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Business as usual?

The case for transforming global health governance

Webinar I 25 January 2022 I 15:00 - 16:30 CET

The COVID-19 crisis has thrown into sharp relief the need to better anticipate the next pandemic, and to harmonise preparedness mechanisms across the globe. Political leaders, as well as public authorities and international bodies, have struggled with good governance and transparency in addressing the global emergency, and the resulting loss of trust among citizens has complicated efficient responses even further.

At the same time, community-led responses have proven effective in many settings, facilitating more inclusive and sustainable approaches bolstered by a shared feeling of responsibility. The need to strengthen community engagement and inclusive processes with all of society at the table is clear at hand – not only while responding to an acute crisis, but crucially while defining future norms and commitments for international public health.

As negotiations towards a new international agreement on pandemic preparedness take shape - initiated by the European Union and several world leaders, and agreed to be taken forward by WHO’s 194 member states in a Special Session of the World Health Assembly on 1st December 2021 - the time is ripe to explore what it will take to break down divisions within the health community and strive for transparent, inclusive, and accountable mechanisms.

At this digital roundtable organised in close partnership between the European Health Forum Gastein and AIDS Healthcare Foundation Europe, key experts will reflect on what multi-sectorial commitments to and equitable governance structures for an international pandemic accord should look like, and how a broad consultation of civil society in the process can be ensured. We will also hear from young voices in (global) health and explore their hopes and demands for an equitable tomorrow. Join us to envision a transparent, inclusive, and accountable future for global health governance, and discuss the actions needed to get us there!

If you have any questions for the speakers, ask them during registration, during the event via the webinar Q&A function, via email to info@ehfg.org - or tweet @GasteinForum with #futureofhealth. 

Details

Start: January 25, 2022
3:00 PM (UTC/GMT +01:00 - Europe / Vienna)
End: January 25, 2022
4:30 PM (UTC/GMT +01:00 - Europe / Vienna)
European Health Forum Gastein

Online event

Speakers

Ayoade Alakija

Co-Chair
Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance
Ayoade Alakija
  • Ayoade Alakija

    Dr Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija is a visionary, innovative leader and influencer in global health and humanitarian development. A Pan-African at heart and citizen of the world, Ayoade speaks nine languages and is committed to transformational change that puts the voices of the global south at the heart of policy planning and decision making in critical health, development, education, and humanitarian issues.

    Ayoade is Co-Chair of the African Union's Africa Vaccine Delivery Alliance and Founder of the Emergency Coordination Centre, Nigeria (ECC), as well as the former Chief Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria. With a background in medicine, public health and policy, Ayoade is a recognised Pan-African strategist and analytical thinker who brings creative and innovative solutions to complex situations.

    Ayoade has long standing relationships and networks with leaders across governments, multilateral agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector. She has successfully delivered initiatives ranging across health, development, humanitarian crisis and education in countries across Africa and globally. In addition to this, she served as a Board Member at George Washington University, Africa Centre for Peace and Human Security.

    Ayoade is passionate about achieving equitable outcomes in all aspects of life especially health, education and achieving social justice globally. In addition to this, she is currently spearheading an initiative to create Safe Learning and Teaching Environments in Nigeria (The CASTLE Initiative).

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Michael Weinstein

President
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Michael Weinstein
  • Michael Weinstein

    Michael Weinstein is the president of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization. Before becoming involved in HIV/AIDS-related issues in the 1980s, he was a businessman and graphic designer. Since 1986, Mr. Weinstein has been a leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS. As president and co-founder of AHF, he oversees a multi-billion dollar organization whose mission is to provide “cutting-edge medicine and advocacy regardless of ability to pay.” AHF currently serves over 1.5 million clients in the United States, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific region, and Eastern Europe.

    Under Weinstein’s leadership, AHF has grown from a group of friends dedicated to the creation of dignified care for people in the last stages of AIDS to the largest AIDS organization in the United States. The Foundation now operates in more than 45 countries globally.

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Björn Kümmel

Deputy Head of Unit on Global Health
German Ministry of Health
Björn Kümmel
  • Björn Kümmel

    Senior political advisor on global health affairs in the German Federal Ministry of Health coordinating the Federal Government’s Strategy on Global Health, WHO with a specific focus on strengthening WHO / WHO reform, finances and administration, COVID-19 lessons-learnt-processes. 

    Key recent roles include: 

    • Since 2018, German member to the WHO Executive Board
    • 2019-2020: Chair of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the Executive Board of WHO
    • 2020, Vice-Chair of the Executive Board of WHO
    • Since 2020, link between the Executive Board and the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee of the WHO European Region
    • Since 2021, Chair of the WHO Open-ended Working Group on Sustainable Financing.
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Stéphanie Seydoux

Ambassador for Global Health
French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Stéphanie Seydoux
  • Stéphanie Seydoux

    After studying literature at Oxford University and politics at Sciences Po Paris, Stéphanie Seydoux started her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She then joined ENA (Ecole nationale d’administration) and the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS) in 2004. From 2007 to 2010, she was Head of Equality Promotion at the French Independent Equality Commission, before serving as Deputy Ambassador at the French Embassy in Kenya. Back in France, she became Head of the French Women’s rights department from 2014 to 2017. Seydoux was appointed French Ambassador for Global health in 2018.

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Juozas Olekas

MEP
European Parliament
Juozas Olekas
  • Juozas Olekas

    Juozas Olekas is a Member of the European Parliament and a member of the AGRI Committee. MEP Olekas has worked in medicine for a large part of his life. After graduating from Kaunas Medical Institute, he studied at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius University and later improved his knowledge at the University of Glasgow. 1980-1988 he worked as a doctor at Vilnius University Red Cross Hospital, 1982-1989 VU Microsurgery Center Laboratory Chief Research Fellow, 1992-1993 VU Plastic Surgery Clinic Chief Research Fellow, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. In 1993-1994 he worked as the head of the Department of Plastic Surgery and Traumatology of Vilnius University Ambulance Hospital, and in 1994-1997 as the chief doctor of VU Žalgiris Hospital, associate professor of the Dental Clinic of VU Faculty of Medicine. From 1988, MEP Olekas actively participated in restoring Lithuania's independence and from 1996 to 2019 worked as a member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, worked as the Minister of Health or the Minister of Defense in 7 governments. In 2019, he was elected a Member of the European Parliament, where he is actively working on promoting a robust, inclusive and holistic European health union.

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Moderation: Jacki Davis

Moderation: Jacki Davis
  • Moderation: Jacki Davis

    Jacki Davis is an experienced journalist, speaker and moderator of high-level events both in Brussels and in EU national capitals, the editor of many publications, a regular broadcaster on television and radio news programmes, and a Senior Adviser to the European Policy Centre think tank. Jacki has been based in Brussels for 21 years, and was previously Communications Director of the European Policy Centre think tank; Editor-in-Chief of E!Sharp magazine; and launch editor of European Voice, the Brussels-based weekly newspaper owned by The Economist.

    Jacki has moderated many conferences in Brussels and in EU Member States, and also has extensive experience in planning events. She can provide not only top-quality moderation of the event itself and ensure lively and highly interactive debates, but also advice and guidance on how to plan a successful event, how to frame the debate and brief speakers to deliver the desired outcomes etc.

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Partners

AHF Europe

Cutting edge medicine and advocacy regardless of ability to pay

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