Health Equality: In Conversation with our Delegate Speakers

18:54 - 19:24, 20 September
Palais des Congrès
IKEA Open Home

This session will follow Plenary Challenge on the Presentation Stage, giving attendees the opportunity to participate in a Q and A session with Delegate Speakers covering Health.

Speakers

Patricia Zanella

Co-founder and Director of EcoCiclo

Patricia Zanella

Co-founder and Director of EcoCiclo

Patricia Zanella is a social entrepreneur and gender activist leader from Brazil. She co-founded EcoCiclo, a pioneering company responsible for developing the first 100% biodegradable sanitary pads in Brazil. This initiative is driven by a commitment to promoting women’s reproductive justice and increasing the accessibility of sanitary products for women in marginalized communities.

With over a decade of experience in the sustainability sector, working with international organizations and NGOs, Patricia is a fervent advocate for gender equality. She serves as the International Relations representative for Instituto Limpa Brasil (Clean Up Brasil Institute) and has been an active member of the REDE Sustentabilidade (Sustainability Network) Political Party since 2016. At just 22 years old, she ran for Congress, securing nearly 10,000 votes, a testament to her influence and dedication to changing the landscape of political participation for young women in Latin America.

Patricia is also an active member of Vital Voices and represented the Brazilian Government's youth delegation at COP 28-UN, supported by the Vital Voices and Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship in Dubai. She is the first Brazilian fellow of the Hurford Youth Fellowship from the World Movement for Democracy and was recognized as a Young Leader of the Americas Initiative by the US Department of State in 2023.

She holds a Master's in International Law and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations, further underscoring her expertise and commitment to building a more sustainable and equitable world.
Shudufhadzo Musida

Humanitarian, Author and Mental Health Champion

Shudufhadzo Musida

Counsellor

Humanitarian, Author and Mental Health Champion

Shudufhadzo 'Shudu' Musida is an Author and Mental Health Champion, whose journey is rooted in a deep commitment to humanitarian causes, shaped by her childhood experiences and an unwavering desire to uplift her community. Crowned as Miss South Africa in 2020, she transformed her title into a platform for meaningful change, dedicating her advocacy to mental health and sustainable development. Shudu's journey is deeply rooted in her belief in the transformative power of education. This belief was the bedrock of her academic pursuits, culminating in a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Pretoria, followed by an Honours degree in International Relations from the University of Witwatersrand. As the first Regional Champion for Eastern and Southern Africa with UNFPA, Shudu has become a force for sexual reproductive health rights and mental health. Her impactful work extends to the written word, with two authored books on mental health earning her well-deserved recognition. Beyond her humanitarian endeavours, Shudu merges her passion for modelling and the entertainment industry. Highly selective about projects, she brings purpose to every initiative, placing immense importance on mental health, both in her personal life and as a central theme in her advocacy work.
Babatunde Adewumi

CEO/Founder, Quinta Health

Babatunde Adewumi

CEO/Founder, Quinta Health

Dr. Adewumi Babatunde Enoch, MB;BS, MPH (Ilorin), is the Founder and CEO of Quinta Health, an organization dedicated to making breast and cervical cancer screening accessible to all. With a medical degree and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Ilorin, Dr. Adewumi has committed to improving healthcare outcomes through education, screening, treatment, and follow-up. Quinta Health has reached over 8,000 women nationwide, providing essential health services and education on breast and cervical cancer.

Dr. Adewumi utilizes prominent media platforms and social media to educate women on cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. His outreach efforts include markets, religious places, and schools, empowering women and young girls with vital knowledge on vaccination and screening. Additionally, he has trained healthcare professionals in cancer screening and partnered with organizations like the Helping Amen Foundation and the Gombe state government to establish screening centers in all local government areas.

A member of the International Papillomavirus Society, the Nigerian Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, and the End Cervical Cancer Initiative of Nigeria, Dr. Adewumi is a key figure in the Nigerian Government's rollout of HPV vaccines for young girls. His work with Quinta Health and collaborations with various organizations underline his dedication to fighting cervical cancer and improving women’s health. As a senior registrar in Public Health at the Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta, and in various leadership roles, Dr. Adewumi continues to be a respected leader in the healthcare community.
Seif Taher

Co-Founder, The SeifSpace Collective

Seif Taher

Co-Founder, The SeifSpace Collective

Seif Taher is an impact-driven Co-Founder from Egypt and an advocate for mental health and wellbeing. As the Founder of The SeifSpace Collective, he is dedicated to promoting positive mental health and creating supportive communities both regionally and globally. Inspired by his own experiences and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals seeking mental health support, Seif established the collective to provide accessible and culturally relevant resources. The SeifSpace Collective empowers individuals to prioritize their mental health, build resilience, and connect with others through innovative programs, workshops, and community outreach initiatives. Seif's unwavering commitment to breaking down stigma and fostering a mental wellness culture continues to drive the collective's impactful work.
Vanessa Paraka

Senior Program Manager of Women in Leadership (PNG Health) at Abt Global Australia

Vanessa Paraka

Senior Program Manager of Women in Leadership (PNG Health) at Abt Global Australia

Vanessa Paraka is an international development practitioner and has extensive experience in the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) space, with a focus on women's empowerment and leadership in Papua New Guinea (PNG). She holds a Master of Science in International Development from the University of Portsmouth, UK (through the Commonwealth Masters Scholarship) and a Bachelor of Business majoring in International Business from James Cook University, Singapore. Vanessa has extensive experience in managing women empowerment projects supported by the Australian and US Governments in PNG.

Currently, Vanessa is the Senior Program Manager for Women in Leadership at Abt Global, overseeing a significant investment in women's leadership across PNG's health sector. Through her role she advocates for women's leadership and representation in key decision-making roles because she recognises the profound impact it can have on society. By ensuring that women have a seat at the table, Vanessa believes that more inclusive and diverse perspectives can be integrated into policies and programs, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions to the challenges faced by communities.

Vanessa has been active in various international forums, addressing complex development issues facing the country. Driven by her vision for a fair and inclusive society, Vanessa continues to champion initiatives that support women's leadership and empowerment, ensuring that gender equality remains at the forefront of development efforts both locally and internationally. She is committed to contributing to a more equitable and promising future for the next generation.
Royale Anne Kodio

Founder of So’Intim

Royale Anne Kodio

Founder of So’Intim

Royale was inspired at 16 to empower women during her Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program experience in the US, realizing the challenges they face. This passion led her to found So'Intim in 2023, a social enterprise tackling period poverty and environmental impact through reusable menstrual panties. Despite being the top graduate in optometry school with numerous job offers, she resigned to fully commit to So'Intim. She wants to do more on a deeper level for Mali, beyond a 9-5 job. At 23, she believes she can fully embrace her life's purpose, making mistakes along the way are for make ups.
Beyond product creation, Royale leads educational workshops and awareness campaigns, dismantling the taboos surrounding menstruation and fostering open conversations. Her efforts have reached 202 young girls, resulting in reduced school absenteeism and sustainable practices.
Royale's leadership extends beyond So'Intim. As a former assistant project manager at Womanager, she advocated for women's rights and spearheaded the "Programme Super Nana," guiding 20 young women in developing leadership skills necessary to achieve their goals. Driven by a vision of empowered women and a thriving community, Royale is committed to scaling So'Intim's impact and amplifying the voices of women in Mali.
LaShyra Nolen

Founding Executive Director of We Got Us, and Physican and Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School

LaShyra Nolen

Founding Executive Director of We Got Us, and Physican and Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School

Born and raised in Southern California, LaShyra “Lash” Nolen is a writer, healer, and physician activist. She is a primary care internal resident physician at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital where her work centers on increasing access to medical care for marginalized populations, antiracism in medical education, and theorizing reparatory public policy frameworks. A leading voice for health equity, her work has been featured in the New England Journal of Medicine and Teen Vogue, among others. Dr. Nolen is the founding executive director of We Got Us, a youth and student-led grassroots community empowerment project with the mission to increase access to education and healing for marginalized communities. She has served as a member of the White House Health Equity Roundtable and is an advising editor for Harvard’s Perspectives in Primary Care medical journal.

Dr. Nolen attended Loyola Marymount University with a B.S. in Health and Human Science. After graduation, she was selected as a Fulbright Scholar and served as an AmeriCorps member. She graduated cum laude from Harvard Medical School where she became the first Black woman elected as student council president. She also obtained her masters in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School of Government where she was a Center for Public Leadership Fellow and Harvard Presidential Public Service Fellow.

Her work has earned her the honor of being named a Forbes “30 Under 30” Leader in Healthcare, a 2024 U.S. Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health awardee, the 2020 National Minority Quality Forum’s youngest “40 under 40 Leader in Minority Health”, among other honors.

One Young World Summit Montréal/Tiohtiá:ke, 2024

Health Equality: In Conversation with our Delegate Speakers

Speakers