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Leadership

Leadership

The World Health Summit is the leading platform for global health. It brings together stakeholders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society from around the world to set the agenda for a healthier future by inspiring innovative solutions for better health and wellbeing for all.

Presidents

Portrait of Axel R. Pries
Axel R. Pries
President
World Health Summit
Germany
Portrait of Lukoye Atwoli
Lukoye Atwoli
WHS International President 2026 & Professor and Dean, Medical College East Africa
Aga Khan University
Kenya
Management

Portrait of Carsten Schicker
Carsten Schicker
CEO
World Health Summit
Germany
Council

The WHS Council provides strategic guidance on the development and positioning of the World Health Summit. Bringing together leaders from across sectors and regions, it reflects the Summit’s global and multidisciplinary character.

Drawing on the expertise of its members, the Council contributes to shaping key strategic priorities, including the annual Summit’s program, the expansion of the WHS community, and the overall direction of the platform. Through regular exchanges throughout the year, its members exchange perspectives that support informed decision-making and the continued evolution of the World Health Summit and its activities.

Co-Chairs

Portrait of Ilona Kickbusch
Ilona Kickbusch
Founding Director, Global Health Center, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
Switzerland
Elhadj As Sy
Elhadj As Sy
Chair, Kofi Annan Foundation
Switzerland

Members

Portrait of Ricardo Baptista Leite
Ricardo Baptista Leite
HealthAI & UNITE - Parliamentarians Network for Global Health
Portrait of Horracio Barreda
Horracio Barreda
Y+ Global
Portrait of Christoph Benn
Christoph Benn
The Joep Lange Institute
Portrait of Mukul Bhola
Mukul Bhola
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
Portrait of Jagan Chapagain
Jagan Chapagain
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Portrait of Jocalyn Clark
Jocalyn Clark
The BMJ
Portrait of Francesca Colombo
Francesca Colombo
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Portrait of Victor Dzau
Victor Dzau
National Academy of Medicine
Portrait of Johanna Hanefeld
Johanna Hanefeld
Robert Koch Institute
Portrait of Lisa Heinrich
Lisa Heinrich
Wellcome Trust
Portrait of Chikwe Ihekweazu
Chikwe Ihekweazu
World Health Organization (WHO)
Portrait of Tobias Kahler
Tobias Kahler
Gates Foundation
Portrait of Beate Kampmann
Beate Kampmann
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Portrait of Kirsten  Kappert-Gonther
Kirsten Kappert-Gonther
Member of the Bundestag
Portrait of Neema Kaseje
Neema Kaseje
Surgical Systems Research Group & Lodwar County Referral Hospital
Portrait of Gabriel Leung
Gabriel Leung
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Portrait of Ethel Maciel
Ethel Maciel
Ministry of Health Brazil
Portrait of Nujeen  Mustafa
Nujeen Mustafa
Disability and Refugee Rights Advocate
Portrait of Ole Petter Ottersen
Ole Petter Ottersen
University of Oslo
Portrait of David  Reddy
David Reddy
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)
Portrait of Magda Robalo
Magda Robalo
UHC2030 Steering Committee
Portrait of Christine Stegling
Christine Stegling
UNAIDS
Portrait of Naina Subberwal Batra
Naina Subberwal Batra
Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN)
Portrait of Carla Vizzotti
Carla Vizzotti
Ministry of Health Argentina (until 2023)
Portrait of Andrea  Winkler
Andrea Winkler
Technical University of Munich

More about our organization

Discover how we shape global health: Our mission, responsibility, and impact at the World Health Summit.