The Future of Healthcare Meetings 2026

Moderator

Katrina Sichel

Managing Director, Wit and Word Communications SRL

Experienced moderator and communications expert with over 25 years of experience. Known for her rigour, humour and dynamic style, she combines journalistic insight with engaging facilitation to create inclusive, impactful discussions. Having worked across media, public affairs and strategic communications, she has moderated high-level European policy events featuring heads of state, ministers, MEPs and industry leaders. Clients consistently re-engage her for her ability to lead balanced, engaging debates and ensure all voices are heard.

Speakers

Aahuti Rai

Head of Innovation and Digital at Four Points Consulting, Managing Director of Heal Access Europe

Healthcare ecosystem builder holding various roles in relation to healthcare innovation. With more than 20 years of innovation experience across 14 industries, she works across medical societies, startups, investors and providers to support the responsible adoption of digital health and AI. She holds a number of roles including Managing Director of Heal Access UK/Europe; Founder of the Mental Health Innovation Network UK; Venture Partner with Conduit Connect, Advisor/NED to several early stage companies and VC firms; and Chair of Mind’s Digital & AI Commission. 
All of Aahuti’s work focusses on bringing the right people together to accelerate innovation while keeping equity, safety and clinical value at the centre.

Antony Jean-Mertens

Executive Manager of ECTRIMS 

Head of Association Management and Executive Manager of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) at Congrex Switzerland. Based in Basel, Switzerland, he leads the strategic and operational management of ECTRIMS, supporting its mission to advance research, education, and collaboration in the field of multiple sclerosis.
With an extensive background in association management, business development, and international scientific meetings, Antony has held senior leadership roles within the congress and events industry across Europe. He is dedicated to strengthening scientific communities, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainable growth for professional medical associations

Aria Papanikolaou

Ambassador of EKKOMED – the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center for the arts and for people with neurodiversity.

She was born on May 11, 2006. She was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and a half, but this has never prevented her from pursuing her dreams of becoming a voice actress, actress, and animator.
Aria is a high school graduate and is currently studying Animation. She attended a British school for eight years, from Year 4 through Year 11. Alongside her academic studies, she trained in vocal performance, dubbing, and musical theatre, developing her passion for the performing arts.
She has a strong interest in languages and is fluent in English and Greek, while also speaking Spanish and Japanese.
Aria serves as an ambassador for the programs of the non-profit organization Together for Autism, founded by her father. Through this role, she actively advocates for greater awareness, acceptance, and inclusion of autistic individuals.
She has performed at the Athens International Children's Film Festival in both 2024 and 2025, giving live performances at Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall. Her acting experience includes working as an extra in the Disney film Rise, based on the life of Giannis Antetokounmpo, as well as in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey and The Riders, starring Brad Pitt. As a voice actress, Aria has contributed to Disney productions, including Lilo & Stitch and Zootopia 2.
She is also an ambassador for EKKOMED – the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center, promoting the arts and advocating for opportunities and inclusion for neurodiverse individuals within the creative industries.
Over the past several years, Aria has worked alongside her father, delivering presentations and participating in events across Greece and internationally. Together, they raise awareness about autism, promote acceptance and inclusion, and inspire others to find strength and resilience when facing life's challenges. Aria is also the author of the bestselling book «Με λένε Άρια» (My Name is Aria), which was recognized as Best Children's Book by Public Bookshops in Greece.

Carina Schmidt

Head of Events and Operations at European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)

She oversees the strategic planning and delivery of large-scale international congresses, summits and educational initiatives. She brings extensive experience in association and congress management, with previous roles at a Professional Congress Organiser (K.I.T.) and within the trade fair industry.
In her current role, she focuses on operational strategy, programme delivery and collaboration with scientific leadership to support high-quality educational events for the global liver community.

Dimitrios Athanasiou

PDCO Member, Patient Representative Eurordis European Medicines Agency

Holds a BA in Business Administration and an MBA in Financial Management. With more than 25 years of international business experience, he became a leading patient advocate after his son was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

He is Chair of Rare Diseases Greece, a founding member of the Greek Patients Association 95 Rare Alliance Greece, and has held leadership roles in several international patient organizations, including the European Patient Forum (EPF), the World Duchenne Organization (WDO), and EURORDIS. Since 2014, he has served as a patient expert for the European Medicines Agency (EMA), contributing to regulatory and scientific discussions on rare diseases and patient access to innovative therapies.

Dimitris Papanikolaou

Former International Basketball Player

Former international basketball player, he enjoyed an outstanding career at both youth and senior levels, achieving some of the highest honors in the sport.

His accomplishments include winning the World Championship, European Championship, and Mediterranean Championship with the national youth team, as well as becoming a two-time European Champion, two-time Olympic Champion, and two-time Triple Crown winner at the senior level. He also won six Greek Championships and five Greek Cups throughout his career.

Individually, he was named Most Valuable Player of the European Youth Championship, selected among the Top Five Players at the World Youth Championship, and recognized as Best Young Player in Greece.

Following his retirement from professional basketball, he was honored by the Panhellenic Sports Press Association in recognition of his ethics, sportsmanship, and outstanding contribution to Greek sport.

In recent years, his dedication to social advocacy has earned him significant recognition. In 2022, he received the "Adult Who Inspires Children" award from the non-profit organization The Smile of the Child. In 2023, he was recognized as an Inspirational Greek Man by the leading sports media outlet Gazzetta during a ceremony held at the Athens Concert Hall. In 2024, he was honored in Cyprus, under the auspices of the President of the Republic, with the prestigious "Greek of the Year" award.

Today, he combines the values and lessons learned through elite sport with his public advocacy, using his experience and platform to support social causes, inspire others, and promote inclusion, ethics, respect, and equal opportunities.

Elvina Sakellariou

Operations Officer, Research Project Manager

Duchenne Data Foundation

She is a Molecular Biologist and holds a PhD in Medical Genetics. She has an extensive experience on the study of muscular dystrophies, with a special focus on the development of a humanized mouse model for the study of the FSHD pathophysiology. Elvina is a Research Coordinator, Data Manager, and Project Manager at the Duchenne Data Foundation (parent-led organization with a focus on DMD data research, based in the Netherlands), where she supports the design, coordination, and governance of paediatric research and data-driven initiatives in the rare disease field.
Her work focuses on data quality, FAIR and federated data approaches, design of patient-centred digital tools, communication and dissemination activities, and the integration of patient-driven data into translational research. Elvina is particularly committed to strengthening the connection between research infrastructures, disease-specific initiatives, and patient-centred data ecosystems, with the goal of accelerating high-quality, and impactful paediatric translational research across Europe.

Eveline van der Pluijm


Manager Convention Bureau at Rotterdam Partners

With nearly two decades of experience across PCOs, congress venues, and a convention bureau, she has developed extensive expertise in strategic business development and association congress acquisition. She is passionate about building high-performing teams, fostering strong stakeholder collaboration, and creating a clear direction for sustainable growth and long-term impact.
She began her career managing international congresses and was leading different teams for several PCOs before moving into venue management, where she led business development initiatives focused on attracting European and international association events. In her most recent role as Head of the Rotterdam Convention Bureau, she combined her expertise in destination development, stakeholder engagement, and business growth to strengthen Rotterdam’s position as a leading international congress destination.

Francesco Agnesini

Manager, International EB Marketing Endoscopy Division - Global - Boston Scientific 

Liane Comeau

Executive Director at International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE)

25 years of experience with NGOs and government. She worked in a pan-Canadian organization, Invest in Kids, in various roles including Director of Research and Evaluation, and as Specialized Scientific Advisor at the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, where she contributed to publications and programs on various aspects of the health of children and adolescents.
Since April 2018, she is the Executive Director of the International Union for Health Promotion and Health Education, a global NGO focused on reducing health inequalities. She has supported the organization of eight regional and global conferences, in various capacities and across a wide range of contexts. She holds a doctorate in developmental psychology from McGill University (2004).

Samantha Shamkh

Assistant Director of Sales, ExCel London

Responsible for contracting large-scale congresses, conferences and events within the associations and not-for-profit market. Samantha is well-established within the industry with over 35 years’ experience – the majority of which gained whilst working at Excel. She has gained a wealth of knowledge throughout her career starting in hotel management in Switzerland, joining a graduate scheme with Forte Hotels, and working for Intercontinental Hotels and Wembley Conference & Exhibition Centre. She is a key member of the Sales & Marketing team, driving and developing Excel’s legacy and impact projects for events.

Thomas Reiser

Formerly Executive Director - International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)

Guided by a commitment to global collaboration and innovation, he partners with the ISTH Council, staff, and stakeholders to shape a forward-looking vision and advance the Society’s sustained growth and global impact. With over 25 years of international experience, Tom has held senior leadership roles at premier association management companies (AMCs) and professional conference organizers (PCOs) and has led more than 10 international scientific and medical societies as Executive Director.
He champions growth, operational excellence, inclusivity, and resilience in complex, international and mission-driven environments. A recognized voice in international not-for-profit thought leadership, Tom is a long-standing contributor to national, continental and global organizations and networks in association and meetings management, sharing insights through writing and speaking engagements to advance the field and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Vivi de Regt

Founder het LAB

With nearly two decades of experience in convention bureaus and congress venues, she advises destinations and venues on strategy, policy development, and association congress acquisition. She helps organizations build strong teams, strengthen stakeholder collaboration, and create a clear direction for sustainable growth and long-term impact.

Véronique van Assche

Delegate Member - SMA Europe

Véronique Van Assche, born in 1977 in Brussels, is a biologist and economist living in Belgium. She has a spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type III and has been benefiting from a treatment for the past 8 years that has stabilised her health. For more than two decades, she has been actively advocating for the rights and quality of life of people living with rare diseases. 
She serves as Belgium’s delegate to SMA Europe and is an active member of SMA Belgium, the Belgian Association against SMA. She is also part of the Drug Information, Transparency and Access Task Force at EURORDIS and represents patients at pharma.be, the Belgian pharmaceutical industry federation. Professionally, Véronique works as a Policy Expert in economics, employment, and research at the Wallonia Public Service. Her combined scientific and economic background strengthens her advocacy for inclusive policies, access to innovative treatments, and the autonomy of people affected by rare diseases. 
Passionate about travel and eager to learn, she believes in the power of movement and a positive mindset to improve well-being. She regularly practices adapted sports such as aqua yoga and aqua move. Her ambition is to help build a more inclusive society in which every person living with SMA – and beyond – can lead an independent and fulfilling life. 

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