Africa Young Innovators for Health Award – Launch Event

Chair-Dr. Moredreck Chibi

Innovations Program Officer at the WHO Africa Regional Office

Dr Chibi works for the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, as Regional Innovation Adviser. His main role is coordinating implementation of the Transformation Agenda. He is the brains behind the first WHO Innovation Challenge that was successfully launched in October 2018. He is also serving as a chair of the Regional UN Interagency technical experts on leveraging emerging technologies and digital transformation for inclusive growth and development in Africa. Before moving to the Regional Office, he worked as Technical Officer in WHO based in Geneva, Switzerland, where he was part of the team coordinating the implementation of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation Management and Intellectual Property. His passion and career is committed to international development that is geared to implement sustainable innovative home-grown solutions to address health challenges in Africa. He holds an Executive MBA in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship from Switzerland. He has a PhD in Medical Biotechnology from Cape Town, South Africa. He has more than 15 years’ experience in research, development and innovation in the health sector.

Moderator-Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga

Senior UN Correspondent

Catherine Fiankan-Bokonga is Senior UN correspondent in Switzerland for France 24 (French International Tv channel) and various other media outlets.
She is elected vice-president of the Association of Accredited Correspondents at United Nations (ACANU) and the Swiss Press Club (Club Suisse de la Presse). She is also a presenter and producer of television news reports. She covered many armed conflicts in the field in Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali) and interviewed numerous World leaders. She is a regular speaker and moderator at high profile conferences on security, humanitarian relief, health care, trade, culture, and women’s issues.
Twitter: @catfiankbok

Closing Session Speaker-Professor Awa Marie Coll-Seck

Minister of State and President of the National Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Committee

Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck is currently Minister of State of Senegal after serving for 5 years as Minister of Health and Social welfare. She is the Chair of the scientific committee for the Galien Forum Africa. She has served on multiple Boards of Directors including the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, the Clinton Health Access initiative and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Malaria Strategic Advisory panel. She is also the co-chair of the WHO-UNICEF Commission on Child Health and Wellbeing. She is an honorary member of the Academy of Sciences and Technologies of Senegal and is the author of more than 150 scientific publications. Prof. Coll-Seck earned her medical degree from the University of Dakar in 1978.
Twitter: @AwaMCollSeck

Speaker-Temie Giwa-Tubosun

CEO, LifeBank

Temie Giwa-Tubosun studied International Public Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. She has over 10 years of health management experience with the Department For International Development (DFID), World Health Organization, UNDP, and the Lagos State Government. In 2014, the BBC listed her as one of the 100 Women changing the world. She was also recognized as an African Innovator by Quartz and the World Economic Forum. She is the Founder and CEO of LifeBank; Africa's healthcare supply chain engine. The company helps hospitals discover essential medical suppliers and delivers them in the right condition and on time.
Twitter: @temite | @lifebankcares

Speaker-Cyntia Genolet

Head of Health Systems & Africa Policy, IFPMA

Cyntia is the head of Health Systems and Africa Policy and, since 2017, is leading IFPMA engagement in Africa and deals with other Global Health policies. Prior to joining IFPMA, she has worked for Sanofi in the office of relations with the International Institutions, in Geneva. She has built her professional experience working for NGOs, international organizations and governments in Africa, South America and Switzerland.
Cyntia holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and a Master of Advanced Studies in Health Economics and Management from HEC Lausanne.
Twitter: @Cyntia_IFPMA | @IFPMA

Speaker-Maelle Ba

Strategic Communications Manager, Speak Up Africa

Maelle is leading communication and outreach initiatives and planning under the mentorship of the Deputy Executive Director. She also leads the development and creative expression of the organization’s social marketing assets across video, design, copy, and photography. She joined the Speak Up Africa team in January 2014, to reinforce and develop the communication branch, after an experience in the UNESCO’s Regional Office in Dakar, as a communication and knowledge management intern.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in both History and English and a Master’s degree in History and Comparative Civilizations. In 2013, she obtained a MBA in International Institutions and NGOs Management.
Twitter: @maelle_ba | @SpeakUpAfrica