraid to question the status quo, she uses quantitative methods to inform her work, balanced by the qualitative 'how things feel'.

Interested in health promotion, mental health and sustainable development, Dr Souter-Brown integrates innate wisdom, indigenous knowledge, and modern-day mixed methods research. Working remotely and in-person, her award-winning global salutogenic design practice references theories of place, attachment, stress reduction, attention restoration and biophilia. Author of the international text Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Wellbeing, she researches, writes, is an invited speaker, advises and teaches internationally. Gayle is based between London, England, and her farm in rural Canterbury, New Zealand.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Eminence Associates for Social Development, Bangladesh

With over a decade of experience as a development professional in areas of telemedicine and public health, I am exploring the scope of innovative ideas and skills in research, designing essential and need based study, surveys and techniques. Being a focal point of Eminence, I have been providing overall technical and strategic leadership for the expansion and scale-up of activities for sustainability of the Organization and maintaining excellent relations with high government officials, policy makers, donors and coordination and strong partnerships. Moreover, having scopes to work as secretariat of different national and international society related to health and nutrition leading participation in policy formulation and implications process. Acquired combine strong analytical, and management skills with expertise in participatory appraisal, Strategic Planning, Operations and Program Management, Review, Policy Advocacy and Analysis, research and evaluation focusing Telemedicine Services, Maternal and Child Health, Reproductive Health, Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs), Urban Health, Communicable Disease and Nutrition.

Programme Manager for the MBIE Endeavour, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand

Kate Murphy is the Programme Manager for the MBIE Endeavour funded research programme, Public housing and urban regeneration: maximising wellbeing.

Kate leads the coordination of the research strategy for the programme by identifying factors that promote cohesion between participating scientific and community teams, including liaison with key stakeholders, in particular Māori, pacific partners and collaborators.

Kate has over 10 years’ experience working in health and medical research administration, specifically in the management of a national Twin Registry, and all aspects of study design, development and participant recruitment into research projects.
She has an interest in knowledge exchange between researchers and stakeholders to optimise the adoption of evidence-based findings into practice and policy.

Director, Urban Plus Solutions

Dr. Sainath Banerjee is a distinguished global expert in urban health, with a career spanning over three decades. With a primary focus on urban health, Dr. Banerjee has garnered extensive experience in diverse areas such as primary healthcare, Health System Strengthening (HSS), integrated multi-sectoral urban health planning, governance, and addressing equity-related issues, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable populations. Over years, Dr. Banerjee has held various strategic and leadership positions, including deputy program director, program director, and Chief of Party, collaborating with major bilateral donors, foundations, and UN agencies. His expertise encompasses Urban Health Planning, Health System Strengthening, Policy Advocacy, Governance, Capacity Building, Partnership Management, Community Engagement, and Organizational Development. Throughout his career, Dr. Banerjee has been instrumental in pioneering initiatives in urban health, collaborating with renowned institutions such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH). He has presented papers at numerous international conferences and has authored articles and book chapters on various aspects of urban health. Dr. Banerjee has played a pivotal role in the transformation of donor-funded pilots into a comprehensive national urban health program in India. His contributions encompass architectural design support, technical assistance during implementation, formulation of strategic plans, and the development of innovative approaches to tackle prevalent urban health issues.

Notably, Dr. Banerjee has served as a Member of the Board of the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH) in New York and currently serves on the Scientific Committee of ISUH. He is also a Member of the Technical Resource Group (TRG) for the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Additionally, he has contributed as an ex-Member of the Delhi Urban Health Policy Working Group. Dr. Banerjee holds a Ph.D. in Population Genetics and is a medical Anthropologist. He was a research Fellow with the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. His interdisciplinary background and extensive experience make him a critical resource in addressing the complex challenges of urban health on a global scale.

Mayor and Minister, Marrakesh and National Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy

Fatima-Zahra El Mansouri was re-elected mayor of Marrakesh in October 2021. She became the first female Mayor of the city when she previously held the post from 2009 to 2015. Since October 2021, she is also Minister of National Territory Planning, Land planning, Housing and City Policy in Morocco. She previously worked as a Moroccan deputy from 2011 to 2021 and as a municipal councillor of Marrakesh from 2015 to 2021. Prior to her political career, Mayor Mansouri was a lawyer in Casablanca specialising in commercial and real estate transactions. She studied in French schools in Marrakesh before studying at the University of Montpellier (France), and the University of Pace (USA) where she received her law degree.

Director General or Coordinator of North Africa Regional Center, AfricaCDC

H.E Dr. Jean Kaseya was appointed Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC) during the thirty-sixth African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government in February 2023. Dr. Kaseya, a Congolese Medical Doctor with advanced degrees in Epidemiology and Community Health, brings to this position over 25 years of expertise in the field of public health, having held pivotal roles both at the national and international levels.
As the Director-General of Africa-CDC, Dr. Kaseya oversees the organisation’s fundamental political, strategic, and technical functions. At the forefront of his agenda is his commitment to advancing a transformative “New Deal” for Africa CDC, with the primary objective of strengthening health security across the continent. This undertaking involves establishing sustainable and innovative financing mechanisms, enhancing robust governance structures, cultivating technical expertise, strengthening health systems, and efficient response to health crises.

Before assuming his role as Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Kaseya had a distinguished career, holding multiple significant roles. At the national level, Dr. Kaseya has been entrusted with significant responsibilities, contributing his expertise to the health initiatives of his home country. These roles have included serving as a Senior Adviser to President Laurent Desire Kabila at a ministerial level, where he played a vital role in shaping healthcare policies and strategies. Additionally, he has taken on roles such as the Head of Routine Immunization within the National Expanded Programme on Immunization, showcasing his dedication to enhancing healthcare delivery at the grassroots level.

On the international stage, he has worked with prominent organisations such as UNICEF, Gavi, CHAI, and the World Health Organization, where he has been instrumental in driving forward various health initiatives of continental significance. Dr. Kaseya is a devoted family man and a proud father of three daughters.