Speakers

As Head of Connected Care for Western Europe at Baxter International Inc., Vanessa Counaert is leading the charge in digital healthcare transformation. With over 20 years of experience across global markets, she drives innovation in smart medical device connectivity and digital health platforms. Vanessa combines deep business insight—holding an MBA from Solvay and a Master’s in Business Design from Domus Academy—with a passion for strategic partnerships that shape the future of care.

Andrew Davies leads efforts to ensure the UK maximises health and economic benefits through data-driven healthcare. He focuses on leveraging the NHS's unique data assets within a strong ethical and regulatory framework to support HealthTech innovation and adoption. With over 25 years in the MedTech sector, Andrew has held senior roles in marketing, market access, and business development at companies including Thorn EMI, Philips, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He holds a degree in Applied Physics and a postgraduate diploma in Marketing.

Dr. Rishi Das-Gupta is Chief Executive of the Health Innovation Network (HIN) South London. With over 20 years’ experience in UK and US healthcare, he has led major initiatives to improve patient outcomes, service design, and digital transformation. A former NHS executive, Rishi has held roles as CITO, Director of Innovation, and Director of Operations, and previously worked as a medical doctor and strategy consultant at McKinsey and Oliver Wyman. He is a Sciana fellow, collaborating with healthcare leaders across Europe, and holds degrees in medicine, law (University of Cambridge), and an MBA (London Business School).

Mindy is Co-Director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA), overseeing programme delivery and providing strategic guidance to innovators. She joined UCLPartners in 2013 and became part of the NIA team in 2017. Mindy has held senior leadership and operational roles across healthcare and higher education. Her expertise includes board-level governance, executive support, operational efficiency, infrastructure development, and cross-sector collaboration. Mindy is passionate about breaking down barriers to health innovation and helping innovators address challenges facing the NHS, patients, and the wider care system.

Dominique is an award-winning medical leader and has worked in clinical leadership, management, advisory, and delivery roles for the past 20 years, driving change across health and care. She has also held board roles in NHS and non-profit organisations. Recently described as a ‘Public Health Dynamo,’ she has received numerous awards and accolades, including ‘Most Innovative Chief Medical Officer to Follow 2023,’ ‘Woman of the Year 2024,’ and a Commanding Officer's Medal for her work at Nightingale Hospital during the pandemic.

Laura Carrara-Cagni, RIBA, is Director of Cagni Williams Associates, a practice specialising in sustainable healthcare design, and co-founder of Cagni Williams Energy, a consultancy delivering Net Zero strategies for healthcare estates. With over 30 years of experience, she has led numerous projects across civic, cultural, educational, and residential sectors, integrating energy-efficient strategies to achieve Net Zero Carbon (NZC) goals. Laura is committed to advancing sustainability in the built environment, notably through innovative solutions in healthcare, such as the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and La Spezia Hospital in Italy. She is a passionate advocate for reducing carbon emissions in architecture and serves as Co-Chair of the Urban Land Institute Europe - Life Science and Healthcare Product Council. Laura also contributes to the industry through speaking engagements, writing, and serving as a juror for architectural and art awards. Her expertise in carbon reduction and energy efficiency continues to shape her approach to creating sustainable, future-proof healthcare spaces globally.

An accomplished NHS leader with over 30 years of experience, Jayne has held a wide range of roles across the health service, from clinical positions to senior leadership, including Director of Operations. Currently serving as Director of Commissioning and Equipping for the Midland Met project, Jayne leads a team of ten senior commissioners and support staff, overseeing the equipping, activation, and relocation of services from City and Sandwell Hospitals to the new Midland Met. In recognition of this work, she received the Outstanding Contribution to Midland Met award at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust’s 2025 Star Awards.

Catsou Roberts is Director of Vital Arts at Barts Health, which she joined in 2009. She brings decades of experience as an art professional, championing higher standards in Arts and Health through publishing and lecturing for cultural and clinical audiences. She has presented at institutions including Tate, the Venice Biennial of Architecture, the European Medicines Agency, and the National Gallery, and serves as Patient Experience judge for the Building Better Healthcare Awards. Formerly Senior Curator at Arnolfini, Bristol, she has curated internationally and advised organisations such as Maggie’s, Culture Mile BID, and Tate Exchange.

Marco works on healthcare services strategy and transactions across Europe. Prior to Candesic, Marco was the CEO of les Chirurgiens-Dentistes de France “Les CDF”, the largest medical professional association in France. Marco holds a Ph.D. in Health Policy & Health Economics from King’s College London and an MBA from INSEAD. He speaks fluent French and English.

Following her position as member (since 2017), Bertine Lahuis (1967) has taken on the role of Chair of Radboundumc's Executive Board as of January 2020. Radboudumc is one of the World's Best Hospitals in 2024 - Newsweek's ranking of the World's Best Hospitals -, a university medical center for patient care, research, and education, located in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Radboudumc wants to be at the forefront in shaping health and healthcare of the future. Prior to that, she was a director and child psychologist at the Karakter children’s psychiatric hospital. She completed her studies in Medicine in Utrecht, specializing in child psychology and focusing on autism during her PhD. Until 2009, she worked at University Medical Center Utrecht.