Dr Pascale Allotey is a leader in gender, equity, health and human rights. Her recent work includes challenging the boundaries of global health, advocating for accountability in the decolonization of global health and international development, and expanding opportunities to diversify the voices of contributors to global debates and decision making – particularly in evidence generation, policy and programme implementation within the UN system, with governments, NGOs and the academic community. Dr Allotey is a triple-certified nurse, midwife and public health nurse with a multidisciplinary background in clinical health sciences, implementation research, anthropology, and epidemiology. She holds a PhD in Public Health and a MMedSci in Community Health from the University of Western Australia, and a BA in Nursing and Psychology from the University of Ghana, Legon. Bringing over three decades of experience as a global public health researcher, Dr Allotey has published extensively including on: sexual and reproductive health; harmful traditional practices; gender, sex and disease; migrants and refugees; health systems research; implementation research, and community engagement. Prior to joining WHO, Dr Allotey was Director of the United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Originally from Ghana, her previous posts include: Professor of Public Health and Deputy Head of School (Research) at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University (Malaysia); founding Associate Director of the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO Malaysia); Professor of Race, Diversity and Professional Practice, Brunel University (United Kingdom). Dr Allotey Co-Chairs the Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health and is a former Co-Chair of the HRP Gender and Rights Advisory Panel.

Florence Bauer is UNFPA’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Throughout her 30-year career, Ms. Bauer has been a strong advocate for positioning children’s and women’s rights on the political agenda and for promoting innovative approaches to reduce inequalities. She has spearheaded programmes focusing on early childhood development; mother, child, and adolescent health and mental health; the prevention of domestic and community violence; and sexuality education for the prevention of early pregnancy and social protection. Ms. Bauer was previously with UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, where she held senior positions advocating for children’s rights in complex political contexts, most recently as UNICEF Representative in Brazil (2017-2022), Argentina (2014-2017) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2009-2014). Previous assignments also included work for civil society and the private sector. Ms. Bauer holds a postgraduate diploma in Public Policy Studies from the University of London, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration with a specialization in International Relations from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales du Nord in Lille, France.

Donatella Benjamin, currently the Representative to the UN in Geneva for Soroptimist International, brings a robust background to her role. In addition to being a Member of the NGO Committee on Ageing and Treasurer of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in Geneva, she has amassed 15 years of experience in multinational companies and 24 years in the Public Administration in Geneva. Since 2021, Ms. Benjamin has played a pivotal role in representing Soroptimist International at the United Nations, contributing to discussions on various critical issues.

Tetiana Berezhna is the Deputy Minister of Economy in Ukraine. She is responsible for the labour and employment policy, creating jobs, fighting unemployment, engaging in entrepreneurship, closing the gender pay gap and returning forcefully displaced Ukrainians from abroad. She was appointed as Deputy Minister in June 2022, during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Before, she worked as a lawyer and attorney-at-law for 11 years in taxes, administrative litigation and GR and she has received several awards for her work. International directories Chambers Europe 2017-2021, Best Lawyers 2021-2022 and Legal 500 2018-2022 listed her as among recommended Ukrainian lawyers in tax, in particular in tax disputes. She graduated from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in 2013 and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in law. In June 2023, she completed the London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE IDEAS Short Programme: A Global System in Transition and Ukraine’s Reconstruction.

Carolina Bugaian General Manager of Moldcell since January 2021. Previously Financial Director of Moldcell since 2006, Financial Director of Ncell in Nepal during 2014-2016, combining the roles of Financial Director and Deputy Director of Moldcell since April 2020. She has extensive experience in the fields of telecommunications, financial management, corporate governance, project management, financial audit, in Moldova, Romania, Russia, Nepal and other Eurasian countries. Mrs. Bugaian is a certified accountant, certified internal auditor, certified project manager, holds a doctorate in economics from the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, a master's degree in Global Business from Oxford-Brookes University, a degree in Finance and International Economic Relations from at the Academy of Economic Studies from Moldova, as well as a graduate of the Fintech course at Harvard University. Ms. Bugaian is a founding member of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Foreign Investors, the Fiscal Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce, the European Business Association and the Association of Private Companies in the ICT sector, as well as the Council of the Faculty of International Economic Relations in within the Academy of Economic Studies from Moldova.

Mr. Alexei Buzu became the Minister of Labor and Social protection in January 2023, with a degree in economics and finance. Before that, he was the director of a national civil society organisation Center Partnership for Development and as independent expert at national and international assignments on gender equality, demographic and social policies, and ageing.

Neil Datta has been at the helm of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights since 2004. Neil founded the organisation with a select group of parliamentarians and with the support of IPPF in 2000, and has been responsible for its growth to its current membership of over 30 all-party parliamentary groups on population and development issues.  Neil has over fifteen years’ experience in the field of political involvement in population and development. Throughout this period he has conducted in-depth research on anti-choice activity in Europe, publishing a report in 2018 that continues to receive worldwide media attention.” Before founding EPF, Neil coordinated the Parliamentary Programme of the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network. Neil holds a Master's Degree in European Public Administration from the College of Europe in Bruges and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Languages from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Neil holds five nationalities and is bilingual in English and French.

Olivier Degomme is the Director of the International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), the Director of the Academic Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy (ANSER) and Chair of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at Ghent University, Belgium. He began his academic journey with a Medical Degree from Ghent University, followed by a Master's in Public Health and a PhD in Health Sciences from UCLouvain, Belgium. He worked from 2004 to 2010 as a research fellow at the UCLouvain’s Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), where he led research on health and mortality in conflict-affected areas. Starting in 2011 at ICRH, Olivier currently leads a team of 25 researchers focussing on sexually transmitted infections, maternal and child health, and sexual and reproductive health among vulnerable populations. His work encompasses various research projects as well as consultancies for UN organizations and national governments. Finally, he is also significantly involved in higher education, supervising several PhD candidates from around the world and coordinating an inter-university Master programme in Global Health.

Aurora Diaz-Rato Revuelta is the Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations Office in Geneva. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Diaz-Rato Revuelta had been serving as Spain’s Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein since 2017. She was Spain’s Permanent Representative to the European Union in Brussels and Coordinator for Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2017, and worked at the office of Spain’s Secretary of State for the European Union as a Counsellor from 2012 to 2013. She was Spain’s Ambassador to Uruguay from 2008 to 2012. A career diplomat, Ms. Diaz-Rato Revuelta worked at the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation as Director General for cooperation with Latin America from 2004 to 2008. From 2001 to 2004, she worked at the General Secretariat for European affairs, General Direction for the coordination of general and technical affairs of the European Union, as a Deputy Director-General. She was posted at the Embassy of Spain in Dublin, Ireland as Deputy Chief from 1996 to 2001, and at the Embassy of Spain in San Jose, Costa Rica as Deputy Chief from 1987 to 1991. She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain in 1983. Ms. Diaz-Rato Revuelta has a law degree, a diploma in European law from the College of Europe in Bruges, and a diploma in international affairs from the Diplomatic School in Madrid. She was born in Madrid in 1957.

Arthur Erken has devoted more than 30 years to public service. Since January 2021, he has served as Director, Policy and Strategy Division, providing leadership to UNFPA’s strategic direction and programmatic support. Prior to this, from 2015, he served as Director of the Division of Communications and Strategic Partnerships of UNFPA, providing strategic leadership and direction to UNFPA’s resource mobilization efforts, the building of strategic partnerships and the global advocacy and communications activities. Prior to that, he served as UNFPA Representative in Vietnam (2013-2015), providing strategic leadership and direction to the country programme and office, and UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh (2007-2013), where he successfully positioned UNFPA as a leader in maternal health and on the prevention of violence against women.

Emilie Filmer-Wilson, an international human rights and development expert, brings over 15 years of experience in implementing human rights-based approaches to development programs, with a focus on strategies for inclusivity and gender equality. Her expertise spans research and technical support in gender equality, non-discrimination, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Currently serving as a Human Rights Adviser for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) since 2016, Emilie has a proven track record in project management, international coordination, tool development for addressing inequalities, knowledge exchange, and building strategic partnerships among UN agencies. Prior to her current role, she held the position of Human Rights Policy Specialist at the UN Development Operations Coordination Office.

First Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Dr. Gabunia is Health Policy Specialist with more than 20 years of experience working in health sectors in low-and-middle-income country settings fostering health system strengthening and TB, MDR TB-focused activities. Since 2019, Dr. Gabunia has been holding the position of the First Deputy Minister at the Ministry of health and is in charge to coordinate the health portfolio.

Professor Anne H. Gauthier is the Director of the Generations and Gender Programme, senior researcher at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute and Professor of Comparative Family Studies at the University of Groningen. She holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Oxford and a Master's degree in demography from the Université de Montréal. From 2001 to 2010, she was the Canada Research Chair in Comparative Family Policies at the University of Calgary. In 2017, she was awarded the IUSSP-Mattei Dogan Foundation Award for Comparative Research in Demography. Her expertise lies in cross-national research on families, including fertility decisions, family policies, parenting, and transitions to adulthood. She has written numerous scientific articles and books and is committed to bridging the link between academics and societal stakeholders.

Brankica Janković, master lawyer, was elected Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the Republic of Serbia for the first time in May 2015 and for the second time in November 2020 by the National Assembly. Prior to the election, she held the position of the State Secretary in the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Policy from 2012-2014 and was the Director of the Gerontology Center Belgrade from 2006-2012. She was a secretary and teacher at the elementary and secondary school “Ruđer Bošković” in Belgrade and a producer and marketing director of RTV Politika and previously RTV Yugoslavia. She graduated at the Faculty of Law of the University of Belgrade, completed her master studies at the Faculty of Law of the University of Novi Sad and is a doctoral student at the Facult of Security in Belgrade. She speaks English and Russian. She was the national project director on a string of projects, especially in the field of protection of women against violence – “Combating sexual and gender-based violence” and “Integrated response to violence against women“; she was the national coordinator of the Working Group on Aging of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; the head of Chapter 19 negotiations team (Social Policy and Employment) in the EU accession negotiation process, chairperson of the Subcommittee on Implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement in the field of Research, Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy and member of the Political Council for the implementation of Resolution 1325 Women, Peace, Security. She chaired several Councils of the Government of the Republic of Serbia – for the aging of the population of persons with disabilities and rights of children, and she was also the National Focal Point for aging and head of several state delegations of the Republic of Serbia. Brankica Janković was awarded several awards and recognition certificates, including “2018 Contribution of the Year to Europe” and the OSCE “2017 Person of the Year” award, the National Recognition for Contribution to the Development of Social Protection System awarded by the Social Protection Association of the Republic of Serbia, the “Petar Manojlović” award for contribution to the improvement of the position of the elderly and the “Golden Wheel” award for her efforts in the protection of human rights of the members of the Roma national minority, awarded by the National Council of Roma in Serbia.

Ridhi Kashyap is Professor of Demography and Computational Social Science at the University of Oxford and Professorial Fellow at Nuffield College. Her research spans different topics linked to population dynamics and sustainable development, such as mortality and health, gender inequality, family, migration, and the impacts of digital transformations on population dynamics. A central interest of her work has been to leverage computational methods and digital data streams from the web and social media for social and demographic research. She leads the Digital Gender Gaps project (www.digitalgendergaps.org).

Sofie Kallehauge Larsen is the Danish Youth Delegate to the UN for Gender Equality and SRHR and represent the voices of the Danish youth at e.g. CSW, CPD, WHA, and HRC. Sofie is appointed by the Danish Youth Council and is a part of the official Danish delegation. She is 24 years old and studied management engineering and has vast experience in volunteering. Sofie works towards a more equitable world and have focused on the impacts of social media and technology on gender equality.

Elke Loichinger is the Head of Research Group Global and Regional Population Dynamics at the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) in Germany where she is heading the research group “Global and Regional Population Dynamics”. Her current research covers global demographic trends with a focus on population dynamics in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, various aspects of population ageing in Germany and beyond, and sub-national population projections. She previously held positions at the College of Population Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, the Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital in Vienna, Austria, and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, Germany. She holds graduate degrees in geography and public policy and a PhD in social and economic sciences.

Dr. Sevim Sayim Madak was born in Sarıkamış district of Kars. Having completed her bachelor’s degree education at Anadolu University Faculty of Business Administration, Sayim Madak completed her master's degree at Marmara University (2000 - 2002) with her thesis "Public Relations in Politics" and at the University of Barcelona (2007 - 2009) with her thesis "Company Valuation". Sayim Madak completed her doctorate with his thesis titled "Factors Affecting Passenger Preference in Civil Aviation: Turkish Airlines Example". She has various articles published on the current situation, development and future of the aviation industry. In addition to her intense work in business and academic life, Mrs. Madak, who strives to create added value for humanity at home and abroad by taking on important duties in Non-Governmental Organizations, is a member of the board of directors of the African Culture House Association, which was established in 2016 under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan. It also contributes to social, economic and cultural studies between the countries.

Inge Maiberg is an athlete from Special Olympics Estonia in the Europe Eurasia Region. Inge participates in swimming and she has been involved in special olympics since 2014. Inge’s favourite part about special olympics is seeing athletes and the joy they have at the time of training and competitions. When Inge isn’t working or competing, she enjoys painting, singing, being with friends, and walking. In the winter Inge enjoys ice swimming. Inge says that being an athlete leader means that she can create opportunities to make athletes life better and more meaningful. Being an athlete leader also helps Inge learn about leadership so that she can become a better leader herself.

Ms. Mansuri Dilrabo Saydullo, currently serving as the Deputy Chairperson of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of Majlisi Oli in the Republic of Tajikistan, has been an elected deputy since March 1, 2020, representing the Lower Chamber of the Parliament. Since October 2014, she has held the position of Director at the Khujand Polytechnic Institute of the Tajik Technical University, named after Academician M.S. Osimi. Ms. Mansuri contributes significantly to legislative and educational endeavors in Tajikistan.

She was a member of the national delegation at the Nairobi Summit in 2019, and contributed to a number of crucial national interventions in the field of SRHR. The development of the National Master Plan on Effective Perinatal Care with UNFPA and WHO led to significant decrease of maternal and newborn mortality in the country within a period of only one year. She also leads the perinatal and maternal audit review which contributes to improved quality of care and during COVID, designing the model for ensuring uninterrupted access to SRH services. Professor Daneva Markova is a founder of the Fetal Medicine Unit at the University Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Skopje, established in partnership with the Greek Fetal Medicine Foundation. She is a Vice Dean at the Medical Faculty of "Cyril and Methodius" University, where she contributed to the advancement of curricula on Ob/Gyn.  Professor Daneva Markova is a member of a number of international associations and has contributed to a number of regional and global initiatives in the area of SRH. 

The UN Resident Coordinator for Albania is Fiona McCluney. Ms. McCluney brings over 30 years of experience as development practicioner and urban planner, including 12 years of service to the UN system. From 2015 until recently she served as United Nations Resident Coordinator in Montenegro, concurrently working as UNDP Resident Representative until the end of 2018. Prior to her appointment in Montenegro, Ms McCluney worked with UN-Habitat as Chief Technical Adviser and Head of their Country Office in Palestine (2012-2015), and in Iraq (2011-2012). From 2008 to 2011, she served with UN-Habitat in Iraq as Head of Urban Governance, Land and Housing. Before joining the UN, Fiona was Principal Consultant for employee-owned GHK Consulting Ltd, UK (now ICF International Ltd) where she undertook assignments for central and local government in UK (Cabinet Office, DEFRA, DFID), held long term positions on DFID funded urban and environmental programmes in India (Andhra Pradesh, Kolkata) and on the design of urban loans for ADB and World Bank (Pakistan, China). Fiona has held planning policy positions in local government (Southampton City Council, London Borough of Lewisham), for the Hong Kong government (Territorial Planning Dept) and in small island development (Anguilla, St Helena). Fiona holds an MPhil in Urban Design and Regional Planning from the University of Edinburgh.

Patricia Ötvös is an adviser to the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, working on various thematic areas including the rights of persons with disabilities and of older persons. She has previously worked with the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union and as a private practice lawyer in Romania. Patricia holds an LL.M from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an Executive Master in ‘International Law in Armed Conflict’ from the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.

Mrs. Juana López Pagán is the Head of the international area, European Projects and Cooperation in the Secretariat of the Spanish Delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Powers of Europe in the Council of Europe, within the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (2016 - 2021). She also served as Deputy Director of International Relations and Cooperation at the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (2011 - 2016). In addition, Mrs. Juana López Pagán also served as the Associate professor of the Department of Political Science and Administration of the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology of the Complutense University of Madrid (2016 - 2021), Coordinator of the Presidential Cabinet as well as the General Secretariat in the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (2005 - 2007) and legal advisor. Mrs. Juana López Pagán holds a Doctorate in Political Science and Government from the Complutense University of Madrid.

Monika Queisser is Senior Counsellor to the Director of Employment, Labour and Social Affairs Directorate and the Head of Social Policy Division at the OECD, where she supervises and coordinates the work on social protection, social indicators, pensions, affordable housing, family and LGBTI policies. She has been working at the OECD since 1997. In 2007-8, she worked as an adviser to the OECD Secretary-General. Prior to joining the OECD, Ms. Queisser worked at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. She was a member of the pensions and insurance group in the Financial Sector Development Department. Her first employment was with the German Ifo Institute for economic research in Munich. Her professional experience also includes employment as a journalist at daily newspapers and broadcasting in Germany.

Adriana Quiñones is the Head of Human Rights and Development and Deputy Head of UN Women Geneva Office. She leads UN Women ́s work at the Human Rights Council and all high-level actions in trade, labor, climate and other development topics. For the last 14 years at UNIFEM and UN Women, she has held posts as Country Representative, Policy Advisor in Asia and Latin America and Manager of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and Girls in New York. She has more than 20 years of experience leading efforts in the areas of Gender Equality, Elimination of Gender Based Violence, Access to Justice and Women ́s Economic Empowerment. She has supported the creation of youth development programs, access to trade and credit for the benefit of indigenous and afro-descendant women, as well as programs to combat stigma and discrimination. She supervised for the Inter-American Development Bank and the United Nations portfolios of more 70 million in 50 countries around the world. She advised the High Commissioner for Peace in Colombia on issues of human rights violations in the context of the internal armed conflict and to address the needs of the displaced populations. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Adriana has a master's degree from the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and a second master’s degree in economics and international Development from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Isabel Maria Duarte de Almeida Rodrigues was born in 1965, in the city of Horta, Azores. She has a degree in Law from the University of Lisbon, a postgraduate degree in Protection of Children from the Family Law Center of the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra and in Social Sciences from the University of the Azores. She's a lawyer. She was elected as a member of Parliament (Assembly of the Republic) in the 14th and 15th legislatures. She chaired the Subcommittee on Social Reinsertion and Prison Affairs. She was President of the Azores Commission for Children between November 2016 and October 2019. She was a member of the Parliament in the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores between November 2008 and June 2014. She was the rapporteur for the standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Environment and Work. She was a member of the Ponta Delgada Municipal Assembly from November 2005 to July 2014. She was a member of the Executive committee of the Velhos Guetos Novas Centralidades Project, of the European Financial Instrument from October 2004 to November 2008. She was a bank clerk from January 1989 to February 1998.

Member from Bulgaria of the UN CEDAW Committee for the period 2019-2022 and 2023-2026. Vice-Chair of the Committee and Co- Chair of the Working group on GBV against women. Managing Director of the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation, Chair of the Alliance for Protection from Gender-Based Violence. Genoveva is a lawyer, researcher and advocate, Expert in the field of Gender Equality and Women’s Rights; extensive experience in legal reform- participation in drafting of the Bulgarian Law for Protection against Domestic violence, of legislation on gender equality and anti- discrimination; experience in representing women victims of violence in international litigation- Bevacqua and S. v. Bulgaria before the ECtHR in Strasbourg and V.P.P. v. Bulgaria under the OP CEDAW. Genoveva is Director and lecturer in the Women’s Human Rights Training Institute – an international educational programme established  since 2004 in Bulgaria. Over 140 lawyers from Europe and also several lawyers from Africa and Asia were trained in English in the Institute and were taught on all international mechanisms for protection of women’s rights against violence, discrimination in employment and in their reproductive and health rights. The relevant UN standards, like CEDAW Convention and CEDAW OP, and European standards and mechanisms, including EU standards are part of the programme. Genoveva Tisheva is member of the European Network of Legal Experts in Gender Equality and Non- Discrimination and until 2019 -Vice- Chair of the European Women Lawyers’ Association /EWLA/. She holds the 2017 Special Human Rights Defender's Award of the Advocates for Human Rights from Minnesota.

Lisa Warth heads the Population Unit at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) whose work contributes to promoting policy dialogue on various facets of demographic change across the UNECE region. UNECE works with member States across Europe, Central Asia and North America to promote the implementation, monitoring, and appraisal of progress towards the goals and objectives of international policy frameworks on population and ageing, such as the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Through technical advisory services, capacity building and various knowledge products including guidelines, policy briefs and seminars, UNECE promotes experience exchange and guidance on preparing and adapting societies for population ageing. Prior to joining UNECE in 2017 Lisa coordinated and developed the Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities and Age-friendly World platform at WHO. Lisa has a background in comparative policy analysis and holds a doctorate in Social Policy from the London School of Economics.