Guest Speakers

Michael West CBE is a highly influential figure in organisational psychology and healthcare, serving as a Senior Visiting Fellow at The King's Fund and a Professor at Lancaster University, alongside other academic appointments. With a PhD in the psychology of meditation, he has authored over 20 books and more than 200 articles focusing on teamwork, innovation, compassionate leadership, and culture, particularly within healthcare. His expertise is widely recognized, holding fellowships with prestigious bodies like the British Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association, and he is an Honorary Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery.

Michael has played a pivotal role in shaping healthcare policy and practice. He co-chaired a major inquiry into the mental health of doctors for the UK General Medical Council and led a King's Fund review on the well-being of nurses and midwives across the UK, resulting in significant reports. His latest book, "Compassionate Leadership" (2021), underscores his dedication to fostering humane and effective care environments. He actively supports healthcare organizations globally in developing compassionate, high-quality care cultures, a commitment that earned him a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020 for his services to compassion and innovation in healthcare.

Steve MacFeely is the Chief Statistician and Director of the Statistics and Data Directorate at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a position he's held since August 2024. He brings over two decades of international leadership experience in data and official statistics to this role. Before joining the OECD, MacFeely served as the Director of Data and Analytics and Acting Data Protection Officer at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, where he oversaw their global statistical system. His earlier career includes serving as the Director of Statistics at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and holding various senior leadership positions, including Deputy Director-General, at Ireland's Central Statistics Office.

An active and recognized leader in the international statistical community, MacFeely has notably co-chaired the UN Committee of Chief Statisticians and the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities since 2020. He also chairs advisory boards for prominent statistical journals and projects and is an elected member of the International Statistics Institute, alongside his role as an Adjunct Professor at University College Cork, Ireland. Academically, he holds a PhD in Economic Statistics from University College Cork, a Higher Diploma in Statistics from Trinity College Dublin, and a master's in economics from University College Dublin. He is highly regarded for his contributions to developing international statistical standards, data governance, and fostering innovation in official statistics.

• Session Keynote, "Building a Data-Driven Future for Healthcare: A Global Statistical Perspective Thursday, 25 September 2025, 14:00–14:30

Anna Bartlett Avery, Head of Data Sharing and Data Ethics at the Welsh Government, leads efforts to foster ethical data-sharing cultures for improved public services. With extensive experience supporting data sharing during COVID-19 and the Ukraine response, she champions transparency, trust, and compliance with frameworks like the Digital Economy Act and GDPR.

• Session: Fireside Chat Building Trust in Health Data: Compliance, Ethics, and the Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information (WASPI) with David Teague and David Parsons: Friday, 26 September: 14:00 14:30

Lisa Trigg, PhD, Director of Improvement and Development, Social Care Wales

Lisa Trigg leads improvement and development at Social Care Wales. With a PhD from the London School of Economics, where she researched international approaches to long-term care quality and regulation, she brings deep expertise in data-driven policy and practice. Lisa's prior 20-year career in consulting and leadership spanned financial services, IT, telecommunications, media, and healthcare, delivering complex change projects. Her work at Social Care Wales includes a focus on integrating data to enhance care outcomes, making her a vital voice in cross-sector health and social care collaboration.

• Session: Fireside Chat: Cross-Sector Collaboration for Societal Health" Thursday, 25 September: 17:00 - 17:30

Louisa Nolan is Head of Data Science at Public Health Wales, leading innovative data science initiatives to improve public health. With a PhD in astrophysics (University of Edinburgh) and a physics degree (Oxford University), she transitioned from astrophysics research to senior roles in the UK Civil Service and NHS. Previously, Chief Data Scientist at the Office for National Statistics, she drove impactful data science programs. Joining Public Health Wales in 2022, she has contributed to AI and data-driven strategies in health and social care. Renowned for her expertise, she delivers multi-million-pound R&D programs and actionable insights to address public health challenges.

• Session: Lightning talk, "AI and Engagement: Transforming Healthcare Delivery Lightning Talks. 26 September, 10:10 11:00.

João Breda is a distinguished public health expert, currently serving as Head of the WHO Office on Quality of Care and Patient Safety in Athens, Greece, and Special Adviser to the WHO/Europe Regional Director for Subregional Offices. With over a decade at WHO/Europe, Dr Breda previously led the European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in Moscow (2017-2021), earning a 2019 WHO Award of Excellence. He served as Programme Manager for Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (2010-2021), spearheading the European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015-2020 and the Physical Activity Strategy 2016-2025. His leadership in the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) has impacted over 300,000 children across 36 countries.

• Session: Keynote & Panel, "Quality of Care & Patient Safety," Thursday, 25 September 2025, 15:00–16:00

Davide Chiarugi, Director of the Personalized Health Informatics Group at SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, leads efforts in making health data interoperable and shareable via the Swiss Personalized Health Network's Data Coordination Centre and BioMedIT infrastructure. With a PhD in Computer Science and prior roles at the University of Cambridge and Max Planck Institutes, Dr Chiarugi brings extensive expertise in bioinformatics, data management, and translational research for biomarker and drug discovery.

• Sessions: Lightning Talks - SPHN's Approach to Secure Data for Research. Thursday, 25 September 2025, 14:00–14:30
• Fireside Chat: Trusted Research Environments (TREs) Friday, 26 September 11:20 - 11:50 

Andrew Roddam, Chief Strategy Officer at EveryONE Medicines and Chair of SNOMED International's Management Board since October 2024, is a renowned epidemiologist with over 25 years of experience in life sciences. Holding a DPhil in Statistics from the University of Oxford, Dr Roddam has led real-world data and epidemiological initiatives at GSK, Amgen, and Our Future Health, advancing health informatics and precision medicine globally.

• Sessions: Lightning Talks - SNOMED CT for Real-World Data Innovation. Thursday 25 September 14:30 - 15:30
• Fireside Chat: Cross-Sector Collaboration for Societal Health. Thursday 25 September 17:00 - 17:30

David Parsons is the WASPI Code Manager at Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), overseeing the strategic development and operational implementation of the Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information (WASPI). With extensive experience in information governance, he manages a large governance team, serves as a statutory Data Protection Officer for the Welsh Local Government Association and Data Cymru, and provides expert advice to DHCW and health sector stakeholders in Wales.

• Session: Lightning Talk - Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information (WASPI) Thursday, 25 September 2025, 14:30–15:30

David Teague is the Acting Head of Welsh Affairs at the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), based in Cardiff, where he promotes information rights and data privacy. With extensive experience in data protection, he engages with Welsh stakeholders, provides regulatory advice, and supports compliance with data protection laws, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. As Regional Manager for Wales, he has represented the ICO at events like Wales Tech Week, advocating for responsible data use to foster innovation and public trust.

• Sessions: Fireside Chat, "Building Trust in Health Data: A Fireside Chat on Compliance and Data Ethics," with Anna Bartlett Avery and David Parsons, Thursday, 25 September 2025, 14:00–14:30
• Track B: Data Governance and Cybersecurity, "Data Privacy and Security: ICO's Practical Guidance for Health Data," Friday, 26 September 2025, TBC

Guru Kora, CEO and Founder of Times Health, is a healthcare innovator with over 20 years of experience in data analytics and technology. Previously Chief Technology Officer at PYA Analytics and a technical architect at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, he led advancements in computational biology and healthcare solutions. Holding a Master's in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology, Dr. Kora also founded Pluto Health, Inc., focusing on technology-driven health improvements. His expertise drives Times Health's mission to enhance health equity through AI-powered digital tools.

• Session: Lightning talk, "Improving Health Equity with AI-Driven Digital Tools," Thursday, 25 September 2025, 16:00–17:00, Lightning Talks & World Café

Professor Rachel Dunscombe, CEO of openEHR International, is a globally recognised digital health leader with over 30 years of experience. Previously CEO of the NHS Digital Academy (2017-2022), she led the Salford/NCA Group to become the NHS's most digitally mature organisation. A Visiting Professor at Imperial College London, she has advised the UK Secretary of State for Health, served on the UK AI Council, and sits on the Digital Health Society Board. Her work drives interoperable, open-source health data standards for improved patient care.

• Session: Lightning talk, "OpenEHR and AI: Driving Data-Driven Healthcare," Thursday, 25 September 2025, 16:00–17:30, Lightning Talks & World Café

Rebecca Cook, Chief Data Officer at Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), is an accomplished leader with 19 years of experience in digital and data roles within NHS Wales. Joining DHCW in 2005, she has driven transformative change through data, focusing on health and social care innovation. As Head of Information Design and Standards Development, she champions data-driven decision-making and strategic partnerships to enhance healthcare delivery.

• Session: Fireside Chat: Building Trust in Health Data: Compliance, Ethics (moderator)

Emmanuel Bacry, Chief Scientific Officer of the French Health Data Hub since 2019, is a CNRS Research Director at Paris-Dauphine University and a leading AI and data science expert. A graduate of ENS Paris with a PhD in Mathematics, Dr. Emmanuel Bacry led the Big Data & Data Science Initiative at École Polytechnique (2014-2019), creating France's largest AI summer school. His research focuses on applying machine learning to healthcare, notably through the SNDS database, one of the world's largest medico-administrative datasets. Bacry has driven partnerships with CNAM, co-founded the environmental startup namR, and serves on multiple scientific boards, earning recognition for advancing ethical data use and health innovation.

• Session: Keynote "Advancing Health Data Innovation: Lessons from the French Health Data Hub," Thursday 25 September, 12:15 12:45 TBC

Dr. Mirana Randriambelonoro, originally from Madagascar, is a digital health expert at the Geneva Digital Health Hub, specialising in health informatics, AI-driven interventions, and data standards. Holding a Master's in Communication Systems from EPFL and a PhD in Information Systems from the University of Geneva, she has contributed to projects like the iCHECK-DH guidelines for reporting digital health interventions, technology-enabled nutrition assessment tools (e.g., MiranaBot), and gamified rehabilitation for older adults. Her work focuses on trustworthy health data reuse, public health monitoring, and equitable digital solutions, with publications emphasising ethical AI in healthcare and transnational perspectives.

• Session: Empowering Society: Engagement and Policy - Thursday, 25 September 2025, 16:00–17:00, Lightning Talks & World Café

Finn McCartney is the Project Coordinator for the Health Technology Assessment for Patients (HTA4Patients) and Genomic Research and Environment Group (GREG, WP7) projects at the European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI). With a background in patient advocacy and health policy, he drives patient-centred initiatives, enhancing engagement in health technology assessment and genomic research. His work focuses on empowering patients through education and collaboration across medicines, research and development.

• Session: Lightning talk, "Digital Tools for Patient Empowerment" Thursday, 25 September 2025, 16:00–17:00, Lightning Talks & World Café

Ceri Steele is an Executive Group Member at use MY data, advocating for patient-driven data transparency from her perspective as an oesophageal cancer survivor, diagnosed in October 2019. Her work emphasizes empowering patients through transparent and ethical health data use, contributing to policy and public engagement initiatives.

• Sessions: Patient Engagement Strategies for the Secondary Use of Health Data. Pre-summit Tutorials 24 September 14:00 - 17:00
• Lightning Talks: Patient-Driven Data Transparency. Thursday 25 September 16:00 17:00

Chris Carrigan is the Data Adviser at use MY data and part of the Secretariat for use MY data. Chris is a specialist in health data and information, but with a particular focus on patient involvement and patient voice. Chris coordinates and delivers the regular Members Education Sessions, coordinates the responses from Members to large consultations and represents use MY data on key national groups. He provides advice to Members on any data-related matters. Prior to use MY data, Chris was Patient Involvement Lead and Chief Operating Officer for DATA-CAN, Chair of the Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data, and Head of the National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN).

• Sessions: Patient Engagement Strategies for the Secondary Use of Health Data. Pre-summit Tutorials. Wednesday 24 September 14:00 - 17:00
• Lightning Talks: Patient-Driven Data Transparency. Thursday, 25 September 2025 16:00 17:00

Rhodri Griffiths joined Life Sciences Hub Wales as Innovation Adoption Director in September 2020, following a three-year term serving the organisation as a board member. He's held a variety of senior management positions in the commercial, public and voluntary sectors, working with and for healthcare providers, pharma and medtech internationally, delivering public-private partnerships, major transformation programmes and new technology and service adoption programmes

His past roles include Director of the National Botanic Garden of Wales and General Manager of Current BioData, a knowledgebase supplier to global pharma. Rhodri also co-founded Societas Management and was an investor advisor for over a decade, supporting development to exit, managing relationships with co-investors and advising on strategy for a diverse healthcare portfolio, including joint ventures with the NHS.

• Session: Fireside Chat: From Data to Decisions—Building Trust, Impact, and Innovation in Health. Thursday 25 September 9:30 10:15

Adam Whitter-Jones joined Life Sciences Hub Wales in August 2024 working as the Programme Lead for the AI Commission. Adam works with a wide range of stakeholders involved with improving the NHS, implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI). His role includes supporting key stakeholders in the delivery of disparate yet interconnected pieces of work such as skills and training, technical readiness, and governance and policy.

Adam has a background in IT and change management, and holds degrees in Computer Science, Law, and Human Rights. Adam has a diverse background working in the private, public, and third sectors.

• Session: AI and Engagement: Transforming Healthcare Delivery Lightning Talks. Friday, 26 September, 10:10-11:00

Professor Rhidian Hurle, Chief Clinical Information Officer for Wales and Medical Director of Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW), is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board. With an MD from Cardiff University for prostate cancer research and a Master's in Digital Health Leadership (Imperial College London), he champions technology to enhance healthcare quality. A Founding Fellow of the Faculty of Clinical Informatics and Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity St David, he leads digital transformation, including the Welsh Clinical Portal, to improve patient safety and care delivery.

• Session: Opening Remarks: Recap and Forward-Looking Framing. Friday 26 September, 9:00 - 9:10

Tiago Taveira-Gomes, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Sigil Scientific Enterprises, is a pioneer in healthcare technology and AI. With a medical degree and PhD from the University of Porto, plus a Master's in Information Engineering, he specializes in real-world evidence and AI-driven health solutions. A General and Family Medicine specialist and Visiting Professor at the University of Porto, Dr Tiago Taveira-Gomes leads innovative software development for health data analytics, empowering global research and clinical insights.

• Session: Keynote, "Advancing Personalised Healthcare with Real-World Evidence and AI," Friday, 26 September 2025, 09:10–09:30

Osama Elhassan, Ph.D., FIAHSI is Head of the eHealth Section at Dubai Health Authority (DHA), leading the emirate's Health Information Exchange (NABIDH) and digital health regulatory frameworks. As Chairman and Co-Founder of ZIMAM, Dr. Osama Elhassan drives workforce development in digital health across the GCC. With a PhD in Software Engineering from the University of Leicester and an MSc in Advanced Computing from Imperial College, he is a Fellow of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics and Vice President of the UAE Health Informatics Society, advocating for interoperable, patient-centered health systems

• Session: Closing: Panel Global Perspectives in Digital Health. Friday 26 September, 12:10 -12:50

Neal Mullen, Chief Information Security Officer and Senior National Director of Cybersecurity at Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE), leads efforts to safeguard the nation's healthcare infrastructure. With over 25 years of global experience in healthcare, technology, and retail, he previously served as European Head of Cybersecurity at CRH, Head of Cybersecurity at Dunnes Stores, and Group Deputy Director of ICT Operations at St. Vincent's University Hospital. Holding an MSc in Technology and Innovation Management, he is a Certified Cyber Risk Officer and NIST Certified Security Expert, recognized in the Business Continuity Institute Hall of Fame (2019) for resilience contributions.

• Keynote: Fortifying Health Data: Cybersecurity and Governance Lessons from Ireland. Friday 26 September, 11:10-11:40