UNITE Global Summit 2026 |
Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest
August 3rd & 4th, 2026
Manila Marriott Hotel, The Philippines
Day(s)
Hour(s)
Minute(s)
Second(s)
about the
summit
The UNITE Global Summit is
UNITE – Parliamentarians Network for Global Health’s
flagship event. It serves as a
dynamic platform
where parliamentarians and decision-makers engage with leading experts and organizations to address the most pressing global health challenges and to
shape the political agendas for the year(s) to come
Under the topic
“Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest”
, parliamentarians will be called to confront one of the defining challenges of these fracturing times — the widening gaps in health equity and access.
As the world faces intersecting crises that test the resilience of health systems and the sustainability of public financing,
political leadership becomes the most decisive investment of all
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collaboration with the
IDRC
As part of Canada’s foreign affairs and development efforts, the
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
champions and funds research and innovation within and alongside developing regions to drive global change.
In 2026, the UNITE Global Summit and the IDRC are partnering to drive the
development of evidence-based, high-impact legislation
that reflects the latest scientific insights and global health priorities.
UNITE and the IDRC intend to equip parliamentarians with the essential tools to commit to
sustainable, inclusive, and transformative political action for health
why
Manila
Asia, with its rapidly growing economies and expanding political influence, is
uniquely positioned
to be central for incoming discussions aimed at addressing the current juncture in
global health.
Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Manila stands as a dynamic crossroads of cultures, innovation, and resilience, making it a natural stage for
critical global dialogue
on sustainable public health systems, equity, governance, and innovation.
Participants will experience world-class infrastructure, seamless connectivity, and the unparalleled warmth of Filipino hospitality – rooted in
malasakit
, or compassionate care. From immersive wellness experiences to vibrant intercultural dialogue, Manila doesn’t just host—it welcomes, inspires, and galvanizes action.
Drive change alongside UNITE,
and
become a partner today!
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our
impact
The UNITE Global Summit
ignites the political leadership
that moves global health forward
2020
Virtual
Amidst a game-changing moment, over 60
Parliamentarians Call on their Governments to not lose Sight of the SDGs’ 2030 Deadline
in the midst and aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic
2022
Lisbon, Portugal
Parliamentarians Visit a Drug Consumption Room
, gaining first-hand insight and exchange ideas on the importance of these support structures, and the return on investment both financial and for public health, they deliver
2024
Berlin, Germany
Parliamentarians Sign a Statement in Support of the Pandemic Agreement ahead of WHA78
, reiterating their commitment to strengthening pandemic preparedness, prevention, response, and equitable access to health
2020
Virtual
Amidst a game-changing moment, over 60
Parliamentarians Call on their Governments to not lose Sight of the SDGs’ 2030 Deadline
in the midst and aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic
2022
Lisbon, Portugal
Parliamentarians Visit a Drug Consumption Room
, gaining first-hand insight and exchange ideas on the importance of these support structures, and the return on investment both financial and for public health, they deliver
2024
Berlin, Germany
Parliamentarians Sign a Statement in Support of the Pandemic Agreement ahead of WHA78
, reiterating their commitment to strengthening pandemic preparedness, prevention, response, and equitable access to health
the
agenda
Day 1 | August 3rd
Day 2 | August 4th
7 – 8:30 AM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
7 – 8:30 AM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
Day 1 | March 6th
Breakfast
Co-hosted with TriMar Strategies
Speakers
Dr. Mary Bussell
CEO
TriMar Strategies
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
INVITATION-ONLY
Breakfast
Co-hosted with TriMar Strategies
9 – 9:30 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL
9 – 9:30 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL
Day 1 | March 6th
Opening Session & Welcome Words
“Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest”
is the central theme of the UNITE Global Summit 2026 and will anchor the Opening Session as the starting point for the Summit’s political dialogue. The session will set the overall direction of the Summit, framing health investment as a political choice that requires leadership, accountability, and long-term commitment.
As the first collective moment of the Summit, the Opening Session will bring together parliamentarians, ministers, representatives of international organizations, development partners, researchers, and civil society leaders. It will establish a shared political and thematic foundation, aligning participants around the Summit’s objectives and preparing the ground for the discussions that will follow.
Hosted in Manila, Philippines, the session will recognize the host country and situate the Summit within the Asia-Pacific region, highlighting the region’s growing role in global health governance and connecting regional experiences to global health challenges.
The Opening Session will underscore the essential role of parliamentarians in shaping legislation, approving budgets, exercising oversight, and advancing health diplomacy. It will also highlight the importance of research and innovation in informing political decision-making and strengthening health systems.
By outlining the structure and intended outcomes of the UNITE Global Summit 2026, the session will provide participants with a clear roadmap for the days ahead and open the broader dialogue on political courage, strategic investment, and collective action to build more equitable and resilient health systems worldwide.
Speakers
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Hon. Pia Cayetano
Chapter Chair, Asia Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Philippines
Dr. Tedros Adhanom
Director-General
World Health Organization
(Video Remarks)
Kapil Kapoor
Regional Director, Asia
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
India
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
CEREMONIAL HALL
Opening Session & Welcome Words
9:30 – 11 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL
9:30 – 11 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL
Day 1 | March 6th
Global Leadership Dialogue
Political Leadership to Drive Strategic Health Investment
Hosted by UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Across the globe, health systems face growing pressures: from economic uncertainty and debt distress to demographic shifts, pandemics, climate shocks, geopolitical tensions, and widening inequities. Health is both a human right and a macroeconomic imperative; however, despite repeated commitments to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health equity, investments in health remain reactive, fragmented, short-term, and insufficient to build truly resilient systems.
The question of how to sustainably finance health has, therefore, become central to both national and international agendas. At the same time, governments are navigating tight fiscal spaces, competing political priorities, and public demand for immediate results. In this context, sustainable health financing requires more than just new revenue streams. It requires political courage to reframe health not as an expenditure, but as a driver of growth, stability, and social cohesion.
This High-Level Dialogue brings together leaders who shape the global financing architecture to explore how to bridge the health divide through strategic investment and policy alignment. It will examine how global and national actors can collaborate to unlock new financing models, mobilize domestic resources, and protect health budgets amid fiscal strain.
Through their experience, speakers will reflect on the political and institutional leadership required to advance sustainable health financing, share examples of innovative models and partnerships that expand fiscal space, and discuss how cross-sectoral cooperation, including from finance, trade, and development, can accelerate progress towards equitable health for all.
Speakers
Dr. Kidong Park
Director, Programme Management
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
Ms. Priya Basu
Executive Head
Pandemic Fund
India
Dr. Eduardo Banzon
Director, Health Practice Team, Human and Social Development Office
ADB Sectors Department
Philippines
Mr. Roderick M. Napulan
Director IV
Department of Health
The Philippines
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
CEREMONIAL HALL
Global Leadership Dialogue
Political Leadership to Drive Strategic Health Investment
Hosted by UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
11 – 11:30 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL FOYER
CEREMONIAL HALL FOYER
Photo Op & Coffee Break
11:30 AM – 1 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
11:30 AM – 1 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
Day 1 | March 6th
The Role of Parliamentarians in Driving Innovative and Sustainable Health and Immunization Financing
With the technical support of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Immunization remains one of the most
cost-effective public health interventions
, saving millions of lives each year while strengthening
economic resilience, productivity and stability
. Yet progress is fragile: in 2024, nearly 20 million children missed at least one routine vaccine dose, including 14.3 million who have not received a single dose. These gaps – often concentrated in fragile and conflict-affected settings – are fueling outbreaks such as measles and heightening global health security risks.
As the global health architecture evolves – driven by shifts in financing, country ownership, coordination mechanisms and accountability expectations –
immunization remains central to this transition
. This session will examine how parliamentary leadership can steer countries through these transitions, safeguard public health gains, and build resilient immunization systems whilst highlighting the critical choices needed to secure their sustainable financing.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
will serve as technical partner for this session. Since 2000, Gavi has helped immunize more than
1.2 billion
children and prevent over
20 million
future deaths. To deliver this impact, Gavi has built a suite of innovative financing mechanisms, such as pioneering the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (
IFFIm
), the Advance Market Commitments (
AMCs
), pandemic surge financing (First Response Fund, Day Zero Financing Facility), regional vaccine manufacturing (African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator), as well as more recent blended financing models with multilateral development banks.
Together, these approaches have
mobilised $30 billion in predictable, longterm resources
, supported country transitions, and helped create pathways toward greater financial sustainability for national immunisation programmes.
Speakers
Charles Bleehen
Head of Development & Innovative Finance
Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
PARALLEL SESSION
The Role of Parliamentarians in Driving Innovative and Sustainable Health and Immunization Financing
With the technical support of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
11:30 AM – 1 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 9
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 9
POLICY WORKSHOP
PARALLEL SESSION
INVITATION-ONLY
Building Guardrails for Trust: Legislating Digital Health Safeguards for Mental Wellbeing
Hosted by UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health & Transform Health
1 – 3 PM
MIAN & ALLEGRO RESTAURANT
MIAN & ALLEGRO RESTAURANT
PARALLEL SESSION
Lunch
1:15 – 2:45 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
1:15 – 2:45 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
Day 1 | March 6th
Lunch
Closing the Gap: Sustainable Financing for Tobacco Control
Co-hosted with WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control
Speakers
Andrew Black
Acting Head of Convention Secretariat
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Australia
Carmen Willen
Lead, Governance and External Relations
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Ms. Mina Kashiwabara
Technical Lead
WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
AJ Montesa
Program Officer for Research
Action for Economic Reforms
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
PARALLEL SESSION
INVITATION-ONLY
Lunch
Closing the Gap: Sustainable Financing for Tobacco Control
Co-hosted with WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control
3 – 4 PM
CEREMONIAL HALL
3 – 4 PM
CEREMONIAL HALL
Day 1 | March 6th
The Role of Parliamentarians in Advancing Regional Approaches to Health Emergencies: Regions as Co-Creators of the Evolving Global Health Architecture
Co-hosted with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in the global health architecture, particularly its reliance on centralized mechanisms that proved slow and uneven in responding to regional needs. Many regions—especially in the Global South—faced delayed access to vaccines, diagnostics, financing, and countermeasures, despite having existing political and technical capacity at the regional level.
In response, regional approaches to health emergencies have gained increasing political relevance. Regional institutions and coordination platforms have demonstrated their potential to act faster, pool resources, support local manufacturing, and align responses with regional political and epidemiological realities. As reforms to the global health architecture accelerate—through the WHO Pandemic Agreement, amendments to the International Health Regulations, and broader financing and governance debates—regions have a critical opportunity to assert leadership.
Hosted by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
, this panel at the
UNITE Global Summit
focuses on how parliamentarians can use their legislative, budgetary, and oversight powers to strengthen and sustain regional approaches to health emergencies. Framing regions as co-creators of the evolving global health architecture, the session will explore how MPs can translate regional commitments into national policy and financing, exercise democratic oversight of regional health institutions, and build cross-border political alignment—equipping parliamentarians with practical political pathways to advance more equitable and resilient global health governance.
Speakers
Ambassador Olawale Mayegun
Former Ambassador
African Union
Nigeria
Jorge Saavedra, MD, MPH, MSc
Executive Director
AHF Global Public Health Institute
Mexico
Hon. Mariam Jashi
Chapter Chair, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Georgia
Hon. Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba
Chapter Chair, Latin America & The Caribbean
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Mexico
Hon. Mahesh Kumar Mallani
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Hon. Amira Saber
Chapter Chair, Middle East & North Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
CEREMONIAL HALL
PANEL DISCUSSION
The Role of Parliamentarians in Advancing Regional Approaches to Health Emergencies: Regions as Co-Creators of the Evolving Global Health Architecture
Co-hosted with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
4 – 4:30 PM
CEREMONIAL HALL FOYER
CEREMONIAL HALL FOYER
Coffee Break
4:30 – 5:30 PM
CEREMONIAL HALL
4:30 – 5:30 PM
CEREMONIAL HALL
Day 1 | March 6th
Global Health Equity and Financing
Co-hosted with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Rising debt burdens, shrinking fiscal space, and increasingly unpredictable development assistance are forcing governments to make difficult choices between debt servicing and health investments. As pandemic-era borrowing comes due, insufficient domestic resource mobilization—often compounded by inefficiencies and limited transparency in public spending—continues to undermine progress toward universal health coverage and health equity.
At the same time, global health financing debates are at a critical juncture, with international financial institutions and development banks reassessing debt frameworks and fiscal rules. Without strong political leadership, equity- and rights-based considerations risk being sidelined in these negotiations.
Hosted by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
, this panel at the
UNITE Global Summit
brings together parliamentarians and global health and financing experts to examine how informed parliamentary action on debt, efficiency, and transparency can safeguard health investments and promote equitable financing.
Through an interactive discussion, including a policy dilemmas exercise, the session will equip parliamentarians with practical insights and tools to navigate real-world fiscal trade-offs, strengthen accountability, and champion fairer and more sustainable health financing within their legislative mandates.
Speakers
Hon. Daniel Molokele-Tsiye Fortune
Chapter Chair, Eastern & Southern Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Pia Cayetano
Chapter Chair, Asia Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Philippines
Ms. Yoke Ling Chee
Executive Director
Third World Network
Malaysia
Ms. Priya Basu
Executive Head
Pandemic Fund
India
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
CEREMONIAL HALL
PANEL DISCUSSION
Global Health Equity and Financing
Co-hosted with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
5:30 – 7 PM
GARDEN
5:30 – 7 PM
GARDEN
Day 1 | March 6th
“Salu-Salo” Exchange
Official Launch of the Health Policy Trend Report 2026
Co-hosted with the Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL) & the African Population Health & Research Center (APHRC)
A survey of policymakers highlighted that 90% of participants identify
short electoral cycles
and
political pressure for quick wins
as a major barrier, while 85% report chronic under-resourcing, and 74% cite limited health expertise and difficulty interpreting scientific evidence.
This session features the release of the
Health Policy Trends Report 2026
, which builds on the survey. The report’s findings point to three recurring and interlinked challenges in health policy world-wide: short-termism, lacking resources, and limitations in relevant expertise.
This issue is timely and politically relevant because health systems globally are facing overlapping pressures – geopolitical tensions, antimicrobial resistance, climate-related health risks, and fiscal constraints to name but a few – while governments simultaneously face heightened public expectations for immediate, visible results. Parliamentarians are increasingly expected to respond to crises quickly, while also ensuring that reforms are sustainable and evidence-informed.
Speakers
Dr Branwen J. Hennig
Executive Director
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Hendrik Oye
Project Manager
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Gaye Agesa
Senior Manager, Policy Advocacy and Communications
African Population Health Research Center (APHRC)
GARDEN
“Salu-Salo” Exchange
Official Launch of the Health Policy Trend Report 2026
Co-hosted with the Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL) & the African Population Health & Research Center (APHRC)
8 – 10 PM
DIPLOMATIC HALL
8 – 10 PM
DIPLOMATIC HALL
Day 1 | March 6th
High-Level Dinner
Celebrating Parliamentary Excellence for Global Health
UNITE hosts a High-Level Dinner during the UNITE Global Summit – an
exclusive gathering
that brings together parliamentarians and a select group of partners and thought leaders in global health – offering a unique and unparalleled opportunity to forge and deepen meaningful connections.
Designed to foster strategic dialogue in an informal setting, this highlevel dinner provides space for candid exchanges, alliance-building, and the exploration of new ideas.
This year, and now more than ever, UNITE is
“Celebrating Parliamentary Excellence for Global Health”
, in an event that symbolizes the importance and impact of democracy and the role of parliamentarians generating progress for.
As Manila welcomes us for this exceptional evening, it becomes a symbol of unity, diplomacy, and shared commitment to addressing global health challenges.
Speakers
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Mr. Martin Chungong
Secretary General
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Cameroon
DIPLOMATIC HALL
High-Level Dinner
Celebrating Parliamentary Excellence for Global Health
7:30 – 9 AM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
7:30 – 9 AM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
Day 2 | March 7th
Breakfast
From Innovation to Access: How the Medicines Patent Pool Delivers Health Equity
Co-hosted with the Medicines Patent Pool
A persistent challenge in global health is that
medical innovation does not automatically translate into access
in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While most new medicines, vaccines and health technologies are developed by companies based in high-income countries, access in LMICs is often delayed by years or remains unaffordable, creating
structural inequities
in health outcomes and weakening health systems.
This access gap leaves countries more vulnerable during health emergencies and undermines confidence in both global health architectures and innovation agendas. The
Medicines Patent Pool (MPP
) was established to address this gap by enabling access through public health–oriented voluntary licensing and technology transfer. Working with governments, WHO, universities and public research agencies, innovators, manufacturers, procurement agencies, civil society and communities, MPP provides a practical mechanism to turn innovation into manufacturing and timely supply in LMICs.
Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Global South has advocated ever more strongly for licensing and technology transfer to enable access, health security and industrial development. These debates are currently at the center of negotiations among UN Member States at the World Health Organization (WHO), including discussions on the
Pandemic Agreement’s Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing
. To ensure that these high-level negotiations yield concrete, implementable outcomes, parliamentarians need credible, real-world examples of mechanisms that already deliver access, scale and public health impact; MPP’s model is one such example.
This working breakfast session organised by the MPP aligns with the UNITE Global Summit’s focus on parliamentary leadership in global health, equity and resilience. It provides a concrete example of
how policy choices in high-income countries can support access in LMICs
, and how parliamentarians play a role in ensuring that innovation delivers measurable public health impact.
Speakers
Charles Gore
Executive Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Gelise McCullough
Communications Director
Medicines Patent Pool
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 8
INVITATION-ONLY
Breakfast
From Innovation to Access: How the Medicines Patent Pool Delivers Health Equity
Co-hosted with the Medicines Patent Pool
9:30 – 10 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL
9:30 – 10 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL
Day 2 | March 7th
Co-hosted with CEPI
Speakers
Monina Vasquez Vierneza
Global General Counsel & Executive Director, Legal, Compliance, Risk & Assurance (LCRA)
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
CEREMONIAL HALL
FIRESIDE CHAT
Co-hosted with CEPI
10 – 11 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL
10 – 11 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL
Day 2 | March 7th
Members at Work: Parliamentary Exchange Forum
Presentations by UNITE Members
Across regions, parliamentarians are stepping up to address some of the most pressing and complex challenges shaping the future of health—from the responsible use of artificial intelligence in health systems, to tackling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, and understanding the health impacts of environmental and social exposures.
Members at Work: Parliamentary Exchange Forum
brings together champion parliamentarians for an interactive fireside chat that shines a spotlight on parliamentary leadership in action. Through candid, moderated conversations, participants will explore how Members of Parliament are translating emerging evidence and innovation into concrete policy action within their respective legislatures.
The session will highlight real-world parliamentary experiences, examining what it takes to drive change, overcome political and institutional barriers, and deliver impact—while also reflecting on how UNITE’s support and global network have enabled and strengthened this work.
Designed as a peer-learning exchange, this forum offers practical insights, inspiration, and lessons for parliamentarians and partners seeking to advance evidence-informed, equitable, and future-ready health policies.
Speakers
Hon. Sonia Sidhu
Chapter Chair, North America
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Hon. Denis Naughten
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ireland
Hon. Ephraim Kayembe
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Nico Marquardt
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
CEREMONIAL HALL
PANEL DISCUSSION
Members at Work: Parliamentary Exchange Forum
Presentations by UNITE Members
11 – 11:30 AM
CEREMONIAL HALL FOYER
CEREMONIAL HALL FOYER
Coffee-Break
11:30 AM – 1 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
11:30 AM – 1 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
Day 2 | March 7th
Intergenerational Action for Climate and Health: A Parliamentary Inquiry
Co-hosted with WHO Youth Council
Climate change is driving profound impacts on health worldwide, compounding the spread of climate-sensitive and neglected diseases, threatening food and water security, and disrupting access to essential health services. Extreme heat, intensified floods, and unpredictable weather patterns are harming communities and placing significant strain on health systems, particularly in low and middle-income countries where resources and capacity are limited.
Despite this urgency and growing evidence,
health remains insufficiently embedded in climate legislation, national planning processes and climate financing
. As countries shape climate mitigation and adaptation strategies and spending priorities, systematically integrating health into climate policymaking is essential to protect populations, reduce long-term costs, and strengthen preparedness.
The consequences of climate change already fall unevenly across generations. Young people and older persons face disproportionate risks due to physiological vulnerability, economic dependence, mobility constraints, and reliance on social protection and health systems. Yet
young people
—despite being among the most affected—
remain underrepresented in formal legislative
and policy processes
and are often insufficiently consulted in decision-making spaces that shape climate and health policy.
The UNITE Global Summit provides a strategic opportunity to discuss these gaps. Convening parliamentarians and partners in Manila — a region highly vulnerable to climate impacts — this Parliamentary Inquiry offers a platform to translate climate-health evidence into concrete actions.
The
WHO Youth Council
presents as a strategic partner and its engagement reinforces the principle of meaningful youth participation in shaping climate-health legislation, while leveraging the WHO networks, such as ATACH or the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, provide a practical implementation platform for climate-resilient action at the local level.
Speakers
Sandro Demaio
Director
WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health
Dr. Mellany Jemutai Murgor
Member
WHO Youth Council
Kenya
Dr. Mayowa Sodiq Akinpelu
Member
WHO Youth Council
Nigeria
Ms. Bianca Carvalho Pontes
Co-chair, Planetary Health Working Group
WHO Youth Council
Brazil
Ms. Sana’a Alkhassawneh
Regional Member
WHO Youth Council
Jordan
Dr. Lorenzo Sablay
Member
WHO Youth Council
The Philippines
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
PARALLEL SESSION
Intergenerational Action for Climate and Health: A Parliamentary Inquiry
Co-hosted with WHO Youth Council
11:30 AM – 1 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 9
11:30 AM – 1 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 9
Day 2 | March 7th
Leading the Way: Supporting Parliamentarians to Champion investments in Pandemic Preparedness
Co-hosted with the Pandemic Fund
Recent outbreaks, from Marburg and Ebola in parts of Africa, to dengue across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, Nipah virus in South Asia, and increased detection of avian influenza globally – underscore that pandemic risk is persistent. Pandemic prevention, preparation and response (PPR) must remain a
shared priority
to ensure all countries are able to
prevent future outbreaks
and quickly respond when necessary.
Six years after COVID-19, the familiar cycle of panic and neglect is real, and we are again faced with too few and still uncoordinated investments in pandemic PPR.
Failure to significantly increase investment
will result in the same backtracking across all health goals evidenced during COVID-19, when health resources had to be diverted to respond to the pandemic.
Parliamentarians are central to advancing government actions on global health security. Through legislation, budgetary authority, oversight, advocacy, and international engagement, MPs can help ensure that their countries are prepared to face global health threats and to stop outbreaks where they start. The UNITE Global Summit represents a unique opportunity to raise awareness and
advance collective action
through parliaments in support of greater investment in pandemic PPR.
Speakers
Ms. Priya Basu
Executive Head
Pandemic Fund
India
Paige Snider
Senior Partnerships Advisor
The Pandemic Fund
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 9
POLICY WORKSHOP
PARALLEL SESSION
INVITATION-ONLY
Leading the Way: Supporting Parliamentarians to Champion investments in Pandemic Preparedness
Co-hosted with the Pandemic Fund
1 – 3 PM
MIAN & ALLEGRO RESTAURANT
MIAN & ALLEGRO RESTAURANT
Lunch
1:15 – 2:45 PM
EXECUTION FUNCTION ROOM 8
1:15 – 2:45 PM
EXECUTION FUNCTION ROOM 8
Day 2 | March 7th
Lunch
Co-hosted with The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Speakers
Scott Boule
Senior Specialist, Parliamentary Affairs
The Global Fund
EXECUTION FUNCTION ROOM 8
INVITATION-ONLY
Lunch
Co-hosted with The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
3 – 4:30 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
3 – 4:30 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
Day 2 | March 7th
From the 2024 UNHLM to the 2030 Reality: A Parliamentary Roadmap for Concrete AMR Policies Implementation
Hosted by UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Speakers
Dr. Takeshi Nishijima
Technical Officer, AMR Regional Office for the Western Pacific
World Health Organization
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM 7
PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY
PARALLEL SESSION
From the 2024 UNHLM to the 2030 Reality: A Parliamentary Roadmap for Concrete AMR Policies Implementation
Hosted by UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
3 – 4:30 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM
3 – 4:30 PM
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM
Day 2 | March 7th
Championing Health Taxes: The SMART Choice for a Healthier and Wealthier Population
Hosted by UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Speakers
Jeremias Paul
Unit Head, Fiscal Policies for Health
World Health Organization
Dr. Eduardo Banzon
Director, Health Practice Team, Human and Social Development Office
ADB Sectors Department
Philippines
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION ROOM
POLICY WORKSHOP
PARALLEL SESSION
INVITATION-ONLY
Championing Health Taxes: The SMART Choice for a Healthier and Wealthier Population
Hosted by UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
4:30 – 5 PM
CEREMONIAL HALL FOYER
CEREMONIAL HALL FOYER
Coffee Break
5 – 5:30 PM
5 – 5:30 PM
Day 2 | March 7th
Presentation of UNITE’s Strategy 2026-2030
Speakers
Guilherme Duarte
Executive Director
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Presentation of UNITE’s Strategy 2026-2030
5:30 – 6:30 PM
CEREMONIAL HALL
5:30 – 6:30 PM
CEREMONIAL HALL
Day 2 | March 7th
Closing Ceremony & Launch of the Next UNITE Global Summit
Speakers
Guilherme Duarte
Executive Director
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
CEREMONIAL HALL
Closing Ceremony & Launch of the Next UNITE Global Summit
6:30 – 7:30 PM
GARDEN
GARDEN
Networking Reception
the
attendees
All Attendees
Speakers
UNITE Members
Try hitting the
tab
key and notice how the focus stays within the modal itself. Also,
esc
to close modal.
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Ricardo Baptista Leite is a Portuguese medical doctor and the Founder and President of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Health AI, a global agency for responsible AI in health.
With more than 15 years of academic experience, he is Chair of the Board of the ‘Global Health Policy Lab,’ a collaboration between Harvard University and Charité University. Based in Berlin, he is also Chair of the Center for Global Health at NOVA University Information Management and Data Science School in Lisbon.
In the past, Dr. Ricardo served as a member of the Portuguese National Parliament for four terms (2011-2023), Deputy Mayor of Cascais, and City Councilor of Sintra.
Guilherme Duarte
Executive Director
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Guilherme Duarte
Executive Director
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Guilherme Duarte is a public health physician with management training and currently the Executive Director of UNITE – Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. At UNITE, he leads the secretariat and oversees the strategic management of a global network engaging with over 500 parliamentarians across more than 100 countries. He has worked in complex international environments with experience spanning medicine and epidemiology to health systems governance, diplomacy, and global health.
Hon. Pia Cayetano
Chapter Chair, Asia Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Philippines
Hon. Pia Cayetano
Chapter Chair, Asia Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Philippines
Senator Pia S. Cayetano is a senator from the Philippines with over two decades of public service experience. A leading advocate for health, education, women’s empowerment, and family welfare, she currently chairs the Asia and Pacific Regional Chapter of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.
Serving nine years as Senate Health Chair and six years overseeing the national health budget, she championed reforms toward universal health care and improved maternal and child health. She led the passage of the country’s landmark reproductive health law despite strong opposition from conservative groups. In recognition of her leadership, she received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Rising Star Award in 2013.
A lawyer, athlete, and mother, Senator Pia S. Cayetano continues to make strides as the Philippine Senate’s Pinay (Filipina) In Action.
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
Hannah Vaughan Jones is an Emmy-nominated journalist, news anchor, international moderator, and communications consultant specializing in Global Health.
In her twenty-year media career, Hannah has presented primetime shows for CNN and Sky News, interviewing world leaders in business, politics, and philanthropy. She sits on the Global Leadership Advisory Council for the McCain Institute in the U.S. and is a senior counsel for agencies like Incisive Health and Folgate Advisors.
Dr. Kidong Park
Director, Programme Management
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
Dr. Kidong Park
Director, Programme Management
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
As Director of Programme Management (DPM), Dr. Kidong Park has overall responsibility for strategic planning and coordination, programme implementation and oversight, supervision of directors of technical divisions and cross-cutting areas, and an advisory role to the Regional Director.
Prior to taking up this position, Dr. Park took several key positions at three levels of WHO over 20 years, including WHO Representative for Viet Nam, Director of Data, Strategy and Innovation (DSI), and Executive Officer, Country Support Unit (CSU) at the Regional Office for the Western Pacific, and Medical Officer, Global Influenza Programme (GIP) at Headquarters.
Before joining WHO, Dr. Park was the Director of the Communicable Disease Control Division at the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC). He also took several technical and management positions at the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) of the Republic of Korea, including the national immunization programme, medical insurance benefit programme, cancer control programme, and noncommunicable disease control programme for over 12 years.
Dr. Park is a medical doctor with a specialization in health policy and management. He earned bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in medicine from the Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea. He is married with two daughters.
Mr. Martin Chungong
Secretary General
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Cameroon
Mr. Martin Chungong
Secretary General
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Cameroon
Martin Chungong made history in 2014 as the first African and first non-European elected Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). With over four decades of experience working with parliaments at national and international levels, he has dedicated his career to advancing and strengthening democracy worldwide.
He is deeply committed to revitalizing democratic institutions and processes, with a strong focus on sustainable development, and enhancing the role of parliaments and increasing women and youth participation in political life. Under his leadership, the IPU has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality through effective legislation and accountability for international commitments. He serves on the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and was appointed by the UN Secretary-General as a global leader of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement.
Martin Chungong is also a leading advocate for gender equality. He chairs the Global Board of the International Gender Champions and works closely with governments, international organizations and civil society to advance gender parity.
Dr. Eduardo Banzon
Director, Health Practice Team, Human and Social Development Office
ADB Sectors Department
Philippines
Dr. Eduardo Banzon
Director, Health Practice Team, Human and Social Development Office
ADB Sectors Department
Philippines
Eduardo Banzon champions Universal Health Coverage and has long provided technical support to countries in Asia and the Pacific in their pursuit of this goal. Before joining ADB in 2014, he was President and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, World Health Organization (WHO) regional adviser for health financing for the Eastern Mediterranean region and WHO health economist in Bangladesh, and World Bank senior health specialist for the East Asia and Pacific region. He was also a faculty member of the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine and Ateneo Graduate School of Business and was an honorary visiting associate professor at the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. He completed BS Biology and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of the Philippines, and MSc in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom
Director-General
World Health Organization
(Video Remarks)
Dr. Tedros Adhanom
Director-General
World Health Organization
(Video Remarks)
Jorge Saavedra, MD, MPH, MSc
Executive Director
AHF Global Public Health Institute
Mexico
Jorge Saavedra, MD, MPH, MSc
Executive Director
AHF Global Public Health Institute
Mexico
Executive Director of the AHF Global Public Health Institute and Global Public Health Ambassador for AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), President of AHF-Mexico. Former Global Fund (GF) Board Member representing Latin America & the Caribbean, former member of the GF Strategy Committee, and member of the Developing Country NGO. Interim Chair of the Board of Trustees of IAPAC (International Association of Providers of AIDS Care), Chair elect of MPACT (MSM and HIV INGO), former Panelist of The Independent Panel to Evaluate the Global Response to Ebola convened by the Harvard Global Health Institute and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and also a former member of the Strategy Committee of the Global Fund AIDS, TB, and Malaria representing the Developing Country NGOs, member of the UNAIDS Global Targets Setting Steering Committee, and member of the Executive Committee of GayLatino Network.
Dr. Saavedra is a Mexican national and medical doctor from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) with two master’s degrees, one in Public Health and another in Health Policy and Management, both from Harvard University. He was Director General of the National AIDS Program of Mexico (CENSIDA 2003–2009). He has also been Deputy Director General of Planning and Innovation at the Ministry of Health of Mexico (2001–2003) and was the Founding Director of Mexico City’s Clínica Condesa, the largest HIV clinic in Latin America. He has several publications mainly related to AIDS economics and more recently on the global response to Ebola, SARS-CoV-2, and a Global Public Health Convention for the 21st Century. Former advisor to the National Human Rights Commission in Mexico.
Kapil Kapoor
Regional Director, Asia
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
India
Kapil Kapoor
Regional Director, Asia
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
India
Dr. Kapil Kapoor has over 30 years of experience in international development, specializing in Africa and Asia. He was the Director General for Southern Africa at the African Development Bank, where he was responsible for the bank’s projects and programs across 13 countries in Southern Africa. He has also served as the Director for Strategy and Operational Policies at the Bank, where he led the preparation of the Bank’s Long-Term Strategy for Africa and the Bank’s Private Sector Development Strategy.
Kapil has held a series of senior positions with the World Bank Group, including the World Bank’s Representative for Uganda and Zambia and the World Bank’s Sector Manager for its poverty reduction, economic management, and governance program in Asia.
Gaye Agesa
Senior Manager, Policy Advocacy and Communications
African Population Health Research Center (APHRC)
Gaye Agesa
Senior Manager, Policy Advocacy and Communications
African Population Health Research Center (APHRC)
Gaye Agesa is a Senior Manager for Policy Advocacy and Communication in Research and Capacity Strengthening at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in Kenya. She leads efforts to strengthen the R&D ecosystem, working closely with governments and partners to turn research evidence into practical policy that improves health outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa.
With more than 17 years of experience spanning the private sector, public service, and international development, she brings a deep understanding of public health policy. Gaye has led collaborative initiatives with communities, researchers, and civil society, designing programs that shape policy, strengthen partnerships and drive meaningful social change.
Vikas Aggarwal
Senior Lead for Global South Partnerships
Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Vikas Aggarwal
Senior Lead for Global South Partnerships
Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Vikas Aggarwal has been affiliated with the Coalition of Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) since November 2024, serving as the Senior Lead for Global South Partnerships. He is a qualified medical doctor with an MBA in Public Health, bringing over twenty years of experience, primarily within the Indian subcontinent.
Dr. Aggarwal is known for his exceptional strength in business development, strategic and thought leadership, relationship management, and leading and delivering large-scale and high-profile projects and assignments with key donors with outstanding success and impact. Dr. Aggarwal served as a member of the management boards, an expert advisory group member, a technical advisory committee member, and an expert for various organizations, universities, and public health organizations’ missions. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health-UK.
At CEPI, Dr. Aggarwal is responsible for developing regional strategies and fostering relationships with key government departments, multilateral organizations, and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), particularly within Asia, while also overseeing initiatives in Latin America, with an aim to significantly contribute to CEPI’s mission in the Global South.
Dr. Mayowa Sodiq Akinpelu
Member
WHO Youth Council
Nigeria
Dr. Mayowa Sodiq Akinpelu
Member
WHO Youth Council
Nigeria
Dr. Mayowa Sodiq Akinpelu is a medical doctor and a member of the WHO’s Youth Council. He is also a member of the youth engagement taskforce of the UNICEF Generation Unlimited 9ja, a public-private-youth partnership platform aimed at equipping 20 million Nigerian youth with climate responsive/green skills and opportunity for economic empowerment and social impact.
As the Executive Chairman of the Africa Public Health Student Network (AfricaPHSN), Mayowa leads efforts to strengthen public health systems across African countries. His initiatives through AfricaPHSN addresses pressing climate and health challenges in vulnerable communities with a focus on youth-driven approaches.
Ms. Sana’a Alkhassawneh
Regional Member
WHO Youth Council
Jordan
Ms. Sana’a Alkhassawneh
Regional Member
WHO Youth Council
Jordan
Ms. Sana’a Khasawneh is a road safety and sustainable mobility specialist from Jordan working at the intersection of public health, climate action, and urban development. She serves as Advocacy & Public Affairs Manager at Youth for Road Safety and chairs the NCDs and Healthy Lifestyles Working Group at the WHO EMRO Youth Council.
Her work focuses on creating healthier, safer, and more inclusive cities by advancing active mobility, climate-resilient transport systems, and youth-led policy solutions. Sana’a contributes to global and local initiatives that integrate health, climate, and urban planning to build cities that support wellbeing, equity, and sustainable living.
Hon. Julia Parra Aparicio
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Hon. Julia Parra Aparicio
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Born on October 24, 1973, in Alicante, Spain. Member of Parliament. Administration. Advisor to municipal group Alicante. Councilor of the Sant Joan d’Alacant City Council. Deputy for Culture and Transparency of the Alicante Provincial Council (2019 – 2023). Vice President of the Alicante Provincial Council (2019 – 2023).
Hon. Ibtissame Azzaoui
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Morocco
Hon. Ibtissame Azzaoui
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Morocco
Dr. Ibtissame Azzaoui is a UNITE Ambassador and former MENA Chapter Chair. She is the Founding President of P4C and an international consultant. She holds a PhD from Mohammed V University; her award-winning thesis on Moroccan parliamentary diplomacy received the National Prize for Best Thesis on Parliamentary Affairs. An engineer in Computer Sciences, she graduated from EHTP and École Centrale Paris. A former member of the Moroccan Parliament, she now serves as a City Councilor in Rabat.
Hon. Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba
Chapter Chair, Latin America & The Caribbean
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Mexico
Hon. Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba
Chapter Chair, Latin America & The Caribbean
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Mexico
Hon. Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba (Mexico) is a Federal Deputy for the National Action Party (2024-2027), a surgeon, and a certified specialist in general surgery and public health, with a doctorate in health sciences with an emphasis in surgery and a doctorate in public administration. He has been a research professor at several universities in Mexico and a member of the National Researchers System. He has been a member of UNITE since 2022.
Ms. Priya Basu
Executive Head
Pandemic Fund
India
Ms. Priya Basu
Executive Head
Pandemic Fund
India
Priya Basu brings over three decades of leadership at the intersection of health, finance, strategic partnerships, and resource mobilization. She is the founding Executive Head of the
Pandemic Fund
at the World Bank, where she has led its design and rapid scale-up. In three years, the Fund has built a $7 billion portfolio, partnering with governments, multilateral development banks, UN agencies, philanthropies, the private sector, and civil society to strengthen pandemic preparedness in 75 low- and middle-income countries.
During COVID-19, Priya led the Multilateral Leaders Task Force (World Bank, IMF, WHO, WTO), promoting transparency in access to medical countermeasures and driving engagement with the G20 and G7. Previously, she managed the World Bank’s $21 billion trust fund portfolio, shaping investments in global public goods and innovative health financing.
An economist trained at Delhi University and Oxford University, Priya is a published author and a recognized voice in global health and development finance.
Hon. Francis Chikumbutso Belekanyama
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Francis Chikumbutso Belekanyama
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Francis Chikumbutso Belekanyama has been a Malawian MP since 2021, serving on key committees and advancing health and governance.
Hon. Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto
Asia & Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Hon. Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto
Asia & Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto is a prominent leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, recognized for organizational strength, ideological commitment, and loyalty to the Bhutto leadership. Inspired by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he rose through student and youth politics. He served the party in key organizational roles, including digital media coordination in Sindh. As a senator, he advocates public welfare, youth empowerment, and social justice.
Andrew Black
Acting Head of Convention Secretariat
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Australia
Andrew Black
Acting Head of Convention Secretariat
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Australia
Andrew Black is currently the Acting Head of the Convention Secretariat for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Andrew also leads the Convention Secretariat’s activities to support parties to implement the WHO FCTC and Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, including the delivery of the FCTC 2030 project.
Before joining the Secretariat, Andrew was a civil servant at the United Kingdom Department of Health. Andrew led the United Kingdom’s tobacco control programme for almost a decade, which included the introduction of new legislation on smokefree places, health warnings, age of sale, and plain packaging. Andrew was the WHO FCTC focal point for the United Kingdom during this time.
Charles Bleehen
Head of Development & Innovative Finance
Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Charles Bleehen
Head of Development & Innovative Finance
Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Charles Bleehen is Head of the Development & Innovative Finance team at Gavi. Over the past 30 years, he has designed, launched, and operated large-scale blended finance and co-financing platforms, catalysing over $5 billion in financing into global health and development from multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, donors, the private sector, and philanthropies.
In his role at Gavi, he is responsible for the design, structuring, and implementation of strategic financing partnerships and mechanisms, including Gavi’s MDB Multiplier, First Response Fund, and Day Zero Financing Facility for Pandemics. Previously, he was the Senior Advisor on development finance for COVAX, helping to mobilise close to $1 billion for the self-procurement of C19 vaccines by low-income and lower-middle-income countries.
Scott Boule
Senior Specialist, Parliamentary Affairs
The Global Fund
Scott Boule
Senior Specialist, Parliamentary Affairs
The Global Fund
Dr. Mary Bussell
CEO
TriMar Strategies
Dr. Mary Bussell
CEO
TriMar Strategies
UNITE Member
Hon. Ugo Cappellacci
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Italy
Hon. Ugo Cappellacci
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Italy
Chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. Serving his second term in the Chamber of Deputies and in the previous legislature (2018 – 2022), he held the position of Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Prior to his experience in Parliament, he was President of the Region of Sardinia (2009 – 2014), where he had previously served as Councillor. He has a degree in economics and specialised as an accountant at Bocconi University (Milan) and LUISS University (Rome).
Ms. Yoke Ling Chee
Executive Director
Third World Network
Malaysia
Ms. Yoke Ling Chee
Executive Director
Third World Network
Malaysia
CHEE Yoke Ling was trained in law at the University of Malaya, Malaysia (LLB) and University of Cambridge, UK (LLM). She works on sustainable development issues, with a focus on social justice and equity. Among her research and advocacy work are issues on public health systems strengthening, especially access to affordable treatment, and antimicrobial resistance. She engages in inter-governmental negotiations and processes at the UN, and with national policy makers in Malaysia, as well as support policy and law capacity building for civil society and community organisations.
She is currently a member of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Committee and National AMR Committee of Malaysia. She is also on the Vice-President of Together Against Cancer (a Malaysian cancer treatment advocacy association).
Dr. Sarath Chhim
Regional Bureau Chief
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Asia
Dr. Sarath Chhim
Regional Bureau Chief
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Asia
Dr. Sarath Chhim, MD, MSc, is a senior public health leader and Asia Bureau Chief at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a role he has held since 2010. He provides strategic oversight to AHF programs across 11 countries in Asia, strengthening HIV prevention, testing, treatment, care, and advocacy efforts to expand access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy.
Since joining AHF Cambodia in 2006, he has played a key role in scaling the organization’s regional footprint and advancing community-based health services. Prior to AHF, he held senior clinical and administrative roles in Cambodia’s public health system, including Director of Prey Veng Provincial Hospital, and contributed to HIV programming with KHANA.
Dr. Chhim holds a medical degree and an MSc in tropical medicine. His leadership reflects a strong commitment to health system strengthening, regional collaboration, and equitable access to HIV services across Asia.
UNITE Member
Hon. Marije Fullaondo la Cruz
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Hon. Marije Fullaondo la Cruz
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Born on December 2, 1964, in Getxo. Member of the Spanish Parliament. Graduate in Education. Degree in Educational Psychology. Degree in Anthropology. Councilwoman for the Errigoiti City Council.
Akua Sena Dansua
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ghana
Akua Sena Dansua
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ghana
Akua Sena Dansua is a Ghanaian diplomat, politician, and gender advocate. She serves as a Global Board Member and Regional Chair for the West and Central Africa Chapter of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. As Ghana’s first female ambassador to Germany, she strengthened bilateral relations and joined high‑level global health discussions. She previously served as Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Youth and Sports, and Tourism. Dansua founded “Advocates for Gender and Development Initiatives”, an NGO promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, with Dayi FM, a community radio station. She has also held key roles in African parliamentary networks, especially in initiatives addressing HIV/AIDS.
Sandro Demaio
Director
WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health
Sandro Demaio
Director
WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health
Deepak Dhungel
Regional Advocacy & Marketing Manager
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Asia
Deepak Dhungel
Regional Advocacy & Marketing Manager
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Asia
Deepak Dhungel is a global health and advocacy leader with over 20 years of experience in HIV / AIDS programs, policy influence, and health systems strengthening. As Regional Advocacy & Marketing Manager at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Asia Bureau, he leads advocacy and communication strategies across 11 countries, advancing campaigns such as Vaccinate Our World and strengthening regional visibility through media and partnerships.
Previously, as Country Program Director for AHF Nepal, he expanded HIV treatment services from 5 to 16 ART clinics, reaching over 11,800 clients and securing strategic collaborations with the Ministry of Health. His earlier work with FHI360 and other organizations focused on USAID-funded programs, capacity building, and integrated approaches to reproductive health and prevention.
Deepak holds advanced degrees in development and public health and actively engages in research, professional associations, and international advocacy platforms.
UNITE Member
Hon. José Ignacio Echániz
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Hon. José Ignacio Echániz
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Degree in Medicine and Surgery. MBA and postgraduate studies in the USA and the Netherlands. Specialized in Health Economy and Health Management. Chief Health Advisor in the Madrid City Council. Minister of Health of Madrid. Minister of Health and Social Affairs of Castilla La Mancha. National Legislator for 7 periods responsible for the area of health. President of the World Health Commission (AGH) of the Interparliamentary Union.
Hon. Haitham El-noush
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Norway
Hon. Haitham El-noush
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Norway
Haitham El-noush is a former deputy member of the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget), representing the Norwegian Socialist Left Party (SV). A development practitioner with over 25 years of experience working on both development and humanitarian aid, who turned into a global health enthusiast through promoting and scaling up innovation and digital tools for health and development. El-noush has a long international cooperation career from working for both governments, INGOs, and the UN.
Hon. Aliyoum Fadil
Western & Central Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cameroon
Hon. Aliyoum Fadil
Western & Central Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cameroon
I am Aliyoum Fadil, a Member of Parliament of the Republic of Cameroon, focused on advancing health equity through inclusive public policy. My work emphasizes strengthening health systems, expanding access to care, and addressing disparities in resource-constrained settings. I engage in international parliamentary dialogue on multilateral cooperation and contribute practical policy perspectives to global health discussions.
Hon. Wardak Faissal
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Hon. Wardak Faissal
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Faissal Wardak is a city councilor and entrepreneur working on digital solutions for hospitals and public institutions, with a focus on practical implementation and efficiency in healthcare administration.
Hon. Perpetua Sudarshini Fernandopulle
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Sri Lanka
Hon. Perpetua Sudarshini Fernandopulle
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Sri Lanka
I am a medical doctor specialized in Public Health. Served as an elected Member of Parliament for three terms, holding several non-Cabinet ministerial portfolios. I have been a member of key parliamentary committees. My work focuses on women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Hon. Daniel Molokele-Tsiye Fortune
Chapter Chair, Eastern & Southern Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Daniel Molokele-Tsiye Fortune
Chapter Chair, Eastern & Southern Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Fortune Daniel Molokele is a human rights lawyer who was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Whange Central Constituency in July 2018. In August 2023, he was re-elected for his second term. He has been a very active member of the UNITE Parliamentary Network for over five years and has participated in several events or activities in places ranging from Lisbon, Geneva, Washington DC, Berlin, and Nairobi, among other places.
Hon. Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
Member of Parliament, Pakistan
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Hon. Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
Member of Parliament, Pakistan
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani (born 9 June 1952, Multan) is a senior Pakistani politician and Chairman of the Senate since 2024. He served as the 16th Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012. A senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, he has also served as Speaker of the National Assembly and held key federal ministerial portfolios.
Charles Gore
Executive Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Charles Gore
Executive Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Charles Gore is Executive Director of the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a UN-backed public health organisation that increases equitable access to medicines and health technologies through voluntary licensing and technology transfer. Since 2018, he has led MPP’s expansion beyond HIV into essential medicines and pandemic preparedness, including co-leading the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme with WHO.
Reena Gupta
Senior Program Officer
Panorama Strategy
United States of America
Reena Gupta
Senior Program Officer
Panorama Strategy
United States of America
Reena Gupta is a Senior Program Officer at Panorama Strategy with extensive expertise in stakeholder engagement, facilitation, coalition building, and strategy development. With over a decade of experience in global health, she brings a collaborative mindset, empathetic leadership, and a strong commitment to elevating diverse perspectives in advocacy and policy. Reena has supported leaders and partners across Zambia, Southern Africa, and Latin America, advancing multi-sector initiatives focused on health systems strengthening, disease prevention, and non-communicable disease advocacy. At Panorama, she partners with health and life sciences institutions to convene coalitions and facilitate strategic sessions to drive meaningful impact.
Dr Branwen J. Hennig
Executive Director
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Dr Branwen J. Hennig
Executive Director
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Branwen Hennig leads the GHPL initiative, overseeing the Berlin-based team and global partnership network. She champions a co-development approach, uniting cross-sector stakeholders and experts in global health, policy, and technology. Branwen has global health expertise ranging from basic discovery to applied research, to implementation and translation into policy. She previously held on developing and delivering strategic priorities and overseeing large international programmes in global health as funder, consultant and researcher.
She previously held senior positions at Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and consulted for WHO and beyond.
UNITE Member
Hon. Celso Hermínio
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Celso Hermínio
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Economist. Central Bank official. A member of parliament elected by the MpD parliamentary group. Parliamentary Leader. Master’s degree in Statistics and Information Management and PhD candidate in Applied Economics at the University of Minho.
Ushma Issar
CEO
Rypple
Ushma Issar
CEO
Rypple
Ushma Issar is the CEO and co-founder of Rypple, a global purpose-led business focused on shifting health systems from disease treatment to a proactive, “health-ing” mindset. She has over 10 years of experience in the global medical device industry and now works at the intersection of policy, finance, and innovation to make prevention investable and scalable. Through Rypple’s work with governments, multilaterals, and industries, she supports the design of fiscal and policy levers that incentivize early intervention, wellbeing, and systemic resilience.
UNITE Member
Hon. Kebba Jallow
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Gambia
Hon. Kebba Jallow
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Gambia
With my support and contribution in Parliament, we have enacted numerous health-related laws (e.g., the Medicine and Related Products Amendment Bill 2023 / 2024, the Gambia Metrology Act of 2025, and many other progressive laws).
Hon. Mariam Jashi
Chapter Chair, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Georgia
Hon. Mariam Jashi
Chapter Chair, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Georgia
Dr. Mariam Jashi is a senior-level policymaker with 27 years of experience in Global Health. She is the CEO of Global Sepsis Alliance, Secretary General of the Medical Women’s International Association, Board Member of the UNITE Parliamentarians’ Network, Advisory Board Chair of Tbilisi Medical Academy, and Council Member of the Virchow Foundation. From 2012 to 2020, Dr. Jashi served as Deputy Minister of Labour, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia, MP, and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee.
Hon. Jean-Luc Romero-Michel
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
France
Hon. Jean-Luc Romero-Michel
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
France
Deputy Mayor of Paris and President of Elected Representatives Against AIDS (17,000 members, including MPs, Mayors, etc.) Only elected representative in France to have said they are living with HIV, author of 13 books, with lots of followers on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
Ms. Mina Kashiwabara
Technical Lead
WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
Ms. Mina Kashiwabara
Technical Lead
WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
UNITE Member
Hon. Ephraim Kayembe
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Ephraim Kayembe
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Ephraim Abele Kayembe is an accomplished researcher and policymaker in Malawi. He has been a member of parliament for 11 years now and continues to advocate for sustainable health financing towards the Global Fund. He has championed and advocated for the development of sound health policies to support sustainable healthcare. Being a goal getter, he has utilized strategic partnership and collaboration to harvest fruits of collective and inclusive development. He possesses a PhD in IR, an MSc, and a BSc.
Nayeem Khan
Senior Manager, Development & Innovative Finance
Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Nayeem Khan
Senior Manager, Development & Innovative Finance
Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Nayeem Khan is a Senior Manager in the Development & Innovative Finance team at Gavi.
At Gavi, he works on strengthening financing partnerships with multilateral development banks in support of immunisation. He also works on developing the next generation of financing instruments to unlock additional resources for countries to fund vaccines and health systems.
Prior to joining Gavi, Nayeem worked at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in the strategy team, where he was part of the bank’s start-up phase, helping establish its operational, policy, and financing frameworks. Earlier in his career, he held several economist roles at the UK Finance Ministry, analysing financial markets and shaping government interventions to preserve the
UNITE Member
Hon. Serhii Kuzminykh
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ukraine
Hon. Serhii Kuzminykh
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ukraine
Serhii Volodymyrovych Kuzminykh, People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 9th convocation.
Born: January 17, 1983
Education: Higher
Family: Married, raising three children
Position: Chairman of the Subcommittee on Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Activities of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Health, Medical Assistance, and Medical Insurance
Hon. Jack Patrick Lewis
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
USA
Hon. Jack Patrick Lewis
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
USA
Jack Patrick Lewis serves as the state representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (USA). First elected in 2016, he is House Chair of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government and co-chair of the Massachusetts House Progressive Caucus. An ordained minister, Jack leads legislation on suicide prevention, environmental justice, youth health, animal welfare, and HIV prevention, and co-founded OUT MetroWest to support area LGBTQ+ youth.
Hon. Neema Lugangira
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Neema Lugangira
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Neema K. Lugangira is a globally recognised African policy leader in nutrition, global health, digital democracy, and women’s political leadership. She is Secretary General of Women Political Leaders (WPL) and Co-Chair of the UN SUN Movement Executive Committee. A former MP in Tanzania, she founded AFSPaN and APNIG, led landmark electoral reforms, secured recognition of parliamentarians in the AU CAADP, and is an active member of the UNITE Global Parliamentary Forum.
Hon. Andrea Alvarez Marin
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Costa Rica
Hon. Andrea Alvarez Marin
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Costa Rica
A member of parliament, she has championed bills on suicide prevention, rare diseases, eating disorders, and reproductive rights. Chair of the Social Affairs Committee and of the Oversight Committee on the Healthcare System. She worked at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences and chaired the VIII Latin American Conference on Suicide Prevention. She holds a degree in History (University of Costa Rica), a Master’s in Public Health (Yale), and a Master’s in Public Administration (Harvard).
Hon. Mahesh Kumar Mallani
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Hon. Mahesh Kumar Mallani
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Mahesh Kumar Malani, born in 1962, is a senior Pakistani parliamentarian and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health.
Hon. Nico Marquardt
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Hon. Nico Marquardt
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Nico Marquardt is a third-term elected city councillor of the State Capital Potsdam and Parliamentary Group Leader (SPD), focused on digital health and public policy. He chairs Potsdam’s Digitalization Council, aligning public institutions, companies, and research partners on data governance and citizen engagement. In parallel, he is a doctoral researcher in Global Health at Charité, exploring AI for maternal health in low- and middle-income countries to move tools from pilot to practice.
Hon. Anthony Masamba
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Anthony Masamba
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
I decided to join the frontline of politics out of conviction to serve the people of my constituency and Malawi at large through policy and development influencing. I have a strong interest in maternal, SRHR, Noncommunicable Disease, and AMR, which is largely caused by the consumption of substandard drugs. I am currently serving as a Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health.
Hon. Noko Phineas Masipa
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
South Africa
Hon. Noko Phineas Masipa
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
South Africa
I strongly believe in creating an opportunity-driven society for all. Since June 2024, I have served as a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and am currently chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism. Previously, I was a member of Parliament in the National Assembly, where I served as the Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development.
Hon. Esther Matiko
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Esther Matiko
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Esther Nicholas Matiko is a Member of Parliament from Tanzania and a strong advocate for equitable health systems. She champions political courage in prioritizing health investment to reduce inequality, strengthen primary healthcare, and improve access for underserved communities. Esther is committed to evidence-based policymaking, accountability, and inclusive leadership to bridge the health divide and advance sustainable development.
Ambassador Olawale Mayegun
Former Ambassador
African Union
Nigeria
Ambassador Olawale Mayegun
Former Ambassador
African Union
Nigeria
Olawale Maiyegun, PhD is a Public Policy expert, an accomplished retired career Ambassador and international Civil Servant with over four decades experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy at the highest level of Heads of States and Governments at the Nigerian Foreign Service, African Union, and United Nations, as well as overseas postings in Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa. As a former Director, Department of Social Affairs (now Humanitarian, Health & Social Development), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, he has vast experience in development work, humanitarian action in armed conflict, public and global health security and health diplomacy.
Hon. Jean Francois Mbaye
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
France
Hon. Jean Francois Mbaye
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
France
A health expert, former member of parliament, committed to public health, and lecturer in hospital law.
Hon. Nomafrench Mbombo
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
South Africa
Hon. Nomafrench Mbombo
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
South Africa
A distinguished leader with over three decades of experience spanning academia, public service, and parliament. Honorary Professor at the University of the Western Cape, member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, representing SA women parliamentarians at the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association. Previously Provincial Minister of Health for two terms; former Associate Professor on Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights.
Gelise McCullough
Communications Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Gelise McCullough
Communications Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Gelise McCullough joined the Medicines Patent Pool in 2020 and works across its portfolio to build and maintain partnerships with governments, multilateral agencies, and civil society, while communicating MPP’s impact. She is a public health professional with over 20 years of experience in global health and access to medicine, including prior roles within the UN and multilateral organisations.
UNITE Member
Hon. Marina Mijatovic
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Serbia
Hon. Marina Mijatovic
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Serbia
Marina Mijatović has been a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia since 2024 and a member of the Committee on Health and Family. She has been a lawyer for over ten years, with expertise in medical law. She previously worked in NGOs, served five years as Executive Director of Law Scanner, eight years on the Health Council, and over ten years as a Consultant on Medical Law Clinics at Union University. She also served six years as a civil supervisor for public
Hon. Md Habibe Millat
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Bangladesh
Hon. Md Habibe Millat
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Bangladesh
Ex-MP, Bangladesh Parliament (2014-2023); Ex-Chair, IPU Health Advisory Committee; Ex-Member, Governing Body, IFRC; Ex-Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society; Sr. Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Medical Research Council; Ex-Standing Committee Member, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare, and Science & Technology; Ex-Chairman, Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing; Ex-Member, Global TB Caucas.
Hon. Christina Mnzava
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Christina Mnzava
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
My full name is Christina Christopher, a female MP representing my fellow women in my community. It is my second term as a member of Parliament. I’m passionate about women empowerment and community development. I’m a medical doctor by profession, also serving as a member of the Health committee.
Hon. Muhammad Usman
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Nigeria
Hon. Muhammad Usman
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Nigeria
Usman is a former member of Parliament in Nigeria. Was Deputy Chair Com on Health from 2015 to 2019. Sponsored motions and legislation aimed at strengthening the Nigerian health system and improving the quality of health care delivery. Since 2019, has worked with the World Bank Nigeria and several NGOs supporting Nigerian legislature at national and sub-national levels. Now working with the Speaker of the House of Representatives as an SA.
Hon. Oscar Mukasa
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Oscar Mukasa
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Oscar Rwegasira Mukasa is a senior policy analyst, researcher, and advocacy leader with over 20 years’ experience influencing policy, legislation, and financing through evidence-based engagement with government in Tanzania and beyond. He is a Senior Policy and Government Engagement Advisor with the STOP TB Partnership Tanzania Chapter and a former Member of Parliament (2015–2020). He brings strong expertise in public health, governance, systems strengthening, and applied policy analysis.
Dr. Mellany Jemutai Murgor
Member
WHO Youth Council
Kenya
Dr. Mellany Jemutai Murgor
Member
WHO Youth Council
Kenya
Dr. Mellany Murgor, based in Kenya, is a Public Health Practitioner and youth advocate advancing occupational health, NCD prevention, and community wellbeing. She serves on the WHO Youth Council Steering Committee and is an Ambassador for the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) Congress.
Her work connects policy to practice, integrating climate change, intergenerational equity, and workforce health into legislative and community action. She champions evidence-informed laws that protect young and vulnerable populations across the lifecourse and drive inclusive, mentally healthy, and resilient societies.
Hon. Rosette Christine Mutambi
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Uganda
Hon. Rosette Christine Mutambi
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Uganda
A Ugandan politician, social worker, and health and women’s rights activist. Rosette served as a member of parliament in the 10th Parliament of Uganda. Founder and President of HEPS Uganda, a health policy advocacy NGO that focuses on access to essential medicines. Rosette is a recognized health and women’s rights advocate, social entrepreneur, and recipient of a 2024 Presidential Award for her work on women’s health and economic rights and for championing better health outcomes outside the hospital.
Hon. Maha Abdel Nasser
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
Hon. Maha Abdel Nasser
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
Maha Abdel Nasser is a member of Parliament and Vice President of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party. She is one of the main opposition figures and fought several battles against the government on crucial issues concerning health & education. Maha holds an engineering degree, an MBA, and an online PhD degree in Political Marketing. She also has more than 35 years of experience in the areas of sales, marketing, and business management in the ICT industry.
Mr. Roderick M. Napulan
Director IV
Department of Health
The Philippines
Mr. Roderick M. Napulan
Director IV
Department of Health
The Philippines
Hon. Denis Naughten
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ireland
Hon. Denis Naughten
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ireland
Denis Naughten is an experienced policy leader with nearly thirty years as an MP in Ireland and former Minister for Communications, Climate Action, and Environment. Renowned for bridging science, technology, and policy, Denis brings global expertise in turning research into effective health initiatives and evidence-based policies. He has played a key role in international legislative frameworks, advocating for ethical innovation and improved outcomes for those affected by chronic illness.
Hon. Dought Ndiweni
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Dought Ndiweni
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
I am currently running my private pharmacy. I am a former Member of Parliament. I am actively involved in drug awareness campaigns in my community. We also run campaigns against drugs and substance abuse. Karoi has a population of about 100000 people. Currently there is a prevalence of marijuana and amphetamine abuse amongst young people.
Hon. Cédric Ngindu
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Democratic Republic of Congo
Hon. Cédric Ngindu
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Democratic Republic of Congo
I’m a Congolese politician and trained jurist, born on August 27, 1986, in Kinshasa. Elected Senator for Kasai Central in April 2024, he serves as Acting Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment, Sustainable Development, Natural Resources, and Tourism, and as Chair of the Board of the Environmental Intervention Fund. I’m personally committed to a health mutual scheme, advocating for mental health recognition and care as a key issue of human dignity and social cohesion.
Hon. Kalamba Jean-Louis Ngindu
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Democratic Republic of Congo
Hon. Kalamba Jean-Louis Ngindu
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Democratic Republic of Congo
National Deputy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Member of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and the IMF, Member of the OECD Global Parliamentary Network, Member of the Economic and Financial Committee of the DRC Parliament. Committed to good governance, reducing inequalities, and pursuing sustainable development goals.
Gro Anett Nicolaysen
Country Lead for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Italy
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Gro Anett Nicolaysen
Country Lead for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Italy
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Gro Anett Nicolaysen has over 20 years of international experience across government relations, programme and project management, humanitarian work, and public-private partnerships. Her career includes roles with CEPI, the International Red Cross, the United Nations, NGOs, and private sector organisations, with regional postings in Indonesia and Malaysia.
At CEPI, she works on government engagement, funding processes, and partnerships, including collaboration with public authorities, technical partners, and international institutions. She is currently the Country Lead for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Italy. Previous roles include regional leadership positions in Asia Pacific for the Norwegian Red Cross, business development in the private sector, and assignments with UNHCR and OCHA in Pakistan and South Sudan. Her work has involved stakeholder coordination, policy and strategy processes, and office management.
She holds an MSc in Political Sociology from the London School of Economics.
Dr. Takeshi Nishijima
Technical Officer, AMR Regional Office for the Western Pacific
World Health Organization
Dr. Takeshi Nishijima
Technical Officer, AMR Regional Office for the Western Pacific
World Health Organization
UNITE Member
Hon. Zilda Helena Pinheiro Pires de Oliveira
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Zilda Helena Pinheiro Pires de Oliveira
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
I have a degree in School and Educational Psychology and a PhD in Social Sciences, specializing in Education Sciences. I began my professional career in 2000 and worked in secondary and higher education as a teacher, psychologist, and trainer in public and private institutions in Portugal. I have been a member of the Portuguese Parliament since 2021 and a municipal councilor since 2024. My academic and professional interests focus on education, health, gender equality, and human development.
Hon. Federica Onori
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Italy
Hon. Federica Onori
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Italy
Federica Onori is an Italian MP, elected to the Chamber of Deputies in October 2022. She serves as Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee and is a member of the Italian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, where she is Vice-Chair of the Young Parliamentarians Network. In September 2025, she was appointed OSCE PA Special Representative on Artificial Intelligence. She holds a PhD in Statistics from Sapienza University of Rome and previously worked at the European Commission.
Hon. Jorge Luis Mazorra Ortiz
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cuba
Hon. Jorge Luis Mazorra Ortiz
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cuba
I am a founding member of UNITE, established in 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and the sole representative of Cuba within the organization. My engagement began during the 139th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). I reside in Paris, France, where I serve as President of the Association Somos Cubanos en Francia, while maintaining strong institutional ties with Cuba.
Hendrik Oye
Project Manager
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Hendrik Oye
Project Manager
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Hendrik Oye is Project Manager at GHPL, where he focuses on stakeholder engagement, partnerships, and event coordination to support applied research and initiatives that strengthen equitable access to health policymaking at global and national levels. Prior to joining GHPL, Hendrik held multiple roles at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Geneva.
Most recently, he served as Operations Officer for the Technical Review Panel Secretariat, overseeing multi-stakeholder funding reviews, budgeting, and strategic partner engagement. He also brings experience in international development from roles at GIZ in West Africa and Germany, and as co-founder of a social enterprise in the Netherlands focused on sustainable food systems.
UNITE Member
Hon. Beatrice Akinyi Oyomo
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Kenya
Hon. Beatrice Akinyi Oyomo
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Kenya
Beatrice is a Kenyan legislator currently serving as a Senator under the Parliament of Kenya. She has extensive experience in governance and public administration, having previously served as a County Executive Committee Member in Homa Bay County in the areas of Energy and Mining, Land and Housing, and Water and Environment. She has also served as a Director on the Board of the Kenya Maritime Authority and is recognized for her strong leadership in policy, oversight, and community development.
Hon. Orjola Pampuri
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Albania
Hon. Orjola Pampuri
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Albania
Orjola Pampuri is an Albanian politician and public servant with a background in social policy and public administration. She has served as a Member of Parliament and as a member of the Health and Social Issues Committee and a voice in parliament for children and youth, focusing on child protection, youth empowerment, and social inclusion. Her work centers on strengthening public institutions, advancing social reforms, and promoting policies that support vulnerable groups and equal opportunities.
Hon. Amar Patnaik
Chapter Chair
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
India
Hon. Amar Patnaik
Chapter Chair
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
India
Amar Patnaik, Ph.D., is an Indian politician and former member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) representing Odisha. He used to be an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service and is now, by and large, credited for his knowledge of governance, finance, and public policy.
Hon. Ramesh Paudyal
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Nepal
Hon. Ramesh Paudyal
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Nepal
Ramesh Paudyal is an ex-Bagmati Province MP (2017–2022, Bibeksheel Sajha) and holds sociology & political science degrees (Nepal) and a Masters of Management of Development (Wageningen Univ., Netherlands). 20+ years as a development consultant & tourism entrepreneur. Expert in rural Nepal WASH & health, focused on deprived communities. Current APPFE Executive Committee member (Asia Pacific Eval. Assoc.), advocates for dev. evaluation. Joined the RSP central committee in early 2026 with Balendra Shah’s team.
Jeremias Paul
Unit Head, Fiscal Policies for Health
World Health Organization
Jeremias Paul
Unit Head, Fiscal Policies for Health
World Health Organization
UNITE Member
Hon. Fidel Carlos Cardoso De Pina
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Fidel Carlos Cardoso De Pina
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Fidel Cardoso Pina has a degree in Law and Legal Sciences and a master’s degree in Business Management and Administration. He has postgraduate degrees in Management and Political Governance, Social Security, and Labor Legislation, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy and Local Development. He is currently a National Deputy of the Republic of Cape Verde, Vice President of IUSY (International Union of Socialist Youth), President of JPAI – PAICV Youth, and a university professor and consultant.
Hon. Dora Oriana Gomes Pires
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Dora Oriana Gomes Pires
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
As a professor of higher education, I was the Vice Rector of the University of Cape Verde. I was the Vice President of the UCID party for two terms and am currently President of the party’s National Council. I am currently serving my second term as a member of parliament. I belong to the network of women parliamentarians and have been working with women to organize the party’s women’s wing. I actively participated in the drafting of the parity law. I was president of the Municipal
Ms. Bianca Carvalho Pontes
Co-chair, Planetary Health Working Group
WHO Youth Council
Brazil
Ms. Bianca Carvalho Pontes
Co-chair, Planetary Health Working Group
WHO Youth Council
Brazil
Ms. Bianca Carvalho is the co-chair of the Planetary Health Working Group of the WHO Youth Council. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Health from the Geneva Graduate Institute. Currently she is a fellow at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and a writer for Geneva Health Files.
Her research agenda, projects, and publications encompass global health governance, access to medicines, intellectual property, and the intersection of climate change and health.
Hon. Marko Raidza
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Marko Raidza
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
50 years of age. Holder of a master’s degree in International Relations (Zimbabwe Defence University), a master’s in Human Resources (International University of Management Namibia), and currently on a 3rd-year law degree at the University of Zambia. Politician for the past 20 years and having interest in health-related issues, particularly funding and support. An avid golfer.
Hon. Carmen Martinez Ramirez
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Hon. Carmen Martinez Ramirez
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Born on December 9, 1962, in Valencia, Spain. Member of Parliament. Graduate in Medicine and Surgery from Valencia University. Specialization in Family Medicine and Community Health. Mayor of Quart de Poblet, Valencia (1999 – 2023). Provincial Deputy for Valencia (2003 – 2011). Member of the Valencian Parliament (2011 – 2023). Secretary and Vice President of the Valencian Parliament (2011 – 2019). Secretary of Health and Mental Health on the National Executive Committee of the Valencian Community.
Hon. Hugo Jesús Rasetto
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Argentina
Hon. Hugo Jesús Rasetto
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Argentina
Hugo Rasetto is a lawyer, producer, and senator from Santa Fe, Argentina. Currently on his fourth consecutive term representing the Iriondo Department, he has over 30 years of public service. A former pioneering entrepreneur and mayor, he recently served as a delegate for the historic 2025 Santa Fe Constitutional Reform. Known for legislative innovation and consensus building, Hugo combines strategic political vision with a lifetime of community action.
Dr. Lorenzo Sablay
Member
WHO Youth Council
The Philippines
Dr. Lorenzo Sablay
Member
WHO Youth Council
The Philippines
Dr. Lorenzo is a biologist, licensed medical doctor, professor, climate and health volunteer, and mentor. From humble beginnings as a passionate campus volunteer to becoming a national advocate for mental health, climate resilience, and youth empowerment, Dr. Lorenzo has dedicated his life to transforming compassion into action.
Since then, he believed that he has been empowered to serve and saved by this opportunity to lead and give back. Being in the space for more than 14 years, he has been involved in local projects, national endeavors, and global efforts on health, climate, education, peace, and development.
Hon. Amira Saber
Chapter Chair, Middle East & North Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
Hon. Amira Saber
Chapter Chair, Middle East & North Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
Amira Saber is a member of the Egyptian Senate recently elected as the Secretary General of the Human Rights and Social Solidarity Committee. She is an ex-member of Parliament who was elected as the Secretary General of the Foreign Relations Committee. Saber is the VP of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party.
Hon. Salimato Sanha
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Guine-Bissau
Hon. Salimato Sanha
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Guine-Bissau
Salimato Sanha was born on April 23, 1980, in the city of Bissau. Graduated in general medicine from Ulianovsky University (Russia) in 2008, specialized in ophthalmology at the West African College of Surgeons (Ghana and Nigeria) in 2014, and is the National Eye Care Coordinator for trachoma disease. Political career: Member of the PAIGC party, member of the political commission of the Oio region and of the Central Committee. National deputy for the IX and X legislatures of Guinean-Bissau.
Hon. Danilo Neves dos Santos
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
São Tomé e Príncipe
Hon. Danilo Neves dos Santos
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
São Tomé e Príncipe
Member of Parliament since 2018
MLSTP Parliamentary Leader between 2020 and 2024
Chair of the 2nd Committee since 2024
Hon. Hyun-Young Shin
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Republic of Korea
Hon. Hyun-Young Shin
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Republic of Korea
Clinical Professor at St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea. Former member of the 21st National Assembly (Democratic Party), serving as Vice Chairman of the Gender Equality & Family Committee and member of the Health & Welfare Committee. Previously Director of the Korean Parliament Forum on Global Health, Secretary General of the Korea-Africa Foundation, and party spokesperson. Combines medical expertise with extensive policy experience in healthcare, gender equality, and international relations.
Hon. Sonia Sidhu
Chapter Chair, North America
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Hon. Sonia Sidhu
Chapter Chair, North America
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Sonia Sidhu has served as a Member of Parliament for Brampton South since 2015. With nearly two decades of health care experience, she is a leading advocate for national health initiatives. As a long-time member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, she has helped shape policies on mental health, dental care, and Canada’s COVID-19 response. She is also recognized for introducing the legislation that created Canada’s National Framework for Diabetes.
Hon. Luis Carlos Santos Silva
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Luis Carlos Santos Silva
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Luís Carlos Silva is a National Deputy in Cape Verde, having served as Secretary General of the MpD – Movement for Democracy. He has a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from the University of Aveiro and a postgraduate degree in Public Finance from ISCTE. Throughout his parliamentary career, he has been a member and chair of specialized committees, notably the Finance and Budget Committee. He has participated in training for policymakers under the Pró-PALOP program on public finance.
Hon. Krzysztof Śmiszek
Member of European Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Poland
Hon. Krzysztof Śmiszek
Member of European Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Poland
A member of the European Parliament and the Head of the Polish S&D delegation. Holds a PhD in legal sciences with a specialization in EU law. Co-founded the Polish Society of Anti-Discrimination Law and has worked extensively to advance anti-discrimination policies. Elected to the Polish Sejm in 2019, he championed justice reform and LGBTQ+ rights. In 2023, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice. Since 2024, he has served as an MEP, contributing to key committees on legal affairs and civil liberties.
Paige Snider
Senior Partnerships Advisor
The Pandemic Fund
Paige Snider
Senior Partnerships Advisor
The Pandemic Fund
Paige Snider is the Senior Partnerships Advisor at the Pandemic Fund, responsible for strengthening engagement with key stakeholders, including sovereign contributors and non-sovereign partners like the private sector, foundations, and philanthropies, and overseeing development of the innovative finance strategy and portfolio.
She brings more than 25 years of experience to the role and is an experienced leader of teams that deliver strategic policy and stakeholder impact. She has a deep background in communications, advocacy, and partnerships with public and private sectors, as well as with NGOs and international organizations. After spending more than a decade designing and managing international economic development projects funded by USAID, she spent close to 15 years in China working to advance global policies and engagement with key counterparts. She spent nearly five years working for the U.S. State Department Economic Section and then from 2017 to 2022 worked at WHO China as the Senior Adviser for Communications and External Relations. Priority areas included policy analysis, partnerships, and communications on expanding access to diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments of communicable diseases, reducing risks associated with noncommunicable diseases, promoting integrated and accessible aging services, and promoting increased health budgets for basic health services.
UNITE Member
Hon. Anadi Sululu
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Anadi Sululu
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Seasoned health and governance advocate with a good record of delivering impactful interactions in complex environments. A former MP who focused on healthy equity and community developments worked with VSO RAISA in the SADC region, specializing in HIV/AIDS interventions. A voice for vulnerable children and women, she excelled at bridging the gap between national policy and regional implementation.
Hon. Lawson Tabot Bakia Tabot
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cameroon
Hon. Lawson Tabot Bakia Tabot
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cameroon
Conferences of UNITE have always been encouraging and richly insightful for my job. It has always been a real opportunity to have one-on-one exchanges and discussions on pressing issues. I deeply appreciate UNITE for this.
Fernando Ariel Garcia Terron, MD, MSc
Director
AHF Global Public Health Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean at the National Institute of Public Health
Mexico
Fernando Ariel Garcia Terron, MD, MSc
Director
AHF Global Public Health Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean at the National Institute of Public Health
Mexico
Ariel serves as the Director of the AHF Global Public Health Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean. Dr. Terron is a medical doctor, graduating from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico. He also holds a Master of Science in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Economics and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
His clinical career spans both public and private institutions, with a focus on community medicine and public health in Chiapas, Mexico. He has worked to improve healthcare access for children, adolescents, and pregnant women living with HIV, influencing national public health policies.
Recognized for his dedication to health and innovation, Dr. Terron received an award for innovation in healthcare access from the ESSCA School of Management in Paris in 2018.
Monina Vasquez Vierneza
Global General Counsel & Executive Director, Legal, Compliance, Risk & Assurance (LCRA)
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Monina Vasquez Vierneza
Global General Counsel & Executive Director, Legal, Compliance, Risk & Assurance (LCRA)
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Monina Vasquez Vierneza serves as the Global General Counsel & Executive Director, Legal, Compliance, Risk & Assurance (LCRA) at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). In this capacity, Ms. Vierneza is responsible for governance, legal strategy, risk management, and accountability within CEPI, a leading institution in global pandemic preparedness and response. Her remit includes protecting public and philanthropic investments while facilitating swift, coordinated actions to address epidemic and pandemic risks.
Ms. Vierneza oversees the legal and regulatory frameworks for CEPI’s programmes and operations in more than 30 countries, ensuring that the organization’s operating and contracting models align with the expectations of sovereign donors, multilateral institutions, and philanthropic stakeholders. Additionally, she leads CEPI’s Oslo Headquarters, acting as the primary representative in engagements with governmental and diplomatic counterparts.
UNITE Member
Hon. Kevin Vuong
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Hon. Kevin Vuong
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Kevin Vuong served in Canada’s House of Commons from 2021 to 2025, where he was a member of the Executive Committee for the Canadian Parliamentary Network for the World Bank and IMF. As a first-time father, he did not seek re-election and continues his public service as a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, driving key projects, including a national benchmarking initiative to equip policymakers with the data and metrics to drive better delivery of healthcare services and outcomes.
Carmen Willen
Lead, Governance and External Relations
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Carmen Willen
Lead, Governance and External Relations
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Carmen Willen currently leads the Governance and External Relations team in the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the first international public health treaty adopted under the auspices of WHO. In this capacity, she coordinates the treaty’s governance processes, oversees diplomatic outreach to maintain strong global commitment to tobacco control and public health, and manages key strategic engagement initiatives, including parliamentary engagement.
From 2021 to 2023, Carmen was seconded to the World Health Organization (WHO), where she contributed to major global health initiatives across several departments, including the WHO COVAX team, supporting equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and the Department of Health and Multilateral Partnerships, where she strengthened cooperation with global health stakeholders and international development partners.
Throughout her career, Carmen Willen has worked with a range of international and diplomatic institutions around the world. She previously served at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), worked with the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C., and volunteered in Cambodia as a field officer for Transparency International, focusing on anti-corruption and civil society strengthening. She joined the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC in 2015, bringing extensive experience in multilateral negotiation, intergovernmental coordination, and policy advisory work.
She holds a Master’s Degree in International Negotiations and Policy-Making.
UNITE Member
Hon. Tafanana Zhou
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Tafanana Zhou
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
I have been a member of the Parliament for Zimbabwe since 2013. Also a member of the Pan African Parliament, a Continental Parliament. I am also on the Budget Committee in Zimbabwe.
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Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Ricardo Baptista Leite is a Portuguese medical doctor and the Founder and President of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Health AI, a global agency for responsible AI in health.
With more than 15 years of academic experience, he is Chair of the Board of the ‘Global Health Policy Lab,’ a collaboration between Harvard University and Charité University. Based in Berlin, he is also Chair of the Center for Global Health at NOVA University Information Management and Data Science School in Lisbon.
In the past, Dr. Ricardo served as a member of the Portuguese National Parliament for four terms (2011-2023), Deputy Mayor of Cascais, and City Councilor of Sintra.
Guilherme Duarte
Executive Director
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Guilherme Duarte
Executive Director
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Guilherme Duarte is a public health physician with management training and currently the Executive Director of UNITE – Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. At UNITE, he leads the secretariat and oversees the strategic management of a global network engaging with over 500 parliamentarians across more than 100 countries. He has worked in complex international environments with experience spanning medicine and epidemiology to health systems governance, diplomacy, and global health.
Hon. Pia Cayetano
Chapter Chair, Asia Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Philippines
Hon. Pia Cayetano
Chapter Chair, Asia Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Philippines
Senator Pia S. Cayetano is a senator from the Philippines with over two decades of public service experience. A leading advocate for health, education, women’s empowerment, and family welfare, she currently chairs the Asia and Pacific Regional Chapter of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.
Serving nine years as Senate Health Chair and six years overseeing the national health budget, she championed reforms toward universal health care and improved maternal and child health. She led the passage of the country’s landmark reproductive health law despite strong opposition from conservative groups. In recognition of her leadership, she received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Rising Star Award in 2013.
A lawyer, athlete, and mother, Senator Pia S. Cayetano continues to make strides as the Philippine Senate’s Pinay (Filipina) In Action.
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
Hannah Vaughan Jones
Event Host
Emmy-nominated Journalist
United Kingdom
Hannah Vaughan Jones is an Emmy-nominated journalist, news anchor, international moderator, and communications consultant specializing in Global Health.
In her twenty-year media career, Hannah has presented primetime shows for CNN and Sky News, interviewing world leaders in business, politics, and philanthropy. She sits on the Global Leadership Advisory Council for the McCain Institute in the U.S. and is a senior counsel for agencies like Incisive Health and Folgate Advisors.
Dr. Kidong Park
Director, Programme Management
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
Dr. Kidong Park
Director, Programme Management
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific
As Director of Programme Management (DPM), Dr. Kidong Park has overall responsibility for strategic planning and coordination, programme implementation and oversight, supervision of directors of technical divisions and cross-cutting areas, and an advisory role to the Regional Director.
Prior to taking up this position, Dr. Park took several key positions at three levels of WHO over 20 years, including WHO Representative for Viet Nam, Director of Data, Strategy and Innovation (DSI), and Executive Officer, Country Support Unit (CSU) at the Regional Office for the Western Pacific, and Medical Officer, Global Influenza Programme (GIP) at Headquarters.
Before joining WHO, Dr. Park was the Director of the Communicable Disease Control Division at the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC). He also took several technical and management positions at the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) of the Republic of Korea, including the national immunization programme, medical insurance benefit programme, cancer control programme, and noncommunicable disease control programme for over 12 years.
Dr. Park is a medical doctor with a specialization in health policy and management. He earned bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees in medicine from the Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea. He is married with two daughters.
Mr. Martin Chungong
Secretary General
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Cameroon
Mr. Martin Chungong
Secretary General
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Cameroon
Martin Chungong made history in 2014 as the first African and first non-European elected Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). With over four decades of experience working with parliaments at national and international levels, he has dedicated his career to advancing and strengthening democracy worldwide.
He is deeply committed to revitalizing democratic institutions and processes, with a strong focus on sustainable development, and enhancing the role of parliaments and increasing women and youth participation in political life. Under his leadership, the IPU has intensified efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality through effective legislation and accountability for international commitments. He serves on the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and was appointed by the UN Secretary-General as a global leader of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement.
Martin Chungong is also a leading advocate for gender equality. He chairs the Global Board of the International Gender Champions and works closely with governments, international organizations and civil society to advance gender parity.
Dr. Eduardo Banzon
Director, Health Practice Team, Human and Social Development Office
ADB Sectors Department
Philippines
Dr. Eduardo Banzon
Director, Health Practice Team, Human and Social Development Office
ADB Sectors Department
Philippines
Eduardo Banzon champions Universal Health Coverage and has long provided technical support to countries in Asia and the Pacific in their pursuit of this goal. Before joining ADB in 2014, he was President and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, World Health Organization (WHO) regional adviser for health financing for the Eastern Mediterranean region and WHO health economist in Bangladesh, and World Bank senior health specialist for the East Asia and Pacific region. He was also a faculty member of the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine and Ateneo Graduate School of Business and was an honorary visiting associate professor at the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. He completed BS Biology and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of the Philippines, and MSc in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom
Director-General
World Health Organization
(Video Remarks)
Dr. Tedros Adhanom
Director-General
World Health Organization
(Video Remarks)
Jorge Saavedra, MD, MPH, MSc
Executive Director
AHF Global Public Health Institute
Mexico
Jorge Saavedra, MD, MPH, MSc
Executive Director
AHF Global Public Health Institute
Mexico
Executive Director of the AHF Global Public Health Institute and Global Public Health Ambassador for AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), President of AHF-Mexico. Former Global Fund (GF) Board Member representing Latin America & the Caribbean, former member of the GF Strategy Committee, and member of the Developing Country NGO. Interim Chair of the Board of Trustees of IAPAC (International Association of Providers of AIDS Care), Chair elect of MPACT (MSM and HIV INGO), former Panelist of The Independent Panel to Evaluate the Global Response to Ebola convened by the Harvard Global Health Institute and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and also a former member of the Strategy Committee of the Global Fund AIDS, TB, and Malaria representing the Developing Country NGOs, member of the UNAIDS Global Targets Setting Steering Committee, and member of the Executive Committee of GayLatino Network.
Dr. Saavedra is a Mexican national and medical doctor from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) with two master’s degrees, one in Public Health and another in Health Policy and Management, both from Harvard University. He was Director General of the National AIDS Program of Mexico (CENSIDA 2003–2009). He has also been Deputy Director General of Planning and Innovation at the Ministry of Health of Mexico (2001–2003) and was the Founding Director of Mexico City’s Clínica Condesa, the largest HIV clinic in Latin America. He has several publications mainly related to AIDS economics and more recently on the global response to Ebola, SARS-CoV-2, and a Global Public Health Convention for the 21st Century. Former advisor to the National Human Rights Commission in Mexico.
Kapil Kapoor
Regional Director, Asia
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
India
Kapil Kapoor
Regional Director, Asia
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
India
Dr. Kapil Kapoor has over 30 years of experience in international development, specializing in Africa and Asia. He was the Director General for Southern Africa at the African Development Bank, where he was responsible for the bank’s projects and programs across 13 countries in Southern Africa. He has also served as the Director for Strategy and Operational Policies at the Bank, where he led the preparation of the Bank’s Long-Term Strategy for Africa and the Bank’s Private Sector Development Strategy.
Kapil has held a series of senior positions with the World Bank Group, including the World Bank’s Representative for Uganda and Zambia and the World Bank’s Sector Manager for its poverty reduction, economic management, and governance program in Asia.
Gaye Agesa
Senior Manager, Policy Advocacy and Communications
African Population Health Research Center (APHRC)
Gaye Agesa
Senior Manager, Policy Advocacy and Communications
African Population Health Research Center (APHRC)
Gaye Agesa is a Senior Manager for Policy Advocacy and Communication in Research and Capacity Strengthening at the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in Kenya. She leads efforts to strengthen the R&D ecosystem, working closely with governments and partners to turn research evidence into practical policy that improves health outcomes across sub-Saharan Africa.
With more than 17 years of experience spanning the private sector, public service, and international development, she brings a deep understanding of public health policy. Gaye has led collaborative initiatives with communities, researchers, and civil society, designing programs that shape policy, strengthen partnerships and drive meaningful social change.
Ms. Sana’a Alkhassawneh
Regional Member
WHO Youth Council
Jordan
Ms. Sana’a Alkhassawneh
Regional Member
WHO Youth Council
Jordan
Ms. Sana’a Khasawneh is a road safety and sustainable mobility specialist from Jordan working at the intersection of public health, climate action, and urban development. She serves as Advocacy & Public Affairs Manager at Youth for Road Safety and chairs the NCDs and Healthy Lifestyles Working Group at the WHO EMRO Youth Council.
Her work focuses on creating healthier, safer, and more inclusive cities by advancing active mobility, climate-resilient transport systems, and youth-led policy solutions. Sana’a contributes to global and local initiatives that integrate health, climate, and urban planning to build cities that support wellbeing, equity, and sustainable living.
Ms. Priya Basu
Executive Head
Pandemic Fund
India
Ms. Priya Basu
Executive Head
Pandemic Fund
India
Priya Basu brings over three decades of leadership at the intersection of health, finance, strategic partnerships, and resource mobilization. She is the founding Executive Head of the
Pandemic Fund
at the World Bank, where she has led its design and rapid scale-up. In three years, the Fund has built a $7 billion portfolio, partnering with governments, multilateral development banks, UN agencies, philanthropies, the private sector, and civil society to strengthen pandemic preparedness in 75 low- and middle-income countries.
During COVID-19, Priya led the Multilateral Leaders Task Force (World Bank, IMF, WHO, WTO), promoting transparency in access to medical countermeasures and driving engagement with the G20 and G7. Previously, she managed the World Bank’s $21 billion trust fund portfolio, shaping investments in global public goods and innovative health financing.
An economist trained at Delhi University and Oxford University, Priya is a published author and a recognized voice in global health and development finance.
Andrew Black
Acting Head of Convention Secretariat
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Australia
Andrew Black
Acting Head of Convention Secretariat
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Australia
Andrew Black is currently the Acting Head of the Convention Secretariat for the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Andrew also leads the Convention Secretariat’s activities to support parties to implement the WHO FCTC and Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products, including the delivery of the FCTC 2030 project.
Before joining the Secretariat, Andrew was a civil servant at the United Kingdom Department of Health. Andrew led the United Kingdom’s tobacco control programme for almost a decade, which included the introduction of new legislation on smokefree places, health warnings, age of sale, and plain packaging. Andrew was the WHO FCTC focal point for the United Kingdom during this time.
Charles Bleehen
Head of Development & Innovative Finance
Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Charles Bleehen
Head of Development & Innovative Finance
Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance
Charles Bleehen is Head of the Development & Innovative Finance team at Gavi. Over the past 30 years, he has designed, launched, and operated large-scale blended finance and co-financing platforms, catalysing over $5 billion in financing into global health and development from multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, donors, the private sector, and philanthropies.
In his role at Gavi, he is responsible for the design, structuring, and implementation of strategic financing partnerships and mechanisms, including Gavi’s MDB Multiplier, First Response Fund, and Day Zero Financing Facility for Pandemics. Previously, he was the Senior Advisor on development finance for COVAX, helping to mobilise close to $1 billion for the self-procurement of C19 vaccines by low-income and lower-middle-income countries.
Scott Boule
Senior Specialist, Parliamentary Affairs
The Global Fund
Scott Boule
Senior Specialist, Parliamentary Affairs
The Global Fund
Dr. Mary Bussell
CEO
TriMar Strategies
Dr. Mary Bussell
CEO
TriMar Strategies
Ms. Yoke Ling Chee
Executive Director
Third World Network
Malaysia
Ms. Yoke Ling Chee
Executive Director
Third World Network
Malaysia
CHEE Yoke Ling was trained in law at the University of Malaya, Malaysia (LLB) and University of Cambridge, UK (LLM). She works on sustainable development issues, with a focus on social justice and equity. Among her research and advocacy work are issues on public health systems strengthening, especially access to affordable treatment, and antimicrobial resistance. She engages in inter-governmental negotiations and processes at the UN, and with national policy makers in Malaysia, as well as support policy and law capacity building for civil society and community organisations.
She is currently a member of the Global Fund Country Coordinating Committee and National AMR Committee of Malaysia. She is also on the Vice-President of Together Against Cancer (a Malaysian cancer treatment advocacy association).
Sandro Demaio
Director
WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health
Sandro Demaio
Director
WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health
Charles Gore
Executive Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Charles Gore
Executive Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Charles Gore is Executive Director of the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a UN-backed public health organisation that increases equitable access to medicines and health technologies through voluntary licensing and technology transfer. Since 2018, he has led MPP’s expansion beyond HIV into essential medicines and pandemic preparedness, including co-leading the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme with WHO.
Dr Branwen J. Hennig
Executive Director
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Dr Branwen J. Hennig
Executive Director
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Branwen Hennig leads the GHPL initiative, overseeing the Berlin-based team and global partnership network. She champions a co-development approach, uniting cross-sector stakeholders and experts in global health, policy, and technology. Branwen has global health expertise ranging from basic discovery to applied research, to implementation and translation into policy. She previously held on developing and delivering strategic priorities and overseeing large international programmes in global health as funder, consultant and researcher.
She previously held senior positions at Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and consulted for WHO and beyond.
Ms. Mina Kashiwabara
Technical Lead
WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
Ms. Mina Kashiwabara
Technical Lead
WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
Ambassador Olawale Mayegun
Former Ambassador
African Union
Nigeria
Ambassador Olawale Mayegun
Former Ambassador
African Union
Nigeria
Olawale Maiyegun, PhD is a Public Policy expert, an accomplished retired career Ambassador and international Civil Servant with over four decades experience in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy at the highest level of Heads of States and Governments at the Nigerian Foreign Service, African Union, and United Nations, as well as overseas postings in Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa. As a former Director, Department of Social Affairs (now Humanitarian, Health & Social Development), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, he has vast experience in development work, humanitarian action in armed conflict, public and global health security and health diplomacy.
Gelise McCullough
Communications Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Gelise McCullough
Communications Director
Medicines Patent Pool
Gelise McCullough joined the Medicines Patent Pool in 2020 and works across its portfolio to build and maintain partnerships with governments, multilateral agencies, and civil society, while communicating MPP’s impact. She is a public health professional with over 20 years of experience in global health and access to medicine, including prior roles within the UN and multilateral organisations.
Dr. Mellany Jemutai Murgor
Member
WHO Youth Council
Kenya
Dr. Mellany Jemutai Murgor
Member
WHO Youth Council
Kenya
Dr. Mellany Murgor, based in Kenya, is a Public Health Practitioner and youth advocate advancing occupational health, NCD prevention, and community wellbeing. She serves on the WHO Youth Council Steering Committee and is an Ambassador for the WHO Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) Congress.
Her work connects policy to practice, integrating climate change, intergenerational equity, and workforce health into legislative and community action. She champions evidence-informed laws that protect young and vulnerable populations across the lifecourse and drive inclusive, mentally healthy, and resilient societies.
Mr. Roderick M. Napulan
Director IV
Department of Health
The Philippines
Mr. Roderick M. Napulan
Director IV
Department of Health
The Philippines
Dr. Takeshi Nishijima
Technical Officer, AMR Regional Office for the Western Pacific
World Health Organization
Dr. Takeshi Nishijima
Technical Officer, AMR Regional Office for the Western Pacific
World Health Organization
Hendrik Oye
Project Manager
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Hendrik Oye
Project Manager
Global Health Policy Lab (GHPL)
Hendrik Oye is Project Manager at GHPL, where he focuses on stakeholder engagement, partnerships, and event coordination to support applied research and initiatives that strengthen equitable access to health policymaking at global and national levels. Prior to joining GHPL, Hendrik held multiple roles at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Geneva.
Most recently, he served as Operations Officer for the Technical Review Panel Secretariat, overseeing multi-stakeholder funding reviews, budgeting, and strategic partner engagement. He also brings experience in international development from roles at GIZ in West Africa and Germany, and as co-founder of a social enterprise in the Netherlands focused on sustainable food systems.
Jeremias Paul
Unit Head, Fiscal Policies for Health
World Health Organization
Jeremias Paul
Unit Head, Fiscal Policies for Health
World Health Organization
Ms. Bianca Carvalho Pontes
Co-chair, Planetary Health Working Group
WHO Youth Council
Brazil
Ms. Bianca Carvalho Pontes
Co-chair, Planetary Health Working Group
WHO Youth Council
Brazil
Ms. Bianca Carvalho is the co-chair of the Planetary Health Working Group of the WHO Youth Council. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Health from the Geneva Graduate Institute. Currently she is a fellow at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and a writer for Geneva Health Files.
Her research agenda, projects, and publications encompass global health governance, access to medicines, intellectual property, and the intersection of climate change and health.
Dr. Lorenzo Sablay
Member
WHO Youth Council
The Philippines
Dr. Lorenzo Sablay
Member
WHO Youth Council
The Philippines
Dr. Lorenzo is a biologist, licensed medical doctor, professor, climate and health volunteer, and mentor. From humble beginnings as a passionate campus volunteer to becoming a national advocate for mental health, climate resilience, and youth empowerment, Dr. Lorenzo has dedicated his life to transforming compassion into action.
Since then, he believed that he has been empowered to serve and saved by this opportunity to lead and give back. Being in the space for more than 14 years, he has been involved in local projects, national endeavors, and global efforts on health, climate, education, peace, and development.
Paige Snider
Senior Partnerships Advisor
The Pandemic Fund
Paige Snider
Senior Partnerships Advisor
The Pandemic Fund
Paige Snider is the Senior Partnerships Advisor at the Pandemic Fund, responsible for strengthening engagement with key stakeholders, including sovereign contributors and non-sovereign partners like the private sector, foundations, and philanthropies, and overseeing development of the innovative finance strategy and portfolio.
She brings more than 25 years of experience to the role and is an experienced leader of teams that deliver strategic policy and stakeholder impact. She has a deep background in communications, advocacy, and partnerships with public and private sectors, as well as with NGOs and international organizations. After spending more than a decade designing and managing international economic development projects funded by USAID, she spent close to 15 years in China working to advance global policies and engagement with key counterparts. She spent nearly five years working for the U.S. State Department Economic Section and then from 2017 to 2022 worked at WHO China as the Senior Adviser for Communications and External Relations. Priority areas included policy analysis, partnerships, and communications on expanding access to diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments of communicable diseases, reducing risks associated with noncommunicable diseases, promoting integrated and accessible aging services, and promoting increased health budgets for basic health services.
Monina Vasquez Vierneza
Global General Counsel & Executive Director, Legal, Compliance, Risk & Assurance (LCRA)
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Monina Vasquez Vierneza
Global General Counsel & Executive Director, Legal, Compliance, Risk & Assurance (LCRA)
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Monina Vasquez Vierneza serves as the Global General Counsel & Executive Director, Legal, Compliance, Risk & Assurance (LCRA) at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). In this capacity, Ms. Vierneza is responsible for governance, legal strategy, risk management, and accountability within CEPI, a leading institution in global pandemic preparedness and response. Her remit includes protecting public and philanthropic investments while facilitating swift, coordinated actions to address epidemic and pandemic risks.
Ms. Vierneza oversees the legal and regulatory frameworks for CEPI’s programmes and operations in more than 30 countries, ensuring that the organization’s operating and contracting models align with the expectations of sovereign donors, multilateral institutions, and philanthropic stakeholders. Additionally, she leads CEPI’s Oslo Headquarters, acting as the primary representative in engagements with governmental and diplomatic counterparts.
Carmen Willen
Lead, Governance and External Relations
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Carmen Willen
Lead, Governance and External Relations
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
Carmen Willen currently leads the Governance and External Relations team in the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), the first international public health treaty adopted under the auspices of WHO. In this capacity, she coordinates the treaty’s governance processes, oversees diplomatic outreach to maintain strong global commitment to tobacco control and public health, and manages key strategic engagement initiatives, including parliamentary engagement.
From 2021 to 2023, Carmen was seconded to the World Health Organization (WHO), where she contributed to major global health initiatives across several departments, including the WHO COVAX team, supporting equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and the Department of Health and Multilateral Partnerships, where she strengthened cooperation with global health stakeholders and international development partners.
Throughout her career, Carmen Willen has worked with a range of international and diplomatic institutions around the world. She previously served at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), worked with the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C., and volunteered in Cambodia as a field officer for Transparency International, focusing on anti-corruption and civil society strengthening. She joined the Secretariat of the WHO FCTC in 2015, bringing extensive experience in multilateral negotiation, intergovernmental coordination, and policy advisory work.
She holds a Master’s Degree in International Negotiations and Policy-Making.
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UNITE Member
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite
Founder & President
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portugal
Ricardo Baptista Leite is a Portuguese medical doctor and the Founder and President of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of Health AI, a global agency for responsible AI in health.
With more than 15 years of academic experience, he is Chair of the Board of the ‘Global Health Policy Lab,’ a collaboration between Harvard University and Charité University. Based in Berlin, he is also Chair of the Center for Global Health at NOVA University Information Management and Data Science School in Lisbon.
In the past, Dr. Ricardo served as a member of the Portuguese National Parliament for four terms (2011-2023), Deputy Mayor of Cascais, and City Councilor of Sintra.
Hon. Pia Cayetano
Chapter Chair, Asia Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Philippines
Hon. Pia Cayetano
Chapter Chair, Asia Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Philippines
Senator Pia S. Cayetano is a senator from the Philippines with over two decades of public service experience. A leading advocate for health, education, women’s empowerment, and family welfare, she currently chairs the Asia and Pacific Regional Chapter of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.
Serving nine years as Senate Health Chair and six years overseeing the national health budget, she championed reforms toward universal health care and improved maternal and child health. She led the passage of the country’s landmark reproductive health law despite strong opposition from conservative groups. In recognition of her leadership, she received the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Rising Star Award in 2013.
A lawyer, athlete, and mother, Senator Pia S. Cayetano continues to make strides as the Philippine Senate’s Pinay (Filipina) In Action.
Hon. Julia Parra Aparicio
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Hon. Julia Parra Aparicio
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Born on October 24, 1973, in Alicante, Spain. Member of Parliament. Administration. Advisor to municipal group Alicante. Councilor of the Sant Joan d’Alacant City Council. Deputy for Culture and Transparency of the Alicante Provincial Council (2019 – 2023). Vice President of the Alicante Provincial Council (2019 – 2023).
Hon. Ibtissame Azzaoui
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Morocco
Hon. Ibtissame Azzaoui
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Morocco
Dr. Ibtissame Azzaoui is a UNITE Ambassador and former MENA Chapter Chair. She is the Founding President of P4C and an international consultant. She holds a PhD from Mohammed V University; her award-winning thesis on Moroccan parliamentary diplomacy received the National Prize for Best Thesis on Parliamentary Affairs. An engineer in Computer Sciences, she graduated from EHTP and École Centrale Paris. A former member of the Moroccan Parliament, she now serves as a City Councilor in Rabat.
Hon. Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba
Chapter Chair, Latin America & The Caribbean
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Mexico
Hon. Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba
Chapter Chair, Latin America & The Caribbean
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Mexico
Hon. Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba (Mexico) is a Federal Deputy for the National Action Party (2024-2027), a surgeon, and a certified specialist in general surgery and public health, with a doctorate in health sciences with an emphasis in surgery and a doctorate in public administration. He has been a research professor at several universities in Mexico and a member of the National Researchers System. He has been a member of UNITE since 2022.
Hon. Francis Chikumbutso Belekanyama
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Francis Chikumbutso Belekanyama
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Francis Chikumbutso Belekanyama has been a Malawian MP since 2021, serving on key committees and advancing health and governance.
Hon. Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto
Asia & Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Hon. Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto
Asia & Pacific
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto is a prominent leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, recognized for organizational strength, ideological commitment, and loyalty to the Bhutto leadership. Inspired by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he rose through student and youth politics. He served the party in key organizational roles, including digital media coordination in Sindh. As a senator, he advocates public welfare, youth empowerment, and social justice.
Hon. Ugo Cappellacci
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Italy
Hon. Ugo Cappellacci
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Italy
Chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. Serving his second term in the Chamber of Deputies and in the previous legislature (2018 – 2022), he held the position of Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Prior to his experience in Parliament, he was President of the Region of Sardinia (2009 – 2014), where he had previously served as Councillor. He has a degree in economics and specialised as an accountant at Bocconi University (Milan) and LUISS University (Rome).
Hon. Marije Fullaondo la Cruz
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Hon. Marije Fullaondo la Cruz
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Born on December 2, 1964, in Getxo. Member of the Spanish Parliament. Graduate in Education. Degree in Educational Psychology. Degree in Anthropology. Councilwoman for the Errigoiti City Council.
Akua Sena Dansua
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ghana
Akua Sena Dansua
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ghana
Akua Sena Dansua is a Ghanaian diplomat, politician, and gender advocate. She serves as a Global Board Member and Regional Chair for the West and Central Africa Chapter of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health. As Ghana’s first female ambassador to Germany, she strengthened bilateral relations and joined high‑level global health discussions. She previously served as Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Youth and Sports, and Tourism. Dansua founded “Advocates for Gender and Development Initiatives”, an NGO promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, with Dayi FM, a community radio station. She has also held key roles in African parliamentary networks, especially in initiatives addressing HIV/AIDS.
Hon. José Ignacio Echániz
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Hon. José Ignacio Echániz
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Degree in Medicine and Surgery. MBA and postgraduate studies in the USA and the Netherlands. Specialized in Health Economy and Health Management. Chief Health Advisor in the Madrid City Council. Minister of Health of Madrid. Minister of Health and Social Affairs of Castilla La Mancha. National Legislator for 7 periods responsible for the area of health. President of the World Health Commission (AGH) of the Interparliamentary Union.
Hon. Haitham El-noush
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Norway
Hon. Haitham El-noush
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Norway
Haitham El-noush is a former deputy member of the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget), representing the Norwegian Socialist Left Party (SV). A development practitioner with over 25 years of experience working on both development and humanitarian aid, who turned into a global health enthusiast through promoting and scaling up innovation and digital tools for health and development. El-noush has a long international cooperation career from working for both governments, INGOs, and the UN.
Hon. Aliyoum Fadil
Western & Central Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cameroon
Hon. Aliyoum Fadil
Western & Central Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cameroon
I am Aliyoum Fadil, a Member of Parliament of the Republic of Cameroon, focused on advancing health equity through inclusive public policy. My work emphasizes strengthening health systems, expanding access to care, and addressing disparities in resource-constrained settings. I engage in international parliamentary dialogue on multilateral cooperation and contribute practical policy perspectives to global health discussions.
Hon. Wardak Faissal
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Hon. Wardak Faissal
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Faissal Wardak is a city councilor and entrepreneur working on digital solutions for hospitals and public institutions, with a focus on practical implementation and efficiency in healthcare administration.
Hon. Perpetua Sudarshini Fernandopulle
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Sri Lanka
Hon. Perpetua Sudarshini Fernandopulle
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Sri Lanka
I am a medical doctor specialized in Public Health. Served as an elected Member of Parliament for three terms, holding several non-Cabinet ministerial portfolios. I have been a member of key parliamentary committees. My work focuses on women’s empowerment and gender equality.
Hon. Daniel Molokele-Tsiye Fortune
Chapter Chair, Eastern & Southern Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Daniel Molokele-Tsiye Fortune
Chapter Chair, Eastern & Southern Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Fortune Daniel Molokele is a human rights lawyer who was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Whange Central Constituency in July 2018. In August 2023, he was re-elected for his second term. He has been a very active member of the UNITE Parliamentary Network for over five years and has participated in several events or activities in places ranging from Lisbon, Geneva, Washington DC, Berlin, and Nairobi, among other places.
Hon. Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
Member of Parliament, Pakistan
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Hon. Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani
Member of Parliament, Pakistan
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani (born 9 June 1952, Multan) is a senior Pakistani politician and Chairman of the Senate since 2024. He served as the 16th Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012. A senior leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, he has also served as Speaker of the National Assembly and held key federal ministerial portfolios.
Hon. Celso Hermínio
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Celso Hermínio
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Economist. Central Bank official. A member of parliament elected by the MpD parliamentary group. Parliamentary Leader. Master’s degree in Statistics and Information Management and PhD candidate in Applied Economics at the University of Minho.
Hon. Kebba Jallow
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Gambia
Hon. Kebba Jallow
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
The Gambia
With my support and contribution in Parliament, we have enacted numerous health-related laws (e.g., the Medicine and Related Products Amendment Bill 2023 / 2024, the Gambia Metrology Act of 2025, and many other progressive laws).
Hon. Mariam Jashi
Chapter Chair, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Georgia
Hon. Mariam Jashi
Chapter Chair, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Georgia
Dr. Mariam Jashi is a senior-level policymaker with 27 years of experience in Global Health. She is the CEO of Global Sepsis Alliance, Secretary General of the Medical Women’s International Association, Board Member of the UNITE Parliamentarians’ Network, Advisory Board Chair of Tbilisi Medical Academy, and Council Member of the Virchow Foundation. From 2012 to 2020, Dr. Jashi served as Deputy Minister of Labour, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia, MP, and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee.
Hon. Jean-Luc Romero-Michel
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
France
Hon. Jean-Luc Romero-Michel
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
France
Deputy Mayor of Paris and President of Elected Representatives Against AIDS (17,000 members, including MPs, Mayors, etc.) Only elected representative in France to have said they are living with HIV, author of 13 books, with lots of followers on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
Hon. Ephraim Kayembe
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Ephraim Kayembe
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Ephraim Abele Kayembe is an accomplished researcher and policymaker in Malawi. He has been a member of parliament for 11 years now and continues to advocate for sustainable health financing towards the Global Fund. He has championed and advocated for the development of sound health policies to support sustainable healthcare. Being a goal getter, he has utilized strategic partnership and collaboration to harvest fruits of collective and inclusive development. He possesses a PhD in IR, an MSc, and a BSc.
Hon. Serhii Kuzminykh
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ukraine
Hon. Serhii Kuzminykh
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ukraine
Serhii Volodymyrovych Kuzminykh, People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 9th convocation.
Born: January 17, 1983
Education: Higher
Family: Married, raising three children
Position: Chairman of the Subcommittee on Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Activities of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Health, Medical Assistance, and Medical Insurance
Hon. Jack Patrick Lewis
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
USA
Hon. Jack Patrick Lewis
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
USA
Jack Patrick Lewis serves as the state representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (USA). First elected in 2016, he is House Chair of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government and co-chair of the Massachusetts House Progressive Caucus. An ordained minister, Jack leads legislation on suicide prevention, environmental justice, youth health, animal welfare, and HIV prevention, and co-founded OUT MetroWest to support area LGBTQ+ youth.
Hon. Neema Lugangira
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Neema Lugangira
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Neema K. Lugangira is a globally recognised African policy leader in nutrition, global health, digital democracy, and women’s political leadership. She is Secretary General of Women Political Leaders (WPL) and Co-Chair of the UN SUN Movement Executive Committee. A former MP in Tanzania, she founded AFSPaN and APNIG, led landmark electoral reforms, secured recognition of parliamentarians in the AU CAADP, and is an active member of the UNITE Global Parliamentary Forum.
Hon. Andrea Alvarez Marin
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Costa Rica
Hon. Andrea Alvarez Marin
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Costa Rica
A member of parliament, she has championed bills on suicide prevention, rare diseases, eating disorders, and reproductive rights. Chair of the Social Affairs Committee and of the Oversight Committee on the Healthcare System. She worked at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences and chaired the VIII Latin American Conference on Suicide Prevention. She holds a degree in History (University of Costa Rica), a Master’s in Public Health (Yale), and a Master’s in Public Administration (Harvard).
Hon. Mahesh Kumar Mallani
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Hon. Mahesh Kumar Mallani
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Pakistan
Mahesh Kumar Malani, born in 1962, is a senior Pakistani parliamentarian and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health.
Hon. Nico Marquardt
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Hon. Nico Marquardt
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Germany
Nico Marquardt is a third-term elected city councillor of the State Capital Potsdam and Parliamentary Group Leader (SPD), focused on digital health and public policy. He chairs Potsdam’s Digitalization Council, aligning public institutions, companies, and research partners on data governance and citizen engagement. In parallel, he is a doctoral researcher in Global Health at Charité, exploring AI for maternal health in low- and middle-income countries to move tools from pilot to practice.
Hon. Anthony Masamba
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
Hon. Anthony Masamba
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Malawi
I decided to join the frontline of politics out of conviction to serve the people of my constituency and Malawi at large through policy and development influencing. I have a strong interest in maternal, SRHR, Noncommunicable Disease, and AMR, which is largely caused by the consumption of substandard drugs. I am currently serving as a Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health.
Hon. Noko Phineas Masipa
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
South Africa
Hon. Noko Phineas Masipa
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
South Africa
I strongly believe in creating an opportunity-driven society for all. Since June 2024, I have served as a member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and am currently chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Economic Development, and Tourism. Previously, I was a member of Parliament in the National Assembly, where I served as the Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development.
Hon. Esther Matiko
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Esther Matiko
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Esther Nicholas Matiko is a Member of Parliament from Tanzania and a strong advocate for equitable health systems. She champions political courage in prioritizing health investment to reduce inequality, strengthen primary healthcare, and improve access for underserved communities. Esther is committed to evidence-based policymaking, accountability, and inclusive leadership to bridge the health divide and advance sustainable development.
Hon. Jean Francois Mbaye
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
France
Hon. Jean Francois Mbaye
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
France
A health expert, former member of parliament, committed to public health, and lecturer in hospital law.
Hon. Nomafrench Mbombo
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
South Africa
Hon. Nomafrench Mbombo
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
South Africa
A distinguished leader with over three decades of experience spanning academia, public service, and parliament. Honorary Professor at the University of the Western Cape, member of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, representing SA women parliamentarians at the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Association. Previously Provincial Minister of Health for two terms; former Associate Professor on Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights.
Hon. Marina Mijatovic
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Serbia
Hon. Marina Mijatovic
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Serbia
Marina Mijatović has been a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia since 2024 and a member of the Committee on Health and Family. She has been a lawyer for over ten years, with expertise in medical law. She previously worked in NGOs, served five years as Executive Director of Law Scanner, eight years on the Health Council, and over ten years as a Consultant on Medical Law Clinics at Union University. She also served six years as a civil supervisor for public
Hon. Md Habibe Millat
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Bangladesh
Hon. Md Habibe Millat
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Bangladesh
Ex-MP, Bangladesh Parliament (2014-2023); Ex-Chair, IPU Health Advisory Committee; Ex-Member, Governing Body, IFRC; Ex-Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society; Sr. Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Medical Research Council; Ex-Standing Committee Member, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Social Welfare, and Science & Technology; Ex-Chairman, Parliamentary Forum for Health and Wellbeing; Ex-Member, Global TB Caucas.
Hon. Christina Mnzava
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Christina Mnzava
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
My full name is Christina Christopher, a female MP representing my fellow women in my community. It is my second term as a member of Parliament. I’m passionate about women empowerment and community development. I’m a medical doctor by profession, also serving as a member of the Health committee.
Hon. Muhammad Usman
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Nigeria
Hon. Muhammad Usman
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Nigeria
Usman is a former member of Parliament in Nigeria. Was Deputy Chair Com on Health from 2015 to 2019. Sponsored motions and legislation aimed at strengthening the Nigerian health system and improving the quality of health care delivery. Since 2019, has worked with the World Bank Nigeria and several NGOs supporting Nigerian legislature at national and sub-national levels. Now working with the Speaker of the House of Representatives as an SA.
Hon. Oscar Mukasa
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Hon. Oscar Mukasa
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Tanzania
Oscar Rwegasira Mukasa is a senior policy analyst, researcher, and advocacy leader with over 20 years’ experience influencing policy, legislation, and financing through evidence-based engagement with government in Tanzania and beyond. He is a Senior Policy and Government Engagement Advisor with the STOP TB Partnership Tanzania Chapter and a former Member of Parliament (2015–2020). He brings strong expertise in public health, governance, systems strengthening, and applied policy analysis.
Hon. Rosette Christine Mutambi
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Uganda
Hon. Rosette Christine Mutambi
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Uganda
A Ugandan politician, social worker, and health and women’s rights activist. Rosette served as a member of parliament in the 10th Parliament of Uganda. Founder and President of HEPS Uganda, a health policy advocacy NGO that focuses on access to essential medicines. Rosette is a recognized health and women’s rights advocate, social entrepreneur, and recipient of a 2024 Presidential Award for her work on women’s health and economic rights and for championing better health outcomes outside the hospital.
Hon. Maha Abdel Nasser
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
Hon. Maha Abdel Nasser
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
Maha Abdel Nasser is a member of Parliament and Vice President of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party. She is one of the main opposition figures and fought several battles against the government on crucial issues concerning health & education. Maha holds an engineering degree, an MBA, and an online PhD degree in Political Marketing. She also has more than 35 years of experience in the areas of sales, marketing, and business management in the ICT industry.
Hon. Denis Naughten
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ireland
Hon. Denis Naughten
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Ireland
Denis Naughten is an experienced policy leader with nearly thirty years as an MP in Ireland and former Minister for Communications, Climate Action, and Environment. Renowned for bridging science, technology, and policy, Denis brings global expertise in turning research into effective health initiatives and evidence-based policies. He has played a key role in international legislative frameworks, advocating for ethical innovation and improved outcomes for those affected by chronic illness.
Hon. Dought Ndiweni
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Dought Ndiweni
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
I am currently running my private pharmacy. I am a former Member of Parliament. I am actively involved in drug awareness campaigns in my community. We also run campaigns against drugs and substance abuse. Karoi has a population of about 100000 people. Currently there is a prevalence of marijuana and amphetamine abuse amongst young people.
Hon. Cédric Ngindu
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Democratic Republic of Congo
Hon. Cédric Ngindu
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Democratic Republic of Congo
I’m a Congolese politician and trained jurist, born on August 27, 1986, in Kinshasa. Elected Senator for Kasai Central in April 2024, he serves as Acting Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment, Sustainable Development, Natural Resources, and Tourism, and as Chair of the Board of the Environmental Intervention Fund. I’m personally committed to a health mutual scheme, advocating for mental health recognition and care as a key issue of human dignity and social cohesion.
Hon. Kalamba Jean-Louis Ngindu
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Democratic Republic of Congo
Hon. Kalamba Jean-Louis Ngindu
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Democratic Republic of Congo
National Deputy of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Member of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and the IMF, Member of the OECD Global Parliamentary Network, Member of the Economic and Financial Committee of the DRC Parliament. Committed to good governance, reducing inequalities, and pursuing sustainable development goals.
Hon. Zilda Helena Pinheiro Pires de Oliveira
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Zilda Helena Pinheiro Pires de Oliveira
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
I have a degree in School and Educational Psychology and a PhD in Social Sciences, specializing in Education Sciences. I began my professional career in 2000 and worked in secondary and higher education as a teacher, psychologist, and trainer in public and private institutions in Portugal. I have been a member of the Portuguese Parliament since 2021 and a municipal councilor since 2024. My academic and professional interests focus on education, health, gender equality, and human development.
Hon. Federica Onori
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Italy
Hon. Federica Onori
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Italy
Federica Onori is an Italian MP, elected to the Chamber of Deputies in October 2022. She serves as Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee and is a member of the Italian delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, where she is Vice-Chair of the Young Parliamentarians Network. In September 2025, she was appointed OSCE PA Special Representative on Artificial Intelligence. She holds a PhD in Statistics from Sapienza University of Rome and previously worked at the European Commission.
Hon. Jorge Luis Mazorra Ortiz
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cuba
Hon. Jorge Luis Mazorra Ortiz
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cuba
I am a founding member of UNITE, established in 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and the sole representative of Cuba within the organization. My engagement began during the 139th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). I reside in Paris, France, where I serve as President of the Association Somos Cubanos en Francia, while maintaining strong institutional ties with Cuba.
Hon. Beatrice Akinyi Oyomo
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Kenya
Hon. Beatrice Akinyi Oyomo
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Kenya
Beatrice is a Kenyan legislator currently serving as a Senator under the Parliament of Kenya. She has extensive experience in governance and public administration, having previously served as a County Executive Committee Member in Homa Bay County in the areas of Energy and Mining, Land and Housing, and Water and Environment. She has also served as a Director on the Board of the Kenya Maritime Authority and is recognized for her strong leadership in policy, oversight, and community development.
Hon. Orjola Pampuri
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Albania
Hon. Orjola Pampuri
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Albania
Orjola Pampuri is an Albanian politician and public servant with a background in social policy and public administration. She has served as a Member of Parliament and as a member of the Health and Social Issues Committee and a voice in parliament for children and youth, focusing on child protection, youth empowerment, and social inclusion. Her work centers on strengthening public institutions, advancing social reforms, and promoting policies that support vulnerable groups and equal opportunities.
Hon. Amar Patnaik
Chapter Chair
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
India
Hon. Amar Patnaik
Chapter Chair
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
India
Amar Patnaik, Ph.D., is an Indian politician and former member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) representing Odisha. He used to be an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service and is now, by and large, credited for his knowledge of governance, finance, and public policy.
Hon. Ramesh Paudyal
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Nepal
Hon. Ramesh Paudyal
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Nepal
Ramesh Paudyal is an ex-Bagmati Province MP (2017–2022, Bibeksheel Sajha) and holds sociology & political science degrees (Nepal) and a Masters of Management of Development (Wageningen Univ., Netherlands). 20+ years as a development consultant & tourism entrepreneur. Expert in rural Nepal WASH & health, focused on deprived communities. Current APPFE Executive Committee member (Asia Pacific Eval. Assoc.), advocates for dev. evaluation. Joined the RSP central committee in early 2026 with Balendra Shah’s team.
Hon. Fidel Carlos Cardoso De Pina
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Fidel Carlos Cardoso De Pina
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Fidel Cardoso Pina has a degree in Law and Legal Sciences and a master’s degree in Business Management and Administration. He has postgraduate degrees in Management and Political Governance, Social Security, and Labor Legislation, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Policy and Local Development. He is currently a National Deputy of the Republic of Cape Verde, Vice President of IUSY (International Union of Socialist Youth), President of JPAI – PAICV Youth, and a university professor and consultant.
Hon. Dora Oriana Gomes Pires
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Dora Oriana Gomes Pires
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
As a professor of higher education, I was the Vice Rector of the University of Cape Verde. I was the Vice President of the UCID party for two terms and am currently President of the party’s National Council. I am currently serving my second term as a member of parliament. I belong to the network of women parliamentarians and have been working with women to organize the party’s women’s wing. I actively participated in the drafting of the parity law. I was president of the Municipal
Hon. Marko Raidza
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Marko Raidza
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
50 years of age. Holder of a master’s degree in International Relations (Zimbabwe Defence University), a master’s in Human Resources (International University of Management Namibia), and currently on a 3rd-year law degree at the University of Zambia. Politician for the past 20 years and having interest in health-related issues, particularly funding and support. An avid golfer.
Hon. Carmen Martinez Ramirez
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Hon. Carmen Martinez Ramirez
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Spain
Born on December 9, 1962, in Valencia, Spain. Member of Parliament. Graduate in Medicine and Surgery from Valencia University. Specialization in Family Medicine and Community Health. Mayor of Quart de Poblet, Valencia (1999 – 2023). Provincial Deputy for Valencia (2003 – 2011). Member of the Valencian Parliament (2011 – 2023). Secretary and Vice President of the Valencian Parliament (2011 – 2019). Secretary of Health and Mental Health on the National Executive Committee of the Valencian Community.
Hon. Hugo Jesús Rasetto
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Argentina
Hon. Hugo Jesús Rasetto
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Argentina
Hugo Rasetto is a lawyer, producer, and senator from Santa Fe, Argentina. Currently on his fourth consecutive term representing the Iriondo Department, he has over 30 years of public service. A former pioneering entrepreneur and mayor, he recently served as a delegate for the historic 2025 Santa Fe Constitutional Reform. Known for legislative innovation and consensus building, Hugo combines strategic political vision with a lifetime of community action.
Hon. Amira Saber
Chapter Chair, Middle East & North Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
Hon. Amira Saber
Chapter Chair, Middle East & North Africa
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Egypt
Amira Saber is a member of the Egyptian Senate recently elected as the Secretary General of the Human Rights and Social Solidarity Committee. She is an ex-member of Parliament who was elected as the Secretary General of the Foreign Relations Committee. Saber is the VP of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party.
Hon. Salimato Sanha
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Guine-Bissau
Hon. Salimato Sanha
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Guine-Bissau
Salimato Sanha was born on April 23, 1980, in the city of Bissau. Graduated in general medicine from Ulianovsky University (Russia) in 2008, specialized in ophthalmology at the West African College of Surgeons (Ghana and Nigeria) in 2014, and is the National Eye Care Coordinator for trachoma disease. Political career: Member of the PAIGC party, member of the political commission of the Oio region and of the Central Committee. National deputy for the IX and X legislatures of Guinean-Bissau.
Hon. Danilo Neves dos Santos
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
São Tomé e Príncipe
Hon. Danilo Neves dos Santos
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
São Tomé e Príncipe
Member of Parliament since 2018
MLSTP Parliamentary Leader between 2020 and 2024
Chair of the 2nd Committee since 2024
Hon. Hyun-Young Shin
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Republic of Korea
Hon. Hyun-Young Shin
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Republic of Korea
Clinical Professor at St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea. Former member of the 21st National Assembly (Democratic Party), serving as Vice Chairman of the Gender Equality & Family Committee and member of the Health & Welfare Committee. Previously Director of the Korean Parliament Forum on Global Health, Secretary General of the Korea-Africa Foundation, and party spokesperson. Combines medical expertise with extensive policy experience in healthcare, gender equality, and international relations.
Hon. Sonia Sidhu
Chapter Chair, North America
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Hon. Sonia Sidhu
Chapter Chair, North America
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Sonia Sidhu has served as a Member of Parliament for Brampton South since 2015. With nearly two decades of health care experience, she is a leading advocate for national health initiatives. As a long-time member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, she has helped shape policies on mental health, dental care, and Canada’s COVID-19 response. She is also recognized for introducing the legislation that created Canada’s National Framework for Diabetes.
Hon. Luis Carlos Santos Silva
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Hon. Luis Carlos Santos Silva
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cape Verde
Luís Carlos Silva is a National Deputy in Cape Verde, having served as Secretary General of the MpD – Movement for Democracy. He has a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from the University of Aveiro and a postgraduate degree in Public Finance from ISCTE. Throughout his parliamentary career, he has been a member and chair of specialized committees, notably the Finance and Budget Committee. He has participated in training for policymakers under the Pró-PALOP program on public finance.
Hon. Krzysztof Śmiszek
Member of European Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Poland
Hon. Krzysztof Śmiszek
Member of European Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Poland
A member of the European Parliament and the Head of the Polish S&D delegation. Holds a PhD in legal sciences with a specialization in EU law. Co-founded the Polish Society of Anti-Discrimination Law and has worked extensively to advance anti-discrimination policies. Elected to the Polish Sejm in 2019, he championed justice reform and LGBTQ+ rights. In 2023, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice. Since 2024, he has served as an MEP, contributing to key committees on legal affairs and civil liberties.
Hon. Anadi Sululu
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Anadi Sululu
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Seasoned health and governance advocate with a good record of delivering impactful interactions in complex environments. A former MP who focused on healthy equity and community developments worked with VSO RAISA in the SADC region, specializing in HIV/AIDS interventions. A voice for vulnerable children and women, she excelled at bridging the gap between national policy and regional implementation.
Hon. Lawson Tabot Bakia Tabot
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cameroon
Hon. Lawson Tabot Bakia Tabot
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Cameroon
Conferences of UNITE have always been encouraging and richly insightful for my job. It has always been a real opportunity to have one-on-one exchanges and discussions on pressing issues. I deeply appreciate UNITE for this.
Hon. Kevin Vuong
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Hon. Kevin Vuong
Former Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Canada
Kevin Vuong served in Canada’s House of Commons from 2021 to 2025, where he was a member of the Executive Committee for the Canadian Parliamentary Network for the World Bank and IMF. As a first-time father, he did not seek re-election and continues his public service as a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, driving key projects, including a national benchmarking initiative to equip policymakers with the data and metrics to drive better delivery of healthcare services and outcomes.
Hon. Tafanana Zhou
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
Hon. Tafanana Zhou
Member of Parliament
UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Zimbabwe
I have been a member of the Parliament for Zimbabwe since 2013. Also a member of the Pan African Parliament, a Continental Parliament. I am also on the Budget Committee in Zimbabwe.
our
partners
The
UNITE Global Summit
represents a unique platform of engagement with high-level policymakers to shape debates on critical global health issues.
Partners
are positioned as strategic contributors while fostering cross-sector collaboration and linking health to broader socioeconomic priorities – creating stronger opportunities for meaningful, lasting impact.
If you or your organisation is interested in becoming a partner, please contact us:
Joana Perez
, UNITE’s Head of Partnerships, at
joana.perez@unitenetwork.org
Sponsor
Supporter
Technical
Media
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the UNITE Global Summit 2026 taking place?
The UNITE Global Summit 2026 will take place from
Monday, August 3rd
to
Tuesday, 4
th
August 2026
at the
Manila Marriott Hotel, The Philippines
Who is attending UNITE Global Summit 2026?
The UNITE Global Summit
connects a selected group of parliamentarians – up to 100 from all around the world
, with regional leaders and experts in global health; influential academics; multilateral finance and development institutions; civil society organisations (CSOs) and affected communities; and private sector leaders.
What happens at the UNITE Global Summit?
The UNITE Global Summit aims to generate
tangible,
actionable outputs
that strengthen the role of parliamentarians in advancing global health equity and governance. The Summit is designed not only as a
high-level dialogue platform
but also as a catalyst for sustained learning, collaboration, and policy impact.
UNITE strives towards
increased recognition
of the parliamentary role in shaping global health outcomes, reinforcing our organisation’s position as a key political platform in this space.
All debates are
parliamentary-centred
and structured to enable parliamentarians to engage deeply with their peers and partners. The two-days agenda will include:
Parliamentary Inquiries
Policy Workshop(s)
Inter-regional Dialogue(s)
“Salu-Salo Exchange”
Other networking opportunities
The Summit will culminate with a
Political Declaration
, co-designed by partners and signed by our members, which summarizes key commitments, priorities, and next steps for parliamentary action agreed to in Manila.
The outcomes of the Summit will also be integrated into UNITE’s regional chapter agendas and future parliamentary dialogues, ensuring long-term impact.
For more details on our session formats,
the UNITE Global Summit Brochure available above.
How is the UNITE Global Summit financed?
The UNITE Global Summit is made possible through a
broad network of partnerships encompassing
CSOs, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the private sector, academia, foundations and philanthropies.
To safeguard the integrity and independence of parliamentarians, UNITE does not accept any direct funding from the pharmaceutical industry. However, in addition to working with established partners firmly rooted in global health, UNITE also seeks to engage a broader range of private sector actors.
The UNITE Global Summit is not organized for profit, but rather to provide an
inclusive platform that enables the participation and engagement of as many parliamentarians as possible.
For more information on how your organization can partner with UNITE Global Summit, please contact:
Joana Perez
, UNITE’s Head of Partnerships, at
joana.perez@unitenetwork.org
As a parliamentarian, how does UNITE support my participation?
UNITE has made available for its members a
toolkit designed to support parliamentarians in requesting financial assistance from their national parliaments
to attend the Global Summit, including dedicated invitation letters. These invitation letters can also be adapted for visa application purposes.
UNITE Members interested in receiving these resources are invited to contact Bettina Bloesl, UNITE’s Head of Parliamentary Engagement, at bettina.bloesl@unitenetwork.org.
In cases where a parliamentarian is unable to self-fund or obtain financial support from their parliament, UNITE actively works and fundraises to provide travel and accommodation to support on a case-by-case basis.
How can I attend the UNITE Global Summit?
Registration opens in
January 2026
. Express your interest
here
to be notified once Registrations open.
How can my organization partner with the UNITE Global Summit 2026?
Partners can actively contribute to shaping the Summit’s agenda
through various sponsorship options, including tailored opportunities based on their goals and preferred engagement with parliamentarians.
For more information on how your organisation can partner with UNITE, express your interest
here
Which topics will be covered by the UNITE Global Summit 2026?
The theme of this year’s Summit is:
Bridging the Health Divide: Political Courage to Invest.
This overarching banner on sustainable financing aims to focus on how parliamentarians can mobilise domestic and international resources for crucial health needs.
Besides this, the UNITE Global Summit will encompass a wide range of global health topics from Pandemic Preparedness Prevention and Response (PPPR) to Vaccine Hesitancy, Digital Health, Climate Health and more.
Stay up to date on the agenda by following UNITE social media channels, subscribing to our newsletter and checking the UNITE Global Summit website.
Is it possible to participate virtually?
The UNITE Global Summit 2026 will be held
exclusively in person
. To foster open and transparent exchanges between participants, most sessions will take place under the Chatham House Rule.
We invite you to
follow UNITE’s social media channels
and to subscribe to our newsletter, to stay informed about key developments and highlights from the Summit in Manila.
Join us on August 3rd and 4th, in Manila, The Philippines,
to change the global health landscape!
REGISTER NOW
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