Health Equality - How can we eradicate gender inequality in healthcare?

Health Equality

Plenary

Health Equality - How can we eradicate gender inequality in healthcare?

16:33 - 17:33, 20 September
Palais des Congrès
Presentation Stage

Speakers

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.
President Laura Chinchilla

Former President of the Republic of Costa Rica

President Laura Chinchilla

Counsellor

Former President of the Republic of Costa Rica

Former President Laura Chinchilla is a political scientist with a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University.

She was the first woman to be elected president of Costa Rica (2010-2014). Previously, she served as minister of public security (1996-1998), congresswoman (2002-2006), minister of justice (2006-2008), and vice president (2006-2008). During her political career, Mrs.
Chinchilla prompted police and justice reform measures to tackle crime and violence, digital and open government, the promotion of women's rights, and early childhood protection. She also promoted environmental sustainability policies, especially on preserving marine biodiversity, for which she was distinguished with international awards.

Mrs. Chinchilla has worked as a consultant with various international organizations, such as: the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

She has taught at the Institute of Politics and Public Policy
of Georgetown University (USA), the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (México), and the Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil).
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.
Mark Tewksbury

Olympic Champion Swimmer and Vice President, Canadian Olympic Committee

Mark Tewksbury

Counsellor

Olympic Champion Swimmer and Vice President, Canadian Olympic Committee

Mark Tewksbury first came to prominence as a record-breaking backstroke swimmer. His sixteen-year athletic career included 21 national titles, 7 world records, Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals, and a cover appearance on TIME magazine. When he publicly came out in 1998, Mark was one of the first openly gay Olympic Champions in the world and has been a leader with the global 2SLGBTQ+ movement ever since. Mark has been one of the most sought-after inspirational speakers since taking to the podium over 30 years ago. Since 2007, Mark and business partner, Olympic coach Debbie Muir, have brought their Great Traits leadership training programs to thousands of corporate audiences worldwide. In 2019, he was awarded a Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for his work in gender inclusion and sexual diversity. In 2020, Mark was appointed Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In 2022, Mark represented Canada as part of the Honours Procession at Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral.
Gary Shaughnessy

Chair, Z Zurich Foundation

Gary Shaughnessy

Chair, Z Zurich Foundation
Gary Shaughnessy

Gary worked in the Insurance and Investment sectors throughout his professional career, most recently as a member of the Group Executive Committee at Zurich Insurance Group, as CEO for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region as well as having global responsibility for Bank partnerships. Having been a Trustee of the Zurich Community Trust in the U.K., Gary took on the role of Chair of the Z Zurich Foundation, a global corporate foundation funded by various members of the Zurich Insurance Group. He has overseen the increasingly positive impact made by the Z Zurich Foundation team and Zurich people to the vulnerable in our societies worldwide. Gary was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015. Gary became a Trustee of Parkinson’s UK in 2018, was appointed as Chair in 2019. He took on a further role, as Chair of England Athletics in 2021. In support of his community involvement and as part of his approach to managing his Parkinson’s, Gary has taken on numerous challenges including wingwalking, abseiling, kayaking, cycling across Europe, and swimming from Nevis to St. Kitts. He has now completed over 50 marathons including 10 in 10 days recently. In 2022, he became only the 47th person to complete the challenging “Arch to Arc” triathlon. He is also now a double Guinness world record holder: having recently broken the records for the furthest distance run 3 legged over 24 hours and 12 hours with a friend, Andy Tucker. Together they completed over 117.1km. They also broke back the 12 hour record. These sporting challenges have helped raise over £1/2 million for Parkinson's awareness, research and support together with funding for numerous local, national and international charities since 2015, with a focus on mental wellbeing, social equity and crisis support. In 2023, Gary was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to business and to charity from His Majesty the King.
Vimbai Masiyiwa

Businesswoman and Co-Founder, Batoka Africa

Vimbai Masiyiwa

Counsellor

Businesswoman and Co-Founder, Batoka Africa
Batoka Africa

Vimbai Masiyiwa, is a 29-year-old businesswoman and co-founder of Batoka Africa, a purpose-driven hospitality company and the first black female-owned Safari Lodge group in Africa. In her role as co-founder and Creative Director, she has led the strategic repositioning of Batoka Africa for investments in Zimbabwe and the expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her mission is to create sustainable social enterprises in the travel industry to empower communities and reimagine travel. She is working towards the development of the African tourism industry as a whole, changing the narrative around Africa. Testament to realising her vision, Vimbai was named as part of the Forbes 30 under 30 2024 cohort - a list celebrating influential and pioneering young African entrepreneurs. Having spent most of her childhood in South Africa, Vimbai strives to empower the African dream of success through ecotourism and hospitality, particularly through the Tesse Fund. By contributing 10% of revenue from guest stays to the fund, Batoka Africa employees can spearhead projects that uplift their local communities.
Jamad Fiin

CEO and Founder, Jamad Basketball Camps

Jamad Fiin

CEO and Founder, Jamad Basketball Camps

Basketball star and social media sensation Jamad Fiin quickly became an inspiration for young Muslim girls across the globe. Videos of Fiin hooping on street courts in her hijab circulated the internet rapidly, receiving millions of views. Following her rise, Fiin started Jamad Basketball Camps to empower young girls to stay true to themselves. A daughter of immigrants, Fiin grew up in Boston and found basketball at a young age. She continued to push herself every day on her own without the guidance of a mentor to help her navigate the challenges of being a Muslim girl in her sport. Her perseverance and passion for basketball led her to a collegiate career at Clark University and Emmanuel College where she was the senior captain of the Women’s Basketball team. For Fiin, her passion for the sport goes further than the game, rather, it is a space in which young Muslim girls can achieve the same things as anyone and beyond.
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.
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.
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.
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.

One Young World Summit Montréal/Tiohtiá:ke, 2024

Health Equality - How can we eradicate gender inequality in healthcare?

Speakers