Speakers

Following her long-standing commitment to evidence-based healthcare, Professor Gillian Leng has taken on the role of President at the Royal Society of Medicine. A clinician by background, she has worked across public health, education, and social care, with deep ties to life sciences, patient organisations, academia, and government. She brings extensive experience chairing national and international boards and is a prominent voice in complex health policy debates.

Eliza Kaplan is an interventional cardiologist and senior clinical researcher at University Hospital Basel — recognized by Newsweek as one of the world’s best hospitals. She co-leads the Women’s Heart Health Program at CRIB, where her work centers on coronary microvascular dysfunction, the brain-heart axis, and advancing care for women. With a PhD from Harvard and clinical training in the Netherlands, she brings a global perspective to cardiovascular innovation.

Christine Meyer-Zürn is an senior cardiologist and professor at University Hospital Basel, named by Newsweek among the world’s leading hospitals. She specializes in non-invasive cardiology and autonomic function, and co-directs the Women’s Heart Health Program at CRIB. A strong advocate for gender-specific cardiac care, she also co-founded the Swiss Women’s Heart Board and supports female leadership in cardiology.

Dr Khan is a health policy and management professional who has held senior board roles in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors over the last 25 years. He is currently Executive Director of Improvement, Transformation and Partnership at the London Regional Office of NHS England. Dr. Khan is also Chair of the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Visiting Professor in Health Management and Policy at KU Leuven, Belgium. He is a regular public speaker, writer on health policy matters and author most recently of Health Management 2.0 (Emerald Publishing).

Jannick Brennum is Director of the Centre
for Cancer and Organ Diseases and Deputy CEO at Rigshospitalet. Experienced in hospital planning, new treatments, and restructuring, with previous roles including Centre Director at the Neuroscience Centre and Lead Consultant in Neurosurgery. Holds an MSc in Medicine (Consultant in Neurosurgery) from the University of Copenhagen and a Master of Health Management from Copenhagen Business School.

Graduated in Italy and Belgium and trained at international level, Ms Ilaria Giannico holds an Advanced Master in Interdisciplinary Analysis of European Construction and a Second level Master Degree in Healthcare Management and Hospital administration. Ms Giannico joined UEHP in July 2016. She is experienced in EU Affairs and EU funding programmes. Her professional background includes the collaboration with the Belgian-Italian Chamber of Commerce and the activity at Confindustria Delegation to the EU, working in close relationship with the EU institutions.

Allison Wagner is the regional leader of Healthcare at HOK’s London studio, part of the global design and architecture firm with a footprint across three continents. With over 20 years of experience in the U.K. and U.S., she brings deep expertise in healthcare design, navigating the evolving landscape of patient care through innovative, human-centred solutions that serve patients, families, staff, and communities alike.

Matthew is a health care redevelopment specialist with twenty years experience delivering healthcare facilities. He is a major projects specialist currently leading the multi-phase Imperial College Healthcare redevelopment programme which includes the new St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington and the development of the Paddington life sciences campus. Previously he was responsible for delivering the new £1.2bn Barts and Royal London Hospital redevelopments and several phases of specialist paediatric and research facilities at Great Ormond Street Hospital, including the multi award winning Zayed Research Centre. Matthew’s experience covers the whole projects process from front end strategy and master planning to operational and clinical commissioning. He is an expert in project delivery and managing multi-professional teams to design and deliver new healthcare infrastructure.

Arthur Stephen is a practising orthopaedic surgeon who is the Chief Medical Officer of Nuffield Health, the UK’s largest healthcare charity. There are 37 hospitals within the group and over 100 fitness and wellbeing centres. Arthur has been a consultant within the NHS for over 20 yrs with over a decade in medical management. He has also been a trustee of the British Orthopaedic Association. He is committed to helping Nuffield Health achieve its ambition of building a healthier nation through connected pathways from patient education initiatives to primary (community) then secondary (hospital) episodes of care.

Jane Ho is Principal and Director for Health at HKS, based in the firm’s London office. She leads with a focus on the integration of concept and function, designing healthcare environments that are flexible, adaptive, and centred on the holistic experience of patients, staff, and visitors.