Neetu Abad is a seasoned leader who has implemented high-impact public health strategies in mental and behavioral health, vaccine-preventable diseases, and emergency response domestically and globally at the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. In July 2025, she was named the first director of the Rosalynn Carter Mental Health and Caregiver Program following the merger between The Carter Center and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers.

Zia Agha, MD, is Chief Medical Officer for the Gary and Mary West Foundation and the West Health Institute, where he ensures West Health’s research and initiatives are translated into clinical practice, policy reform, and scalable innovation supporting its mission to lower healthcare costs and enable seniors to age in place with access to high-quality, affordable care that preserves their dignity and independence.

As West Health’s physician leader, Dr. Agha oversees strategic partnerships with leading health systems nationwide, spanning the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), geriatric emergency care, tech-enhanced care, and healthcare affordability. Through the West Health Accelerators, with partners including Mass General Brigham, Northwestern Medicine, and the American Hospital Association, he helps translate evidence into real-world impact. Dr. Agha also serves on California’s IMPACT Stakeholder Committee, advising the state on outcomes for its aging population.

Elizabeth Allen is Executive Advisor for Brain Economy at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, where she leads cross-sector efforts to advance Canada’s emerging brain economy. A long-time Canadian government executive, she brings more than 20 years of experience in public policy, communications, and national strategy across health, social development, and environmental initiatives.

Susan Armiger is a global healthcare leader, scholar, advocate, and strategist recognized for pioneering value-based care in behavioral health. A New Zealand native with a decade in the U.K. and Europe and more than 20 years of U.S. executive leadership, she brings a global perspective on healthcare systems — from urban centers to remote rural communities — and a deep commitment to a more equitable world where people with developmental disabilities can truly choose their own path. As President and CEO of Catalight, America’s leading network for autism and developmental disability care, Susan leads a team overseeing more than 16,000 clinicians delivering over 4 million hours of personalized care to more than 25,000 people each year. Under her leadership, Catalight challenges the status quo — reimagining care and breaking down barriers and biases through individualized services, clinical research, advocacy, and intelligent technologies.

Sheryl Batchelor is a proud Aboriginal woman with ancestral connections to Kunja, Queensland, Australia. She has over 30 years of teaching, training, and leadership experience in various educational, community and health settings along with a Master’s Degree in Education. Sheryl has been mentored by international experts in neuroscience and in 2019 established Yiliyapinya Indigenous Corporation. Yiliyapinya is a registered charity building the brain health of children, young people, and adults by combining cultural wisdom with neuroscience. Sheryl is also an Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology, School of Justice.

Valérie Boulet is a global philanthropic leader with over 20 years of experience driving strategic growth across the health, higher education, and cultural sectors. As Chief Development Officer at the WHO Foundation, she spearheads fundraising and partnership strategies to advance the World Health Organisation’s mission of improving health equity worldwide. She leads teams mobilising vital resources from individual donors, foundations, and the private sector to fund innovation and emergency responses.

An expert in international philanthropy and campaign strategy, Valerie is a regular speaker for CASE and a Senior Adviser with GG+A–Huron. Her background includes serving as Director of Development at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and leading major gift fundraising for King’s College London’s £500 million campaign.

Valerie holds three master’s degrees from London Metropolitan University, Sciences Po, and the University of Paris X.

Carmencita Bua has a Law Degree from the University of Pisa, Italy. She worked globally as a leader in innovation design, as COO of Continuum Innovation she served clients in the private and public sector and in many different lines of business. Carmencita is the founder of Skylark, a transition program for neurodiverse students that empowers individuals who learn differently through independent life and vocational programs. She is also focusing much of her work to re-design the luxury experience and to create a booking platform to accommodate the need of every traveler in the context of each one brain difference. She is the mother of three adult children and the stepmother to Michela.

Dr. Sandra Chapman is Chief Director of Center for BrainHealth® at The University of Texas at Dallas and a Distinguished Professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. She has dedicated her career to understanding, measuring and optimizing brain performance.

She co-created The BrainHealth Project with 32 internationally recognized brain health experts, focused on doubling peak brain performance, inoculating against decline and regaining losses so strong brain function can match our longer lifespans. With 40,000+ participants, the Project has one of the world’s richest longitudinal brain datasets. Measured by a first-of-its-kind BrainHealth Index and validated by 1,000+ fMRI scans, the Project motivates improvement in 3 core domains: clarity, connectedness and emotional balance.

With 50+ funded research grants and 250+ peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Chapman is expanding access to strategies and tools to transform brain care from reactive treatment to proactive optimization.

Dr. Patricia Conrod, a Montréal psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Addiction, is a leading expert in youth substance use and mental health. She is internationally recognized for her ground-breaking research on neurocognitive and personality risk factors for substance use and mental disorders. Her work has influenced policies in Canada and internationally, particularly based on her contributions to the understanding of how social media and substance use affect young people’s brain development, and how targeted prevention strategies provide long-term protection against such harms.

At the Research Centre of CHU Sainte-Justine, Dr. Conrod leads major studies that use state-of-the-art brain imaging technology. She is the founder and co-director of the Centre IMAGINE, a paediatric brain imaging facility. Dr. Conrod is also director of SENSUM, the Université de Montréal’s Strategy for Neurosciences and Mental Health. Building on her research findings, Dr. Conrod founded the PreVenture program, which teaches cognitive and behavioural strategies to help teenagers manage individual differences linked to mental health challenges. Dr. Conrod and her team have shown that this brief intervention is highly effective in preventing substance use disorders in teens. As the Scientific Director of INMHA, Dr. Conrod guides CIHR’s health research priorities and investment strategies to improve the health of people in Canada and around the world.

Prof. Stéphanie Debette is a neurologist, epidemiologist, and Professor at Sorbonne University and the Paris Hospitals (AP-HP). Since January 2025, she serves as Director of the Paris Brain Institute (Institut du Cerveau), a large interdisciplinary neuroscience institute (1,000+ staff members) where she is spearheading the creation of a Data Science & AI center and expanding large-scale international collaboration to advance brain health globally. She also co-leads the GENOVASC team, “Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Neurodegeneration » with Prof. Hugues Chabriat.

Author of over 330 publications, her research on the molecular epidemiology of vascular brain disorders has identified key genomic and molecular mechanisms underlying stroke and cerebral small vessel disease, revealing their impact on brain structure across the lifespan and across ancestries, and on cognitive decline and dementia. Her work has been supported by national and international grants such as an ERC Starting Grant, a European research program on neurodegenerative diseases (JPND), the France 2030 initiative (RHU SHIVA), and the Leducq foundation. She previously spent a decade (2014–2024) at the University of Bordeaux, where she has directed the Bordeaux Population Health Research Center and founded the Vascular Brain Health Institute (VBHI), selected in 2023 through the IHU3 call for projects under the France 2030 initiative of excellence, securing €40 million in funding. She chaired the International Stroke Genetics Consortium (ISGC) from 2017 to 2019 and is a member of the Research Steering Committee of the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium. In 2026, she organised the inaugural World Brain Health Forum at UNESCO and was entrusted with coordinating the S7 (G7 Academies of Sciences) Declaration on Brain Health.

Her distinctions include the Bettencourt Prize for Young Researchers, the Scientific Excellence Award from the European Stroke Organisation, Knight of the French National Order of Merit, the Claude Pompidou and Marie-Paule Burrus Prizes for Alzheimer’s disease research (2016, 2023), the Grand Prix de l’Inserm, the NRJ – National Academy of Sciences Neuroscience Prize (2024). She was elected member of the French Academy of Sciences in 2024. She has been a Fulbright fellow at Boston University, a visiting Professor at Kyoto University and a Miller Fischer visiting professor at Harvard University Mass General Hospital.

Prof. Suzanne L Dickson is a neurobiologist and Professor of Neuroendocrinology at the University of Gothenburg. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Neuroendocrinology from the University of Cambridge in 1993, where she later became Senior Lecturer in Physiology. She is a leading figure in neuroendocrinology and works within many European Union and international organisations and societies to promote research, facilitate grant funding and training of Early Career Scientists. Her research into the neurobiology of appetite aims to unravel neurobiological pathways that respond to orexigenic signals, such as the hormone, ghrelin, and that drive feeding behaviours, not only food intake but also food choice, food anticipation, food reward and food motivation. This work involves mostly preclinical studies and includes behavioural tasks, viral vector mapping, chemogenetics and RNAscope. She is Secretary and Executive Board member of the European College for Neuropsychopharmacology, and also chairs ECNP’s Workshop for Early Career Scientists in Europe. She also is founder and co-chair of ECNP’s nutrition network and EBRA’s BRAINFOOD cluster.

Amy Dittmar is a distinguished scholar with an extensive background in economics, finance and university administration. She is the provost, the executive vice president for Academic Affairs, a professor of economics in the School of Social Sciences and a professor of finance with Rice Business.

Dittmar has strengthened Rice’s partnerships with the Texas Medical Center, with a particular interest in cancer and brain health initiatives. She is a co-chair of the Steering Committee for Project Metis, a groundbreaking initiative led by Center for Houston’s Future to position the Houston-Galveston region as the global leader in brain health and the emerging brain economy. She oversees Rice Global, which has established and expanded partnerships in Europe, Asia and Latin America. She serves as president of Rice Global Paris, which oversees the Rice Global Paris Center and the Rice School of Architecture in Paris.

Dr. Mitchell Elkind is the American Heart Association’s Chief Clinical Science Officer and serves as the senior staff science leader for all Association initiatives related to stroke, brain health and new integrated efforts including cardio-renal-metabolic health. Previously, he was president of the American Heart Association for 2020-21, a tenured Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology and Chief of the Division of Neurology Clinical Outcomes Research and Population Sciences in the Neurology Department at Columbia University. As Chief Clinical Science Officer, Dr. Elkind’s trusted voice, collaborative approach, and extensive clinical knowledge and experience are instrumental to ensuring the Association’s next generation research efforts are patient-centered, highly participatory and inclusive of all populations.

Dr Elkind’s research focuses on stroke prevention, inflammatory and infectious biomarkers in stroke risk prediction, atrial cardiopathy, immune therapy for acute stroke, and vascular causes of cognitive aging. He is a principal investigator of federally-funded studies examining atrial cardiopathy in cryptogenic stroke; stroke risk factors; short-term high-dose statin therapy in acute stroke; and inflammation in stroke treatment. Dr. Elkind has a longstanding commitment to medical education and research training. In addition to leading the Columbia Neurology residency and fellowship programs, he served as editor of the American Heart Association/ASA Stroke journal’s International Stroke Early Career and Training Section. He also runs National Institutes of Health-funded research training programs for residents and fellows.

Hala is a Senior Healthcare Project Designer and Senior Associate at Perkins&Will, bringing over 15 years of international experience with the firm across multiple countries and markets. She is a research-driven designer whose work focuses on the intersection of wellness, sustainability, and human-centered design within the built environment.

As one of Perkins&Will’s Living Design Champions and a leading researcher in brain capital and brain health, Hala advocates for design strategies that positively impact cognitive, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

An award-winning designer, Hala leads complex large-scale projects globally, recognized for integrating innovation, operational thinking, and experiential design. Over the past several years, she has also collaborated with the United Nations to help advance global awareness around the importance of brain health within the built environment.

Clinical and community psychologist and health care innovator Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, is CEO of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. With more than 172,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students as members, APA promotes and disseminates psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve lives – a mission consistent with Evans’ life work.

An unconventional leader, he employed science, research, community activism, spirituality, traditional clinical care, policy, and cross-system collaborations to change the status quo. His approach gave voice to and empowered individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized. He ensured those with lived experiences were involved with every policy decision. He enlisted political and community leaders, grassroots organizations, academic institutions and advocates in a citywide commitment to think differently about behavioral health and intellectual disabilities.

Ambassador Luis Gallegos was born in Quito, Ecuador, on December 13, 1946. He obtained a Law Degree and a Juris Doctor Degree from the Central University of Ecuador in 1975. In 1983, as a Humphrey Fellow Scholar, he earned a Master of Arts Degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy-Harvard University.

For his work in human rights, he has received numerous honors, including the Justice for All Disabilities Rights Award, the Burton Blatt Leadership Award, the Christian Blind Mission Award, the Access Living Award, the National Spinal Cord Injury Association Hall of Fame Award, and Special Recognition for Outstanding Service from The Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

He received the UNITAR Global Partnership Award (2012), the Harvard Law School Project on Disability’s Award for Creative Contributions to Human Betterment (2015), and the USICD International Advocate Award (2024). He was also a 2022 Fellow at the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative.

Javier Guzmán is Chief of the Health, Nutrition, and Population Division at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). He is a global health expert with extensive experience in health policy, pharmaceutical systems, regulatory affairs, health financing, global health security, and antimicrobial resistance. He previously held leadership roles at the Center for Global Development and Management Sciences for Health. Between 2013 and 2018, he served in senior positions in the Colombian government, including Director of Medicines and Health Technologies at the Ministry of Health and Director General of the Colombian Food and Drug Surveillance Institute. He has worked as a physician, researcher, analyst, and policymaker in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Colombia. He holds an MSc in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing and an Executive MBA.

Richard Hatzfeld leads all FINN Partners brain health and global public health initiatives on behalf of clients in the pharmaceutical, education, non-profit, philanthropy and technology sectors. He has worked around the world on major health advocacy, media and thought leadership campaigns. In the decade prior to joining FINN, Richard oversaw communications for the Merck Vaccines franchise, led global public health communications for Johnson & Johnson, and was the communications director for the Sabin Vaccine Institute. He began his work in public health pioneering the creation of the first national network of reproductive health centers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Josh Hsu is General Counsel at Slingshot AI, the AI company behind Ash, its consumer app for emotional wellbeing and personal growth, where he leads all legal, regulatory, policy, and corporate matters. Before joining Slingshot, Josh was a partner at Jenner & Block, advising clients on public policy, crisis management, congressional investigations, and litigation. He previously served as Counsel to Vice President Kamala Harris, Executive Director of the Harris-Walz Transition, Senior Advisor to the Harris for President campaign, and National Policy Director on Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. Josh also spent eight years in the US Senate, first as Chief Counsel for Nominations to then-Ranking Member Patrick J. Leahy and then as General Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff to then-Senator Kamala Harris. He is a member of the American Law Institute and a recipient of the 2023 APABA-DC Pioneer Award.

Abdelfatah Ibrahim is the Chair of OneNeurology Partnership, a global coalition bringing together organisations across neurological conditions, including stroke, epilepsy, and dementia. OneNeurology aims to strengthen collaboration, increase the visibility of neurological conditions, and advance shared policy priorities.

He has represented the neurological community at the World Health Organization (WHO)’s World Health Assembly, advocating for the inclusion of neurological conditions within global health strategies.

Abdelfatah is also the Head of Communications, Campaigns and Advocacy at the MS International Federation (MSIF), where he leads global awareness campaigns, advocacy and policy engagement on multiple sclerosis.

Andy Keller, PhD, is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Meadows Institute, an independent, nonpartisan policy and program research organization that helps local, state, and national leaders develop and accelerate solutions to address our nation’s mental health crisis.

Andy is a licensed clinical and community psychologist with more than 25 years of experience bringing health policy, financing, and best practices together to help people recover from mental illness and addiction. His work centers on helping health systems deliver the effective care that people, families, and communities need, and ensuring that local, federal and state policy-makers implement the regulatory and financial frameworks to help care providers innovate and thrive.

Joanna Lai, DrPH, MPH, MS Ed. serves as the adolescent health and well-being lead within UNICEF’s Global Health Practice, providing technical leadership to strengthen adolescent, school, and mental health across more than 50 countries. Her work focuses on adolescent mental health promotion and prevention and the integration of mental health and psychosocial support into primary health care and school health systems. She supports governments to develop evidence-based policies, strengthen national systems, and scale integrated approaches that improve adolescent health and well-being. Joanna contributes to global guidance, implementation research, and capacity building, with a focus on adolescent-responsive health systems, meaningful youth engagement, and cross-sectoral collaboration. Prior to UNICEF, she supported national adolescent health and HIV programs, led implementation research on service quality in sub-Saharan Africa, and worked in school health and counseling services.

Steven Lewis, MD, is the President of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and a WFN Trustee since 2014. Dr. Lewis is a graduate of Yale University, received his MD at Stanford University, and performed his neurology residency at the University of Chicago.

Dr. Lewis is Physician-in-Chief and Endowed Chair of Neurology at the Lehigh Valley Fleming Neuroscience Institute, Regional Chief for the Lehigh Valley for the Farber Neuroscience Institute at Jefferson Health, and Adjunct Professor of Neurology at Thomas Jefferson University.

Dr. Lewis is Past Chair of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and past Editor-in-Chief of Continuum, the official CME journal of the American Academy of Neurology. He is the Editor of World Neurology and Editor-in-Chief of MedLink Neurology.

In 2019, Dr. Lewis received the A.B. Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Neurologic Education from the AAN, and in 2023, he received the ANA Award for Excellence in Education.

Professor Dato’ Dr. Jafri Malin Abdullah FASc graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1986, followed by specialist training in Neurosurgery and a PhD (Magna Cum Laude) in Biomedical Science from Ghent University, Belgium, in 1995. He later completed postdoctoral training at the Karolinska University Hospital and Institute, Sweden, and advanced surgical neuroanatomy training under the late Prof. Albert L. Rhoton Jr. in the United States.

A pioneer in Malaysian neuroscience, Prof. Jafri established nine postgraduate programmes, including Cognitive Neurosciences, Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Clinical Neuropsychology, significantly advancing neuroscience education and specialist training nationwide. His international collaborations led to his appointment to the Global Brain Consortium (GBC) at McGill University, Canada, in 2018.

In 2023, he represented Malaysia at the 78th United Nations General Assembly during the Brain Health and Research Day Summit. He currently serves as South Asia Chapter Coordinator of the GBC and holds leadership roles in the Brain Capital Alliance, the Brain Economy Hub Steering Committee at Rice University, the International Neuroclimate Working Group at Stanford University, and the Nature Medicine Commission on Brain Health for Economic Resilience.

Prof. Jafri is Professor of Neurosciences and Chairman of the Brain & Behaviour Cluster at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Facundo Manes, born in 1969 in Argentina, has emerged as one of the most influential neuroscientists of the 21st century, not only within his native South America but also globally. His pioneering research, innovative approaches to understanding the human brain, and commitment to translating scientific discoveries into societal benefits have cemented his reputation as a leading figure in contemporary neuroscience. Throughout his career, Manes has contributed significantly to elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying cognition, emotion, and behavior, fostering a deeper understanding of mental health disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and the plasticity of the human brain. His work has bridged the gap between basic science and applied clinical practice, inspiring new therapeutic strategies and public policies aimed at improving mental well-being in diverse populations.

Besides his contribution to medicine and science, Dr. Manes is deeply involved in disseminating the importance of knowledge in Latin America. Since December 2021, he is a national Congressman and the President of the Committee on Science, Innovation, and Technology of the Argentinian Parliament. His commitment is to work towards a long-term vision based on the idea that the wealth of a country is measured through the value of human capital, education, science and technology; and that in said factors lies the basis of social development. He also believes science has something to contribute to politics. The more solid the bridge between science and state decisions, the closer we will be to a democratic, modern and developed society.

After formal training in chemistry (ENS Paris), Catherine Marquer received her PhD in molecular and cell biology in 2008 from University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris, France) for her work on muscarinic receptors (Servent lab). From 2008 to 2012, she was a post-doctoral researcher in the Brain and Spine Institute (Potier lab, ICM, Paris, France) where she studied the role of cholesterol in Alzheimer’s disease. From 2012 to 2016, she was a post-doctoral fellow studying new regulators of intracellular trafficking and cholesterol homeostasis at Columbia University (Di Paolo lab). She got promoted to assistant professor in 2016 and opened her lab at Columbia University where she focused on endolysosomal dysregulations in neurodegeneration with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease and lysosomal storage disorders. She collaborated with a number of international scientists from different backgrounds (academia and industry) and various expertises, leading to numerous grants and publications in the cell biology and neurodegeneration fields. Now back in France, she is the coordinator for international initiatives in neurosciences at the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR).

Laura Murray believes that everyone, everywhere — regardless of geography, income, or system — deserves access to high-quality, evidence-based mental health care, and that AI and technology are among the most powerful tools available to make that a reality. She has spent her career at a challenging intersection: rigorous clinical science, the messy, underfunded reality of overstretched mental health systems, and the extraordinary potential of digital technology, and now AI, to bridge the gap between the two. Laura’s work is grounded in a simple observation: the crisis isn’t a lack of evidence — we know what works. The crisis is delivery. The gap between what science has proven and what actually reaches people in need is where the real harm happens, and closing that gap has become the throughline of her career. Her approach is threefold: build the science, build the technology, and build the systems that connect them at scale.

Laura Murray is Head of Global Mental Health at Google, Founder of CETA Global and CareConfidence, and Faculty at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research spans 8+ clinical trials, 100+ peer-reviewed publications, and implementations across 25+ countries — demonstrating that evidence-based, transdiagnostic care can treat clients effectively in up to 78% less time than traditional approaches. But proven science sitting in academic journals doesn’t help anyone — which is why Laura is equally focused on what AI and digital health make possible right now. The workforce shortage is real. The waitlists are real. The burnout is real. But so is the technology, and so is the science. She continues to work toward building a mental health ecosystem that actually works for everyone.

Alfred Kongnyu Njamnshi, MD, MA, DMS, FMH, FCAS, FAAS, FRCP (UK), is professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of The University of Yaoundé I (Cameroon), where he founded and heads the Neuroscience Laboratory, chairs the neurology and neuroscience residency programs and coordinates the school’s 30 residency programs. He is also Chief of Neurology at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, the base of his clinical practice and training of students/residents. He obtained his MD from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, and is Swiss-Board Certified (FMH) in Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology; holder of an MA Education (medical education) from the UK, where he is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP). Prof. Njamnshi is a fellow of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences and also a fellow of the African Academy of Sciences. He has published over 240 peer-reviewed scientific articles in high-impact journals. His current research focus is brain health as well as basic, clinical, translational, and environmental neuroscience, targeting dementia, sleep medicine, epilepsy and stroke.

Professor Njamnshi organised the First High-Level African Science Summit that produced the Yaoundé Declaration on Brain Economy, Brain Health and Brain Capital. The Yaoundé Declaration was presented at UNGA79 Brain Days, the European Parliament-European Brain Council Brain Awareness Convening and other global and regional fora.

Professor Babatunde Omilola is a global development leader. He has held senior level positions with several global institutions including the United Nations Development Program, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Food Policy Research Institute, and the African Development Bank Group. He managed the African Development Bank’s multi-billion-dollar response to the COVID-19 pandemic to stabilize African economies. He also led the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Team on the monitoring and reporting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally.

Babatunde was a Yale World Fellow at Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, a Fellow on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at Stanford University, a Ford Foundation International Fellow, a Fellow of the International Development Research Centre, Canada and a Fellow of the Comparative Research Program for preventing and eradicating poverty of the International Science Council. Since 2014, he has been an inaugural member of the Committee on Science for the Reduction of Poverty and Inequality of the Academy of Science of South Africa. Babatunde holds both MPhil and Ph.D. degrees in International Development and Development Economics from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, United Kingdom.

He has received Executive Education at the Harvard Business School, the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore as part of the United Nations Executive Leadership Program for Sustainable Development. Babatunde has visited and delivered development assistance in over 80 countries worldwide in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Dr Jeyaraj D Pandian is a Professor and Head of Neurology and the Principal/Dean from Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana, Punjab, India. Dr Pandian is the current President of World Stroke Organisation and Past President of Indian Stroke Association. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Fellow of Royal College of Physicians, Fellow of European Stroke Organization and Fellow of World Stroke Organisation (WSO).

Dr Pandian was the past Chair of World Stroke Campaign International Working Group of WSO. He has been a member of WSO Policy and Research Committees. Dr Pandian was the Co-chair of the World Stroke Congress 2016 held in Hyderabad, India. He is a member of the Strategic Advisory Group (STAG) for NCDs in WHO Geneva. Dr Pandian was conferred the WSO Global stroke services award in 2020 for his contributions to the field of stroke.

Dr Pandian has made significant contributions to stroke care services, epidemiology, and thrombolysis in low and middle-income countries. He is the National PI for the Indian Stroke Clinical Trial Network (INSTRuCT). He has 266 peer-reviewed publications (Citations 190699, h-index 72, i10 index-168).

Louise (Ngāti Maniapoto me Te Arawa) is a New Zealand (NZ) co-lead to the European Partnership in Brain Health. She has extensive experience in NZ’s research and innovation sector as a Science Advisor for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment; Director of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge; member of the Health Research Council’s Biomedical Research Committee; and Board member for the Dodd-Walls Te Whai Ao (photonics and quantum) Centre of Research Excellence. Internationally, she is the Secretary of the International Basal Ganglia Society Council. At the University of Otago, Louise is the Māori Dean of Research and a Professor in the Department of Anatomy. Her biomedical research investigates how changes in brain activity underlie Parkinsonian symptoms, and she examines equitable lifestyle, cultural and clinical factors to slow symptom progression. Louise received a King’s Honour (Member of the NZ Order of Merit) for leadership and services to neuroscience.

Lavina Ramkissoon serves as the co-chair of the African Union Science Technology Commission ASRIC/ASTR Council on 4IR. She is a visionary figure in the advancement of responsible AI, dedicated to harnessing technology for good and unlocking humanity’s potential. Recognised as a Top 10 Leader advancing AI globally. A true full-stack human Amb. Lavina combines her expertise in psychology, technology, and economics to bring a unique and insightful perspective to AI development.

Her dedication and achievements are evident in her numerous accolades including top 10 leaders shaping AI. A futurist who’s vision is to accelerate the world’s augmentation of data by creating a more intelligent tomorrow through the footprints of collective humane knowledge. She’s not just a leader; she’s an inspiration, earning the title #aiMOM for fostering responsible development for a better tomorrow.

Ian Robertson is Professor Emeritus and Fellow at Trinity College Dublin, and T. Boone Pickens Distinguished Chair at The University of Texas at Dallas. He was Founding Director of both the Institute of Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin and the Global Brain Health Institute.

Dr. Robertson serves as Co-Leader of The BrainHealth® Project, a landmark longitudinal study designed to define, measure, and improve brain health and performance across the lifespan. An internationally recognized cognitive neuroscientist, he has authored more than 600 scientific papers, which have been cited more than 43,000 times. His most recent popular science book is How Confidence Works (Penguin), and his forthcoming book, Brainspan (Orion/Hachette), will be published in early 2027. He is a member of the Academia Europaea and the Royal Irish Academy. In 2024, he was awarded both an honorary Doctor of Science and an honorary MD by Trinity College Dublin.

Tomás Ryan is professor of neuroscience in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology and a principal investigator at the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland. He holds a joint faculty position at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience of Neuroscience and Mental Health at the University of Melbourne in Australia. His research group aims to understand how memory engrams change over development and how they interact with innate representations. His research has been supported by the European Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland, the Jacobs Foundation and the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, among other sources. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). He serves as a Board Member of the European Brain Council and as the Chair of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Advocacy Committee.

Nika Saeedi serves as the United Nations Development Programme’s Global Lead on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and focal point on Religion and Development. With over 25 years of experience across crisis recovery, peacebuilding, and governance—living and working in Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan, and supporting numerous other countries—she has positioned UNDP as a leader in integrating mental health into development and peace efforts. Nika has pioneered global thinking on the brain economy, linking brain health, resilience, and inclusive growth, and has mobilised international partnerships to address the mental health dimensions of crises. Her work bridges science, policy, and diplomacy to advance sustainable development and human wellbeing worldwide.

Secretary Sangvai is a family medicine physician and a professor at Duke University. He is also a member of the North Carolina Medical Board. Prior to his role with NCDHHS, he served as President of Duke Regional Hospital and President of the North Carolina Medical Society. His work has focused improving access, developing the healthcare workforce, and making care more efficient. Dr. Sangvai is the first Indian American cabinet member to serve under a North Carolina governor.

Dr. Allison Sekuler (FSEP, FPsyS, FAPS) is President and Chief Scientist of the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education (BARE) and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI). She is also the Sandra A. Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and a Professor at the University of Toronto. Her research uses behavioural and neuroimaging methods to study brain function across the lifespan, with a focus on aging, neuroplasticity, and neurotechnology. Dr. Sekuler’s work has advanced understanding of age-related brain change and informed interventions to support cognitive health. She also chairs the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council’s Public Impact Value Proposition Committee and serves on several national boards, advancing innovation, brain health, health systems, and AI through research and cross-sector collaboration.

Krystal Sexton, PhD, is a globally recognized leader helping organizations create cultures that support employee mental, brain, and social health. She brings more than two decades of experience across academia, healthcare and industry, with a career dedicated to advancing mental, physical and brain health at scale.

As Senior Advisor, Workplace Initiatives for Center for BrainHealth, she advises on equipping organizations with science-based tools that optimize workforce performance and resilience. She also serves as Founder and CEO of Cognitive Capital Group; her previous role as Global Health Analytics Manager at Shell plc positioned her at the forefront of integrating brain health into workforce performance strategies across multinational operations.

She has spoken at the UN General Assembly, G7, Davos World Economic Forum, and many international and US-based symposia. She is an author as well as an advisor and board member for scientific non-profit and government organizations.

Dr. Liron Sinvani is a board-certified internist and geriatrician with deep expertise in clinical research, translational science, and aging-related health innovation. She has been at Northwell Health since 2008, when she began her Internal Medicine residency, and currently serves as the Director of Research & Innovation for the Institute for Healthy Aging and the founding Co-Director of the SinMak Lab. She is Professor of Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Sinvani is a nationally recognized “geriatrician-hospitalist,” reflecting her pioneering approach to integrating geriatric principles into acute care medicine. She has built an internationally recognized research program focused on improving care and outcomes for hospitalized older adults, with a particular emphasis on dementia, dysphagia, and delirium. She is the Co-Founder and Director of the Nancy and Neal S. Kaplan Dysphagia Program, which she conceived and developed to translate research discoveries into direct clinical care.

As a principal investigator on six NIH-funded grants and leader of a research portfolio exceeding $25.6 million, Dr. Sinvani is a proven architect of federally funded research programs. She has authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications and is a dedicated mentor, having guided numerous trainees and junior faculty to secure their own independent NIH funding. She was elected as the Program Chair for the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting, a national leadership role shaping the future of geriatric research and education. A passionate advocate for older adults, Dr. Sinvani is a frequent expert voice in national media, with her work and insights featured in over 36 outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN.

Elisabeth Staudinger, MA, has been a Member of the Siemens Healthineers Managing Board since December 2021. She has spent nearly three decades with the company, taking on leadership roles across procurement, strategy, and global business, building a broad, end-to-end perspective on healthcare. Prior to joining the Managing Board, she served as President of Asia Pacific, including Greater China.

Her leadership is driven by a clear belief that digitalization and strong partnerships can make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and available to more people. Today, she is responsible for Global Customer Services, Enterprise Services, External Affairs, Marketing and Customer Excellence, Quality, Technology Centers, in addition to regions Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific Japan, and China.

Having worked extensively across Europe and Asia, Elisabeth brings a global perspective to tackling some of the most pressing healthcare challenges, particularly the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. She is passionate about the role of medical technology, from precision therapies to Healthcare AI, in improving outcomes and reaching patients earlier.

Since January 2024, Elisabeth has been a board member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health, where she works to close the gender health gap and advance more equitable healthcare systems worldwide.

Born in Graz, Austria, Elisabeth studied Economics, Sinology, and History in Vienna, Beijing, and Nanjing, an early experience that shaped her global mindset and continues to influence her leadership today.

Venerable Burin Thitakusalo or Monk Burin is the Executive Director of The Middle Way Institute (MDWI), a New York-based global non-profit educational organization that extracts ancient wisdom from Buddha’s Teachings to create modern solutions for humanity. As a Thai Theravada Buddhist monk, he has been working tirelessly since 2000 to deliver the profound wisdom of Buddha’s Teachings in the most engaging and practical way to people of all ages, races, religions, and no religion. He travels globally to impact hundreds of thousands of practitioners of 36 countries in 6 continents. He teaches business leaders who take executive education courses at Harvard Business School. Young kids in New York who come to learn Buddhism with him, call him “An Orange Man.”

George Vradenburg is Chairman of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, which he co-founded with his late wife, Trish. He was named by U.S. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as a founding member of the Advisory Council on Research, Care, and Services established by the National Alzheimer’s Project Act and has testified before Congress about the global Alzheimer’s pandemic. Under his leadership, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s co-convenes the Leaders Engaged on Alzheimer’s Disease Coalition and the Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease. In 2021, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s launched the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, a global initiative where he serves as Founding Chairman. He is also a founding member of the World Dementia Council. He is a dedicated member of Washington’s civic and philanthropic community, serving as Chairman of the Phillips Collection for 13 years. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Club of Washington, and held various positions at CBS, FOX, and AOL/Time Warner

Hannah Wesolowski leads NAMI National’s Government Relations, Policy & Advocacy team, which develops NAMI’s policy positions, advances NAMI’s federal public policy priorities, and supports the policy work of NAMI’s Alliance at the state and local level. She has been a national leader on topics like building a mental health crisis continuum of care since the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in 2022 and improving access to mental health care. Hannah serves on NAMI’s Executive Team and is a NAMI spokesperson to the media on mental health policy topics, speaking frequently to outlets like NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post, ABC News, and CNN. She serves on the Executive Committee of Friends of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and on the Board of Directors of the Public Affairs Council and the American Brain Coalition. Hannah has been with NAMI since 2017. She earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Administration from New York University.