2026 PQMD Global Health Policy Forum: Full Schedule

Please note: Registration is now closed. Please contact Rylee Shear at [email protected] if you have any questions.

7:59am EDT

DAY 3: GLOBAL HEALTH POLICY FORUM | Resourcing the Future of Global Health

Thursday April 30, 2026 7:59am - 4:00pm EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

Building for durability: what it will take to sustain access through financing, resilience, and delivery in a world of chronic need and recurring shocks.
The final day looks forward, focusing on what it will realistically take to sustain access over time. Discussions will examine how global health efforts can be financed, staffed, and delivered in an environment defined by constrained resources, rising noncommunicable disease burdens, increasing system stress, and prolonged humanitarian and health crises.

Across the day, participants will explore capital flows and financing models, long-term system and workforce capacity, disaster and shock resilience, pandemic preparedness, and the challenge of delivering care in protracted conflict and fragile settings. The emphasis is on readiness and durability: how to build models that hold under pressure and continue to deliver access in the face of recurring shocks.

Thursday April 30, 2026 7:59am - 4:00pm EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

9:00am EDT

PQMD Welcome & Day 3 Kickoff

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:20am EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

This opening session will focus on the resources required to sustain progress in global health.

Speakers

EJ Ashbourne

Executive Director, PQMD

As Executive Director of PQMD, Elizabeth (EJ) Ashbourne is responsible for furthering PQMD’s commitment to championing and advancing standards in medical supply and service donations by developing the vision, strategy, and execution of the organizations five pillars of work.

Prior to joining PQMD, EJ was most recently the Managing Partner for EJA Consulting, a small private firm specializing in strategic planning, fundraising, international development and joint venture support, mission driven event management, and all aspects of non-profit turn-around... Read More →

Julie Jenson

Director, International Product Donations, Global Health & Social Impact, Pfizer

Julie Jenson is a Director on Pfizer’s Global Health & Social Impact team, where she leads the company’s strategy for international medicine and vaccine donations. In addition to donations, she partners with NGO’s and global health stakeholders to improve health care delivery... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:20am EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

9:20am EDT

Keynote: The Global Health Outlook - Data-Driven Insights on Future Needs

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:20am - 9:40am EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

Reliable data helps governments and partners anticipate where health needs are growing and where resources must be directed. This session presents insights into global health spending, trends, and what the data suggests about future priorities for investment.

Speakers

Dr. Joseph Dieleman

Professor, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

Joseph Dieleman, PhD, is Professor of Health Metric Sciences at the University of Washington, Seattle. He also leads the Resource Tracking research team at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). This team has completed research focused on estimating healthcare spending... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:20am - 9:40am EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

9:40am EDT

Unlocking the Capital Chain: Access, Obstacles & Opportunity in Global Health Finance

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:40am - 10:40am EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

As global health needs expand, traditional funding sources are under increasing strain while expectations for measurable results continue to grow. This session explores how capital currently moves through the global health ecosystem and where bottlenecks limit scale and impact. Speakers will examine emerging financing models, new revenue streams, and the partnerships required to mobilize capital more effectively for the next generation of health challenges.

Chairs

Karen Wilson

Founder & CEO, GV Partners

Karen is the Founder of GV Partners, working with companies and investors on sustainability and impact strategies. She bridges the private, public and academic sectors, working on sustainable finance, ESG, impact investment and impact measurement. She currently serves on the Pictet... Read More →

Speakers

Michael Anderson

CEO, MedAccess

Michael Anderson, CB is CEO of MedAccess, a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to improving access to essential health products and medical innovations. Drawing on $200m capital provided by British International Investment, MedAccess has used innovative finance to improve access... Read More →

Augustin Flory

Managing Director Innovative Partnerships and Development Finance, Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance

Augustin Flory is the Managing Director of Innovative Partnerships and Development Finance at Gavi, where he leads the organization’s work in development finance, innovative financing—including the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm)—private sector partnerships... Read More →

Maraki Fikre Merid

Vice President, East Africa and Middle East, Anadach Group

Maraki is an accomplished health strategist, global health expert, and business entrepreneur, bringing over two decades of experience across North America, the Middle East, and Africa. As Vice President for East Africa and the Middle East at Anadach Group, she brings a unique set... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 9:40am - 10:40am EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

11:00am EDT

NCDs: Building the Resources to Sustain Long-Term Health

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:55am EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

This session is designed to examine how countries and partners can build the financial, institutional, and delivery capacity required to respond to NCDs over the long term, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It will explore how prevention, treatment, and chronic care models must evolve; what this shift means for health financing and workforce capacity; and how cross-sector partnerships can support more resilient systems.

Chairs

Dr. Jeffrey Sturchio

Chairman, Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, TB, and Malaria

Jeffrey L. Sturchio is chairman of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, TB, and Malaria and chairman of the International Society for Urban Health. He is also the former chairman and CEO of Rabin Martin, a global health strategy consulting firm, and former President and CEO of... Read More →

Speakers

Katie Dain

Chief Executive Officer, NCD Alliance

Katie Dain is Chief Executive Officer of NCD Alliance, a global network of civil society organisations dedicated to transforming the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Katie has worked with NCD Alliance since its founding in 2009 and is widely recognised as a leading... Read More →

Jon Hicks

Global Health Director, Access to Healthcare, Amgen

Jon Hicks is Global Health Director, Access to Healthcare at Amgen, where he leads efforts to expand access to medicines and strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. He focuses on how global health strategies are translated into real-world access, shaping scalable... Read More →

Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet

President & CEO, Vital Strategies

Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet is a recognized leader in global health and health equity. Currently, she serves as the President and CEO of Vital Strategies where she leads a team of over 400 individuals working in 80+ countries to ensure that everyone, everywhere, is protected by equitable... Read More →

Dr. Joseph Lubega

Director, Global Hematology-Oncology Pediatric Excellence (HOPE), Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center

Dr. Joseph Lubega is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital, and Director of Texas Children’s Hospital’s Global HOPE Program.With Texas Children’s Hospital’s Global HOPE Program, he led... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:00am - 11:55am EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

11:55am EDT

The Disasters Ahead: Systems Under Stress

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:55am - 12:45pm EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

Disasters are becoming more frequent, more complex, and increasingly intertwined with long-term system fragility, placing sustained pressure on health systems worldwide. This forward-looking discussion explores how systems are preparing for overlapping crises and how they can better absorb shocks and recover faster. Speakers will examine how financing, workforce capacity, supply chains, and system design are evolving to sustain access to care amid repeated disruption.

Chairs

Julie Jenson

Director, International Product Donations, Global Health & Social Impact, Pfizer

Speakers

Aurelien Hubert

Head of Humanitarian Aid and Medicine Donation, Foundation S - The Sanofi Collective

Aurelien Hubert is the Head of Emergency Response and Medicine Donation at Foundation S – The Sanofi Collective. With a background in Internal Audit and M&A notably at IBM, Aurelien joined Sanofi, where he held various finance roles in R&D, culminating as the CMC CFO. He holds degrees... Read More →

Rebecca Milner

Chief Advancement Officer, International Medical Corps

Rebecca Milner, Chief Advancement Officer, mobilizes partnerships, resources and awareness in support of International Medical Corps programs that some 20 million people a year globally. A preeminent First Responder, International Medical Corps provides lifesaving healthcare and... Read More →

Dr. Ciro Ugarte

Director, Health Emergencies, Pan American Health Organization

Works to increase the health sector resilience to emergencies and disasters. Our priority is to deliver rapid, predictable, and comprehensive support to Member States in terms of prevention, risk reduction, preparedness, surveillance, response, and early recovery in case of any threat... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:55am - 12:45pm EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

2:15pm EDT

Anticipating the Next Threat: AI, Viral Evolution, and the Future of Pandemic Preparedness

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:15pm - 2:35pm EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

Predictive science is reshaping preparedness, from tools that anticipate viral evolution to the application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and climate data to forecast risk. The discussion will examine how emerging technologies can move us from reactive containment to proactive readiness. It will also consider the evolving investment landscape, and what it will take to design scalable platforms capable of responding to future shocks.

Chairs

Mark Chataway

Managing Partner, FINN Partners

Mark Chataway is an expert in policy analysis and development, opinion research and communications. Mark’s work includes access in Europe and the global South, sustainability, reputation and issues management. Mark has worked for governments such as the European Commission, Switzerland... Read More →

Speakers

Craig Williams

CEO-Partner; CEO, Flagship Pioneering; Apriori Bio

Craig Williams joined Flagship Pioneering in 2023 as Operating Partner and CEO and President of Apriori Bio. Apriori Bio is a leading health security company with a mission to provide humanity with variant-proof protection against rapidly-evolving viruses.

Prior to Flagship, Craig spent more than two decades at GSK and ViiV Healthcare. During his time at GSK, Craig was charged with developing business strategies, managing operations and driving sales for vaccines and therapeutics globally, helping to launch over 15 vaccines and medicines

... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:15pm - 2:35pm EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

2:35pm EDT

Delivering Healthcare in Protracted Crisis and Conflicts

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

Millions of people now live in settings affected by prolonged conflict and instability. This panel will focus on the realities of sustaining health services in fragile and conflict-affected settings, where crises present large-scale challenges and traditional models of financing, coordination, and delivery are under strain.

Chairs

Rajni Samavedam

Managing Partner & CEO, Rabin Martin

Rajni is an experienced and strategic leader with consulting depth and business acumen working in public health and life sciences. She is currently the Managing Partner and CEO for Rabin Martin a health consulting firm that works globally. She oversees all global client relationships... Read More →

Speakers

Dr. Firass Abiad (VIRTUAL SPEAKER)

Former Minister of Health, Republic of Lebanon

Firass Abiad is the former Minister of Public Health of Lebanon, from September 2021 to February 2025. Prior, he was the chairman of the board and general manager of the Rafik Hariri University Hospital, the largest public hospital in Lebanon. During his tenure, he led the efforts... Read More →

Sean Carroll

President & CEO, Anera

Sean Carroll is Anera’s president and chief executive officer. Sean oversees a wide range of programs that reach refugees and vulnerable families in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan, from educating out-of-school Syrian youth and bringing water to under-served communities... Read More →

Dr. Jessica Flannery

Health Specialist, The World Bank Health Directorate

Dr. Jessica Flannery is a Health Specialist at the World Bank's Health Directorate, where she works on health systems resilience and strengthening, with a focus on fragile, conflict, and violence-affected settings. Her career — spanning over eighteen years across the World Bank... Read More →

Chris Skopec

President, Project Hope

Chris Skopec is the President of Project HOPE. He provides executive oversight across Project HOPE and helps steer Project HOPE as it scales its impact, deepens partnerships, and advances its mission to place power in the hands of local health care workers. Chris also serves as... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:35pm - 3:25pm EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

3:25pm EDT

Global Health Diplomacy in a New Era: Preparing Leaders for a Changing World

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:25pm - 3:45pm EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

Global health leaders increasingly operate in a complex diplomatic environment shaped by competing interests and shifting alliances. This session reflects on the skills and strategies needed to navigate these dynamics while maintaining cooperation around shared health priorities.

Chairs

Dr. Verónica M. Arroyave

Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Global Philanthropy; Executive Director, Baxter Healthcare; Baxter Foundation

Speakers

Jimmy Kolker

Ambassador [retired]

Jimmy Kolker is a Global Health Diplomat and retired U.S. Ambassador. Ambassador Kolker served as Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 2014-17. In this role, he was the Department’s chief health diplomat, representing the... Read More →

Stewart Simonson

Senior Advisor, Global Health Strategies

Stewart Simonson is a senior adviser with Global Health Strategies in New York City. From 2019 until 2024, he was the World Health Organization (WHO) representative at the United Nations. Previously, Simonson was assistant director-general for general management at WHO Headquarters... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:25pm - 3:45pm EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

3:45pm EDT

Ensuring Access: Aligning for What Comes Next

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

The Forum concludes with reflections on the week’s discussions and the partnerships needed to sustain progress and ensure continued access to care worldwide.

Speakers

EJ Ashbourne

Executive Director, PQMD

Dr. Verónica M. Arroyave

Vice President, Corporate Responsibility and Global Philanthropy; Executive Director, Baxter Healthcare; Baxter Foundation

Mark Chataway

Managing Partner, FINN Partners

Dr. Jeffrey Sturchio

Chairman, Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, TB, and Malaria

Erica Tavares

Sr. Director, US Programs & Advancement, International Medical Corps

Sr. Director, US Programs & Advancement, IMC
Vice Chair, PQMD

A dynamic and politically savvy fundraising professional, Erica Tavares leads partnership development and private fundraising efforts at International Medical Corps, a global humanitarian organization that has delivered more than $2.2 billion in health care services over 30 years... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:00pm EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

4:00pm EDT

End of Day 3

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

The Bryant | Well& by Durst @ 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, USA

Thursday April 30, 2026 4:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
The Bryant | Well& by Durst

DAY 3

7:59am EDT

9:00am EDT

9:20am EDT

9:40am EDT

11:00am EDT

11:55am EDT

2:15pm EDT

2:35pm EDT

3:25pm EDT

3:45pm EDT

4:00pm EDT

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