Network Event

Global Health Connector Digital Summit 2025

Start: 18 November 2025

End: 19 November 2025

Location: Virtual

The wait is over — the Digital Health Society Summit is back!

But this year, it comes with a fresh new name: Global Health Connector Digital Summit 2025.

Why the name change?

Because we have evolved, and have a renewed identity! ECHAlliance is now officially Global Health Connector, reflecting the truly global nature of our work and community.

Historically, the Digital Health Society (DHS) was the data and digital arm of ECHAlliance. With our rebranding, we are also renaming the summit to better represent this exciting new chapter.

The Global Health Connector Digital Summit will take place on 18-19 November 2025 virtually!

Global Health Connector Digital Summit: From promise to impact with Data and AI for inclusive, resilient and sustainable care

Amid ongoing financial, political and geopolitical pressures on global healthcare, the Summit will highlight the many opportunities that exist in healthcare. Content will include :

Day 1 - Intelligence in Action: Proven Solutions Driving Transformation in Health Systems

Transforming cancer care with data
Global implications as the European Health Data Space moves to implementation
Healthcare connectivity & intelligence: 5G private networks in action
Innovation Procurement in Healthcare

Day 2 - Driving Innovation through Global Convergence

Women's Health
Africa Rising
From data to decisions: how digital tools empower citizens
Skills for a digital health future: building capacity for transformation
Health AI: regulation and capacity-building for responsible use

This unites our work in Europe with our work with the Global Health Connector Partnership in Africa, India, the Americas and Asia, and builds on our global audience of over 1,300 registrations from 112 countries in 2024.

Check the 2024 edition HERE

Agenda

Intelligence in Action: Proven Solutions Driving Transformation in Health Systems

10h00 - 10h15 CET

Welcome & Introduction

Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Karolina Mackiewicz - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector

10h00 - 10h15 CET

10h15 - 11h15 CET

Transforming Cancer Care with AI and Data (Co-hosted by All.Can)

How can AI and data improve cancer outcomes across the entire pathway — from prevention and early detection to treatment and survivorship? This session brings together leaders shaping the next generation of cancer care.

Speakers:

Eduardo Pisani (Moderator) - CEO, All.Can International asbl
Eric Sutherland - Senior Health Economist, OECD
Franziska Ivens - Senior Entrepeneur in Residence, DeepTech Startups@ Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute HHI
Benson Chuma - Co-Founder and CEO Africa, Tech Care For All (TC4A)
Mark Lawler - Professor of Digital Health/Chair, Queen's University Belfast/International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership

10h15 - 11h15 CET

11h20 - 12h20 CET

Implementing the European Health Data Space (EHDS): Global Implications

The session will examine the impact of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) on healthcare delivery, research, and international collaboration - both within and beyond the EU. It will explore how the EHDS can promote trusted data sharing, strengthen interoperability, and inspire collaboration with regions such as Africa, where similar initiatives are emerging to support global digital health transformation.

Speakers:

Karolina Mackiewicz (Moderator) - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector
Jean Philbert Nsengimana - Chief Digital Advisor, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
Jerome De Barros - Policy Officer, DG Sante, European Commission
Steven Swanyee - President, Pan African Health Informatics Association
Henrique Martins - Associate Professor/Coordinator, ISCTE, XiA Project

11h20 - 12h20 CET

12h25 - 13h25 CET

Healthcare Connectivity & Intelligence — 5G and Private Networks in Action

Learn about the innovation in connectivity for hospitals and other clinical facilities and the range of possible benefits. Take a glimpse of the practical examples of the technologies and health use cases.

Speakers:

Bleddyn Rees (Moderator) - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Dr. Yujia Gao - Assistant Group Chief Technology Officer, National University Health System
Andrew Bell - Director of Programme Delivery, GSMA
Norman Fekrat - Managing Partner, Imagine Wireless

12h25 - 13h25 CET

13h25 - 14h10 CET

Lunch Break

13h25 - 14h10 CET

14h15- 14:45 CET

Driving Innovation through Public Procurement in Healthcare

This session explores how public procurement can drive innovation in healthcare, introducing key models and showcasing opportunities for SMEs, startups, and healthcare providers through the InnoHSupport project. Participants will also learn about communities such as the Healthcare Buyers Community and AGORA, which connect stakeholders and foster collaboration across the innovation ecosystem.

Speakers:

Karolina Mackiewicz (Moderator) - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector
Jorge González - Director, Ticbiomed
Natalia Norambuena - Senior Management Consultant BPS
Mojca Lesjak - Project and Community Manager, HealthProcEurope

14h15- 14:45 CET

14h50 - 15:20 CET

Healthy Aging: Turning Demographic Shifts into Opportunity

Older adults are often portrayed as dependents whose care drains public resources. But this narrative overlooks their value. With longer lives come greater opportunities for intergenerational mentorship, workforce contributions, volunteering, and consumer engagement. What limits these opportunities are not age itself but the barriers: health, mobility, financial, or social, that prevent older adults from thriving.

Bleddyn Rees (Presenter) - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Jon Warner - CEO, CareAxis

14h50 - 15:20 CET

15h20 - 15h35 CET

Closing and Wrap up

Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Karolina Mackiewicz - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector

15h20 - 15h35 CET

Driving Innovation through Global Convergence

10h00 - 10h15 CET

Welcome & Introduction

Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Karolina Mackiewicz - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector

10h00 - 10h15 CET

10h15 - 10h45 CET

Convergence – AIM4ALL / Remedium: Robust Real-World Data & Structured Reimbursement

Convergence is connecting the economy, finance, health and science. This session will give a practical example for drug development finance and CollaborAction between health systems, manufacturers and funders.

Speakers:

David Hawkins - Co-Founder, AIM4ALL

10h15 - 10h45 CET

10h50 - 11h20 CET

Women's Health - Our Global Focus

Women’s healthcare is a scandal. Women’s health must have a greater priority. Learn about what the Global Health Connector is doing to facilitate global change with a range of our partners and CollaborAction.

Speakers:

Bleddyn Rees (Moderator) - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Esther Ruiter - Head of Growth and Strategy, Africa Health Business
Lynne Van Poelgeest-Pomfret - President, WFIPP

10h50 - 11h20 CET

11h25 - 12h25 CET

From Data to Decisions: Empowering Citizens and Health Workers with Digital Tools

This session will showcase leading European projects that demonstrate how digital innovations can both empower citizens and support healthcare professionals. They enable people to make more informed choices – from understanding medicine information (Gravitate-Health), to personalising adherence support (BEAMER), to controlling the flow of their health data (xShare), to advancing personalised cancer care through prevention and early detection (4P-CAN) – while also helping healthcare workers strengthen their wellbeing and resilience through co-created solutions (KEEPCARING).

Speakers:

Karolina Mackiewicz (Moderator) - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector
Anne Moen - Professor and Coordinator, University Oslo, Gravitate-Health Project
Claire Everitt - Patient Medicine Experience Specialist, Pfizer
Catherine Chronaki - Secretary General, HL7 Europe
Sophie Vermeulen - PhD Candidate, Amsterdam MC, KEEPCARING project
Marius Gaenta - Co-Founder and President, Center for Innovation in Medicine (Inomed)

11h25 - 12h25 CET

12h30 - 13h30 CET

Skills for a Digital Health Future: Building Capacity for Transformation

Digital transformation in health isn’t just about technology – it’s about people who know how to use it well. This session explores how we can build the right skills, mindsets, and education systems to support a future-ready health workforce, showcasing initiatives such as BeWell, EUVECA, XiA, and Health2Innovation.

Speakers:

Karolina Mackiewicz (Moderator) - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector
Federica Margheri - Executive Director, EHMA, BeWell project
Henriette Hansen - EU Consultant and Project Manager, South Denmark European Office, EUVECA Project
Henrique Martins - Associate Professor/Coordinator, ISCTE, XiA Project
Arminda Paço - Professor and researcher, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Beira Interior

12h30 - 13h30 CET

13h30 - 14h15 CET

Lunch Break

13h30 - 14h15 CET

14h15 - 15h15 CET

Health AI Regulation and Capacity Building

The development is a fast as it is frightening to some. This panel will explore a range of practical challenges including data access, bias, health and AI literacy and the interaction between medical device and AI regulation.

Speakers:

Eric Thraikill (Moderator) - US Director, Global Health Connector
Paul Campbell - Chief Regulatory Officer, HealthAI
Ain Aaviksoo - Head of Development, Partner, HeBA Clinic
William Flanagan - Owner, Open Sky

14h15 - 15h15 CET

15h20 - 15h50 CET

Africa Rising: Shaping Global Health and Innovation

This session will explore how Africa is accelerating digital health transformation and shaping global innovation agendas - through collaboration, local leadership, and ecosystem thinking.

Speakers:

Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Karolina Mackiewicz - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector
Dr. Francis Ohanyido - Director-General, West African Institute of Public Health (WAIPH)
Ota Akhigbe - Director, Partnerships and Programs, eHealth Africa
Olutola Vivian Adewumi - Lead Program Manager, Africa Digital Health Networks, Digital Health Africa
Francie Sadeski - Partner, Lead consultant in Emerging Markets (Mena, Africa, Asia), Technopolis Group

15h20 - 15h50 CET

15h55 - 16h25 CET

Fireside Chat Opportunities to work with the Global Health Connector in 2026

Learn about the changes in 2025 at the Global Health Connector and the new opportunities to work and innovate with us as well as opportunities to partner across our network to access funding and other resources

Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Karolina Mackiewicz - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector

15h55 - 16h25 CET

16h25 - 16h40 CET

Closing and Wrap Up

Bleddyn Rees - Deputy Chair, Global Health Connector
Karolina Mackiewicz - Innovations Director, Global Health Connector

16h25 - 16h40 CET

Day 3

Thursday, August 31, 2020

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Thursday, August 31, 2020

Speakers