Meet the Speakers

Meaningful Conversations Beyond the Stage
Get ready to connect, converse, and be inspired.

The Meet the Speakers sessions offer a unique and energizing space for Congress attendees to go beyond the auditorium and engage directly with the influential voices shaping the future of nursing and global health. Designed as intimate, informal dialogues, these sessions provide an opportunity to interact face-to-face with thought leaders from the main and plenary sessions — asking questions, exploring ideas, and gaining deeper insights into their journeys and expertise.

Held daily during the lunch break, each session is carefully themed to spotlight leadership, innovation, and storytelling in healthcare.

Join us in the Sade Room and take part in these enriching conversations that celebrate the power of connection, curiosity, and collective learning.

Tuesday, 10 June 1315 – 1415hrs
Room: Sade
Speaker: Helen Clark

Meet the speakers 1: Leadership Perspectives: Informal Conversations with Global Health Visionaries

Join us for Leadership Perspectives: Informal Conversations with Global Health Visionaries, where Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand will engage in candid, informal discussions. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to hear from this influential figure about their experiences, insights, and visions for the future of global health, mental health policy, and leadership in healthcare systems.

Wednesday, 11 June 1315 – 1415hrs
Room:  Sade
Speakers: Ai Tanimizu, Maggie Langins, Carey McCarthy

Meet the speakers 2: Global Nursing Leadership in Action: A Dialogue with WHO Experts

Join us for an exclusive “Meet the Speakers” session featuring key nursing and health system leaders from the World Health Organization. This engaging session offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from Ai Tanimizu (WHO SEARO), Margrieta Langins (WHO EURO), Carey McCarthy. Together, they will share insights into WHO’s strategic directions for nursing and midwifery, global health systems, workforce policy, and the future of healthcare leadership. Participants will have the chance to interact, ask questions, and explore how international collaboration can strengthen nursing globally. Don’t miss this dynamic exchange with the voices shaping the future of health.

Thursday, 12 June 1315 – 1415hrs
Room:  Sade
Speaker: Carolyn Jones

Meet the speakers 3: Capturing Nursing’s Heart – A Conversation with Film Director Carolyn Jones

Join us for an intimate one-on-one interview with Carolyn Jones, the acclaimed film director behind American Nurses, Defining Hope, America Delivers, and other impactful documentaries highlighting the vital work of nurses. In this relaxed and engaging couch session, Carolyn will share insights into her journey of documenting the nursing profession through photos and films. The session will explore the powerful stories she’s captured, the challenges and triumphs of nurses she’s encountered, and the personal experiences that shaped her passion for telling these stories. Through visual storytelling, Carolyn will offer a unique perspective on the profound impact of nursing on healthcare systems and the individuals they care for. This session is an opportunity to gain deeper appreciation for the transformative power of nursing through the lens of one of the profession’s most influential filmmakers.

Friday, 13 June 1315 – 1415hrs
Room:  Sade
Speakers: Rola Hallam, Beverly Malone, Neelam Dhingra

Meet the speakers 4: Voices of Impact: Health, Equity and Leadership

This “Meet the Speakers” symposium brings together three extraordinary leaders whose work spans clinical care, humanitarian action, and global health systems transformation. Dr. Rola Hallam, a British-Syrian consultant anaesthetist and founder of CanDo, shares her frontline experiences in conflict zones and her vision for locally-led humanitarian health responses.  Beverly Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing and a global nursing policy leader, reflects on advancing nursing education and equity across borders. This interactive dialogue will inspire and inform participants on the power of nursing leadership to influence health outcomes worldwide.