The IFA, in collaboration with North-West University, is honoured to introduce our esteemed panel of expert advisors for the IFA 17th Global Conference on Ageing, scheduled from 9th to 12th September 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa. Our panel of thought leaders and expert advisors plays a pivotal role in shaping the conference’s direction. Their invaluable insights and guidance will help ensure the event’s success and relevance.
Dr. Jane Barratt PhD
Independent Consultant and Global Advisor, International Federation on Ageing
Read more Dr. Jane Barratt is an independent consultant and Global Advisor and former Secretary General, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA). For more than two-decades Jane led the IFA, an international NGO with general consultative status at the United Nations and its agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO). Her leadership continues to help drive the agenda for the world’s population ageing in many intergovernmental agendas including the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. Among her many current positions, Jane is a Member, WHO World Hearing Forum, Vision Academy, Director, Baycrest Health Sciences, Co-Chair, Baycrest Academy, Associate Scientist, Sinai Health System, Member, Co-Chair Vaccine Virtual Days 2024, Member of the Immunisation For All Ages (IFAA) initiative, WFPHA International Council for Adult Immunisation Taskforce, former CSO Representative, WHO COVAX Pillar “vaccine strategy,” Member, IA2030 Strategic Priority Life course and Integration Working Group and Member of the European Interdisciplinary Council on Ageing Assembly. Read less
Dr. Jaco Hoffman
Professor of Socio-Gerontology, North-West University
Read more Jaco Hoffman (DPhil, Oxon) is a Professor of Socio-Gerontology in the Optentia Research Unit, North-West University (Vanderbijlpark Campus), South Africa where he leads the Ageing and Generational Dynamics in Africa (AGenDA) programme. He is also a Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, UK where he co-ordinates the UN-endorsed African Research Network on Ageing (AFRAN). AFRAN brings together African and international institutions and individuals from academia, policy and practice to develop and expand African research and training capacity on ageing. He furthermore is an Honorary Professor in the Institute of Ageing in Africa, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, and was a past president of the South African Gerontological Association (SAGA) as well as a founding member of the South African Older Person’s Forum. Jaco co-directs, with Prof Sebastiana Kalula (UCT), the International Longevity Centre (ILC) – South Africa and is a Director of the International Federation of Ageing (IFA) Board. His research experience relates to the Social Sciences (Sociology, Anthropology) broadly with specialization in the multi-disciplinary field of Socio-gerontology (including topics like HIV/AIDS, poverty, [long-term] care, families, and community development). Read less
Ms. Civil M. Legodu
Chief Director, Professional Social Services and Older Persons,
National Department of Social Development
Read more Charlotte Fairbridge was appointed CEO of Age-in-Action in 2023. She has held various positions since joining the organization reflecting a commitment to uplift older persons for more than 33 years with portfolios including research, information and public relations. She was invited by Age Concern UK to explore best practice models in an attempt to grow the services of the organization. In conjunction with the Medical Research Council (MRC), she assisted with research in the Eastern Cape to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of older persons in Motherwell – older persons who are the custodians of our cultural heritage were at the coalface of the pandemic. She also developed an in-house survey on Grandparent Headed Households to garner information on their roles as parents a second time around and the challenges they face. The survey supported the development of specific programmes to address gaps in support services. Charlotte formed part of a task-team that wrote the Children’s Act in a ‘child-friendly’ booklet with illustrations which served a dual purpose as older persons could easily read and understand the rights of their young charges. As CEO she has hosted various national and international conference speakers, including a government delegation from China, who were on a fact-finding visit to explore government involvement and services, legislation and social participation structures available to older persons. Her vision is the effective implementation of legislation, and the protection of the rights of older persons. Their well-being, care and support is high on the agenda of the Age-in-Action. Read less
Mr. Andrew Kavala
Director, MANEPO
Read more Andrew is the Country Director for MANEPO, a consortium of Civil Society Organizations working on ageing issues in Malawi. He has recently been appointed as a member of the African Union AU Working Group for Older People and Persons with Disabilities in the ACHPR. In 2023, the State President appointed Andrew as Commissioner for the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC), whose mandate is to promote and protect human rights and investigate human rights violations. Andrew has made several breakthroughs by being the first Civil Society Leader to lead a successful advocacy towards the approval of an Older Persons Bill by Parliament which was later assented to by the State President Andrew sits on the Commonwealth Association for the Ageing Board and is the Director of the Global Ageing Network (GAN) board. Born in Malawi, Andrew graduated from the University of Malawi with both a Bachelor of Arts Humanities and a Master of Business Administration. Andrew is currently studying for a PhD in Social Sciences with Ageing and Development at North-West University in South Africa. Read less
Dr. Paul Ayenor
Senior Research Analyst / Program Manager
Research Core Staff
Read more Paul Ayernor (Kojo) is a researcher who focuses on social networks, social support, and the subjective well-being of older adults in sub-Saharan Africa. He strives to understand the macro-micro links influencing older adults’ subjective well-being. Paul is a senior research analyst/program manager on the HAALSA project. He is responsible for managing Agincourt study operations and performing data analysis for the HAALSI Agincourt surveys. Paul received his PhD and MPHIL in social welfare with particular emphasis on demographic processes from the City University of New York, and a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Oxford. Before joining the HCPDS, Paul was the research officer at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, Oxford, United Kingdom, and taught as an adjunct professor at the City University of New York, College of Staten Island. He has led several research projects in Ghana, including the POPTRCD (EDULINK Urban Health and Poverty Project). Read less
Ms. Femada Shamam
Chief Executive Officer, CEO
The Association for the Aged – TAFTA
Read more With a background in social work and management, Femada Shamam has dedicated 25 years to the care and support of older persons. As the CEO of one of South Africa’s largest nonprofit organizations supporting older people, she navigates the challenges and opportunities presented by the country’s growing population of older persons. Her extensive involvement in local, regional, and international bodies has enabled her to make significant contributions to policy development, advocacy, lobbying, and direct service delivery. Passionate about strategic partnerships, Femada believes in the power of collaboration to enhance grassroots impact. She holds various leadership positions and champions leadership development to ensure the country can adequately respond to the increasing number of older people. Her pragmatic approach fosters innovation in resource-poor communities, promoting an inclusive society that allows older people to live with dignity, purpose, and meaning. Read less
Dr. Kibachio Joseph Mwangi
Medical Officer and Advisor
NCDs and Mental Health, WHO South Africa
Read more Dr. Kibachio J. Mwangi is currently the Medical officer and Advisor for Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health at the World Health Organization (WHO) South African country office in Pretoria where he is supporting the country on public health policy and practice on NCDs and their determinants at the National and Provincial levels. He is a medical doctor with vast public health expertise. He has a specialty in NCD epidemiology, programming and policy advocacy in resource-limited settings. He was part of the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism Expert Working Group on the inclusion of NCDs into other public health programs and a policy promoter and pundit on meaningful integration of NCDs using whole-of-government approaches for UHC. Dr. Kibachio Mwangi is a recipient of the UN Interagency Task Force on NCDs award at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA2018) in recognition for making an outstanding contribution to NCD prevention and control and promoting the NCD-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He is the Focal person for healthy ageing supporting South Africa with evidence-based recommendations for Integrated Care for Older People to prevent, slow and reverse declines in the physical and mental capacities of older people. He holds a PhD in Global Health from the University of Geneva. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health and an adjuvant lecturer in Public health at the Moi and Kenyatta Universities in Kenya. Read less
Dr. Kirti Ranchod
Neurologist, Founder of Memorability
Co-Founder and Chair of African Brain Health Network, and Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health.
Read more Dr. Kirti Ranchod is a neurologist, founder of Memorability, co-founder and chair of the African Brain Health Network, and Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health. Dr. Kirti founded Memorability to make brain health tools accessible, practical, and effective and offers courses, masterclasses, customized solutions, and consulting. Her approach combines neuroscience and brain skills training to optimize brain performance and potentially reduce the risk of certain illnesses. She has conducted numerous workshops and talks to support brain health. Her work has been featured on TEDx Johannesburg Brain Health Matters (Connecting Cultural Wealth with Better Brain Health), 702, the Daily Maverick and Business Day. Publications include Sleep and Brain Health, Chronic Stress: Neuroscience and practical coping strategies, Dementia in Africa, and 7 Steps for Igniting the Brain Capital Industrial Strategy. Her work includes the value of our cultural capital to support brain health and she has an interest in the field of neuroaesthetics. Kirti hosts a regular mental wellness walkabout @Origins Centre Wits. Topics have included music, art, mindfulness, ecosystems for health, nature, understanding dementia, silence, nutrition, improving brain performance, grief & healing, and more. She also hosts the Brain Health Perspectives series of webinars in partnership with the University of Witwatersrand. She has co-organized, with the Atlantic Institute, a Brain Health Perspectives convening in Johannesburg that centred Pan-African voices in the global vision to support brain health. Read less
Dr. Prakash Tyagi
Executive Director, GRAVIS
Read more Dr. Prakash Tyagi is the Executive Director of GRAVIS in India. In academics, he has studied Medicine and Geriatrics. He has also been the recipient of a Fulbright-Humphrey Fellowship to study global health, received a Ford Fellowship to study non-profit management and has studied public policy through a Fleishman Fellowship at Duke University. He has supported various non-profits working on health and development aspects. With his global health experience, he has contributed to various international forums and has written on major global health issues with greater emphasis on healthy ageing. As the Executive Director of GRAVIS, he has been leading the organization for the last 19 years. GRAVIS works extensively in rural India with key focuses on health, water security and food security. It reaches out to about 2 million people living in poverty and has helped the formation of over 4,000 Community-Based Organizations. He founded a rural hospital which is an important medical centre in Thar Desert of India. Dr. Tyagi is a Clinical Professor at the School of Global Health of the University of Washington and is on the board of IFA. Read less
Prof. Vera Roos
Professor, Ageing and Generational Dynamics – AGenDA
North-West University, South Africa
Read more Vera Roos is a Professor in the Ageing and Generational Dynamics in Africa (AGenDA) programme in the Optentia Research Unit at the North-West University and an Affiliate Research Fellow of the Institute of Population Ageing at the University of Oxford. As a socio-gerontologist, she focuses on relational experiences and, from a community psychology perspective, on the contributions of older individuals in challenged contexts. Vera presented her research on topics related to enabling interpersonal contexts, loneliness, friendship, and intergenerational relations at national and international conferences, and has published widely, including three edited books. Vera developed the Mmogo-method®, a projective visual data-collection tool to enable research participation despite age, language or cultural barriers. Findings from this visual method informed the development of a relational theory, Self-Interactional Group Theory (SIGT). Her commitment to promoting the well-being of older people prompted the development of an information and communication eDirectory system, Yabelana, with context-specific information for use on smart and older-generation mobile phone devices. Read less
Ms. Siobhan Casey
Director, Marketing and Business Development, Age NI
Read more Driving change in the ageing agenda to improve the well-being of older people is central to Siobhan’s work. Over the past 13 years, as the Director of Marketing & Business Development at Age NI, Siobhan has forged strong relationships and harnessed thought leadership to accelerate change while raising over £30+ million to support older people and care. Her recent service innovation successes include: developing and securing funding for people living with dementia, mild cognitive impairment and older people/carers who were isolated as a result of COVID-19; leading a three-nation programme to support Age at Work and creating high-profile campaigns and partnerships to combat loneliness, promote healthy ageing and redress frailty. She has presented widely on the impacts of these programmes, speaking in Europe, South America, the UK and frequently in Ireland North and South. Siobhan is a Director of the IFA (International Federation on Ageing); a member of the UKRI Healthy Ageing Advisory Committee, Age UK’s Services for Older People’s Consortium, PHA Advisory Forum on Care Homes in NI, and a Trustee of Relate NI. She is also a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at the Global Brain Health Institute (Trinity College Dublin University College San Francisco). The first female President of the Ulster University Student’s Union, she is a recognized business leader with extensive experience working in international marketing, business development and strategic development with SME’s through multi-national organizations, and private and public sector bodies. Before joining Age NI, Siobhan worked as a consultant and trainer in business development and marketing with 400 businesses/organizations across Northern Ireland. Previous to this, she was the Corporate Communications Director at Fruit of the Loom International and held several pan-European marketing and sales management positions with the company. Prior to Fruit of the Loom, Siobhan was Director of the Derry Boston Ventures where she was responsible for both export marketing consultancy and establishing joint venture / inward investment opportunities for 35 small/medium-sized businesses in the Northwest region of NI with companies in Boston. Academically, Siobhan has obtained many post-graduate diplomas in Business (University of Wolverhampton): European Marketing (University of Leuven, Belgium); Entrepreneurship (Boston College); Sustainable Investment (Ulster University) and Equity for Brain Health (Trinity College Dublin & University College San Francisco). Previous Board Positions include: Director and Governor of Lagan College; Chair of Reminiscence Network NI; Governor of Oakgrove Integrated Primary School; Board Member Women in Enterprise; Northern Ireland Textile & Apparel Association &, Irish Textile Association; Londonderry Chamber of Commerce; Business in the Community, Northwest Leadership Team. Read less
Dr. Gloria Langat
Research Scientist, Aging and Development Unit
Africa Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC)
Read more Gloria Langat is a research scientist and leads the Aging and Development Unit at the Africa Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), Nairobi Kenya. Gloria is a demographer and gerontologist with over 20 years of experience researching population dynamics in sub-Saharan Africa to understand the interplay of context and wellbeing across the life course. Her broad research topics include fertility; HIV and AIDS; migration and health; the impact of population dynamics on households and families; sexuality in old age and urbanization. Over the past 15 years, Gloria has specialized in ageing and gerontology with a focus on Africa using multi-disciplinary and mixed methods approaches to research. Her current research examines care across the life course for people in need of long-term care usually children, persons with disability and developmental challenges and older people who are no longer able to live independently without the support of others. The research seeks to advance and inform policy action to develop transformative care systems and economies in Africa. Gloria obtained her PhD in Social Statistics and Demography from the University of Southampton and before joining APHRC was an Associate Professor of Gerontology at the Centre for Research on Ageing at the University of Southampton. Gloria is an alumnus of the Populations Studies Research Institute at the University of Nairobi and the Sociology Department at Kenyatta University, Kenya. Read less
Ms. Lowna Gie
Consultant, Project ISCA
Read more Ms. Lowna Gie is passionate about contributing towards the well-being of older persons and their carers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). After completing her MSc, she worked for about 15 years in the NGO sector, including the older persons’ sector. In 2021, Ms. Gie enrolled in her PhD in Social Science (Ageing and Development) at North-West University (NWU), South Africa. Her PhD explores how the motivations and attitudes of unemployed youth considering working as paid care workers for older persons may contribute to understanding the long-term care (LTC) economy in Gauteng, South Africa. Ms. Gie has served as project manager and researcher on NWU-Gauteng government projects, including developing the first iteration of the Gauteng LTC Economy Strategy and conducting a study on older persons’ housing needs in Gauteng. She also works as a research assistant for Project ISCA that investigates infrastructures of care created for and by older persons in SSA. Read less
Dr. Rayne Stroebel
Managing Director
Gerontological Research, Training, Education and Care. GERATEC
Read more Rayne Stroebel holds a master’s and a doctoral degree in Dementia Studies from Stirling University in the UK. He is the managing director of GERATEC (Gerontological Research, Training, Education and Care) [www.geratecza.com], a company that provides services to the long-term care sector, and the regional coordinator in South Africa of The Eden Alternative [www.edenalt.co.za]. A corporate social investment project of GERATEC that aims at changing the institutional culture of care homes. He focuses on long-term care services and enhancing the care ethos towards a relationship-directed support model in residential care homes. Rayne has developed and provides extensive training courses to improve the quality of life of individuals living with dementia. Based in Cape Town, his business and service activities extend countrywide. Read less
Prof. Tanusha Raniga
Interim SARChI Chair for Welfare and Social Development
University of Johannesburg
Read more Professor Tanusha Raniga is the Interim SARChI Chair for Welfare and Social Development at the University of Johannesburg. She is a recipient of the National Association of South African Education Institutions Young Up and Coming Award and in her role as the Head of the Department of Social work, she received the University of KwaZulu-Natal Award for Outstanding Contribution to the School of Applied Human Sciences in the College of Humanities. Dr. Raniga has served as Treasurer and Board Member of the Association for Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA) from 2010 to 2020. She is actively involved in the editorial boards of the Journal of Social Development in Africa, Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk and the Journal for Social Policy in Macedonia. Prof Raniga’s research includes social protection policy, feminization of poverty, developmental social work and sustainable livelihoods. She has published in national and international journals and presented papers at International Social Work conferences. Read less
Prof. Elena Moore
Dept. of Sociology, University of Cape Town
Read more Elena Moore is a Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology at the University of Cape Town. She obtained a Wellcome Career Award, 2023-2028 to develop and grow a research programme in Family Caregiving of Older Persons in Southern Africa (www.familycaregiving.org.za). This is the first multi-site qualitative longitudinal study on family caregiving in Africa, that runs an extensive policy engagement programme which was recently awarded an IDRC Scaling Care Innovations in Africa Award 2024-2027. She is a recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award 2021 and the Vice Chancellor Social Responsiveness Award, University of Cape Town, 2023. Read less
Dr. Sebastiana Kalula
Emeritus Associate Professor, University of Cape Town
Read more Sebastiana Kalula is an Emeritus Associate Professor and specialist physician in Medicine and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. She is the director of The Albertina and Walter Sisulu Institute of Ageing in Africa and the Co-Director of the International Longevity Centre South Africa, a member of the ILC Global Alliance. She holds an MBChB from Zambia, an MRCP (UK), an MPhil (Epidemiology) and a PhD from UCT. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London. She is a member of the World Health Organisation’s Technical Advisory Group for Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing, and a member of national and international associations and societies with a specific interest in ageing. Her current research interests include falls in older persons, HIV and ageing, quality of and safety in health care for older adults, and physical and cognitive functioning Read less
Dr. Emem Omokaro
Director General, Nigeria’s National Senior Citizens Centre
Read more Emem Omokaro holds a Ph.D in Development Sociology and a Post-Doctoral Certificate in Social Gerontology. She is the pioneer Director General of Nigeria’s National Senior Citizens Centre, the first federal government agency established by legislation to initiate and implement multi-sectoral programs to integrate older persons in development and improve quality of life and well-being. Emem’s transformative leadership in the field of Ageing in Nigeria has delivered the National Policy on Ageing, the first National Strategic Roadmap on Ageing in Nigeria (2022-2032) and the first National Plan of Action on Ageing and Capital Project Activities, included in Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021-2025). Working collaboratively, Dr. Emem Omokaro has also delivered the National Occupational Standards in Geriatric Social Care for Training and Certification of Caregivers to older persons in five levels and published the National Policy Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Geriatric Social Care and Standard Operating Procedures for Domiciliary Care Agencies and Facilities, as well as, the National Benchmark and Minimum Standards for Accreditation of Care Agencies, Training Providers and Training Centers for training and Certification of care. All first ever in Nigeria with the inauguration of the Geriatric Social Care Sector Skills Council, Dr. Omokaro served progressively as Visiting, and LEADS Scholar at Nigeria’s National Universities Commission, where she pioneered the development of Applied Gerontology as a course of study and the training of academic staff for Special Certificate in Ageing in eleven Federal Universities in Nigeria. Her value for the establishment of stakeholders Engagement Mechanisms, saw the founding of the Gerontology Association of Nigeria, the Geriatrics Association of Nigeria, the Stakeholder Group on Ageing Africa (SGA), making for the enhancement of human and system’s’ capacities in Ageing and Development. Emem is a member of the Expert group appointed by the Africa Union Commission for review and revision of the Africa Union Policy Framework and Plan of Action on Ageing 2020 and served as African Regional Lead Panelist for the UN 4th Review of Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA). Her indelible work as lead scholar and regional training partner of the International Institute on Ageing, United Nations, Malta (INIA), precipitated UN appointment of the Dave Omokaro Foundation as host of UN Institute’s Satellite Centre for sub-Saharan Africa and Emem as Co-Chair of Council, overseeing the enhancement of human and institutional capacities in ageing policy and program development across 44 African countries. Dr Omokaro is acclaimed for regional and global partnerships and for strategic Advocacy for inclusion and access equity for older persons in multispectral mandates. As Director General of NSCC, Dr Omokaro within 3 years has developed, piloted and now cascading to States, the sector-wide senior-led income security and Livelihoods Development programs; the Continuing Engagement Bureau program, which provides training and engagement opportunities for retired professionals and technocrats with organizations who seek their expertise; the NSCC transformative Geriatric Social Care sub-sector and Quality Assurance system in Nigeria, for the training and Certification of Caregivers to older people and accreditation and Certification of Care Agencies within communities to deliver skilled home care, as well as, the public Private partnership initiative to build and equip Senior centers within communities. These innovative sustainable paths are delivering improved quality of life for the diverse population of Senior citizens. A winner of several awards, including the Nigerian Universities Doctoral Thesis Award for best Ph.D Dissertation in Social Sciences in Nigerian Universities during 2005, Dr. Omokaro, has successfully applied her award winning research findings on Care of older persons as an “Act of Decision Making” by demonstrating expertise and unwavering commitment to championing legal frameworks, systems and equitable budgets, for integrating Older Persons in Development Plan. Emem Omokaro receives and honors numerous high level invitations by Governments of nations, Inter-Governmental Bodies on Development and Population Activities, as well as, Expert Working Groups on Ageing, as Lead Speaker and Panelist. She is a face and voice for older persons, on national, continental and global policy and human rights advocacy platforms. Read less
Mr. Kgosietsile Sehularo
Chairperson, South African Older Persons Forum
Read more Born in Dewetsdorp, Free State, on 11th April 1951 and currently resides in Mahikeng, North West Province. Holds a BPA (UNIBO) and an MSc (Tourism Development) postgrad degree from Surrey University, UK. Married with three children. Served for 12 years in the private sector as a Brand Manager in a flour milling company and later to become a bakery manager. He later joined the public sector where he served in different capacities at national as Director: Tourism Development and subsequently moved to the North West Provincial Government as Chief Director. He has also served in an ex-officio capacity in SOE Boards such as SATOUR, Invest North West, The NW Parks and Tourism Board. At retirement, served as Chief of Staff in the Department of Finance, Economic and Enterprise Development, currently holding the positions of North West Older Persons Chairperson and South African Older Persons Chairperson. Read less
Dr. Andrew Banda
Demographer, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, and Social Gerontologist
Read more Dr. Andrew Banda, a demographer, monitoring and evaluation specialist, and social gerontologist, stands at the forefront as an emerging researcher on rural and adaptive ageing. As the first graduate of the groundbreaking PhD programme on Ageing and Development from the Optentia research unit at North-West University, Andrew brings the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) context to understanding the complex intersection of ageing, well-being, and rural communities. His research focuses on identifying strategies to support and enhance the well-being of older persons in dynamic rural communities of SSA, taking into account demographic trends and social development indicators. Thrilled to embark on a new chapter, he is honoured to join the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) and the Optentia research unit at North-West University 17th Global Conference- YEBO/YES! Action on Ageing: Evidence | Policy | Practice as an eminent expert. Dr. Banda also serves as a Lecturer and researcher at the University of Zambia, Department of Demography, Population Sciences and Monitoring and Evaluation. Read less
Ms. Charlotte Fairbridge
CEO, Age in Action
Read more Charlotte Fairbridge was appointed CEO of Age-in-Action in 2023. She has held various positions since joining the organization reflecting a commitment to uplift older persons for more than 33 years with portfolios including research, information and public relations. She was invited by Age Concern UK to explore best practice models in an attempt to grow the services of the organization. In conjunction with the Medical Research Council (MRC), she assisted with research in the Eastern Cape to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of older persons in Motherwell – older persons who are the custodians of our cultural heritage were at the coalface of the pandemic. She also developed an in-house survey on Grandparent Headed Households to garner information on their roles as parents a second time around and the challenges they face. The survey supported the development of specific programmes to address gaps in support services. Charlotte formed part of a task-team that wrote the Children’s Act in a ‘child-friendly’ booklet with illustrations which served a dual purpose as older persons could easily read and understand the rights of their young charges. As CEO she has hosted various national and international conference speakers, including a government delegation from China, who were on a fact-finding visit to explore government involvement and services, legislation and social participation structures available to older persons. Her vision is the effective implementation of legislation, and the protection of the rights of older persons. Their well-being, care and support is high on the agenda of the Age-in-Action. Read less
Mr. Kevin Orr
Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Winner Medical Group
Read more Mr. Kevin Orr is the Group Vice President & Chief Investment Officer of Winner Medical Group, he supports Group Chairman in group public affairs, sustainability & strategic investments, also he is the Committee Member of All-China Youth Federation, and Member of Beijing Tongzhou District Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Mr. Orr was an Independent Non-Executive Director of Beijing Enterprises Urban Resources Group. Mr. Orr is specialized in public health & preventive medicine. Since 2003, he has participated in national & international humanitarian relief by providing medical supplies to protect the front line and public against the pandemic. Moreover Mr. Orr has contributed the founding of the Gerontechnology ecosystem development in Hong Kong, and he actively collaborated on the frontier and cutting-edge life sciences & medical technology research projects by achieving multiple international awards, and he advances the group corporate’s strength of digital economy & technology with smart supply chain into national’s initiative to advance corporate’s productivity. Mr. Orr is the Co-President of Life Sciences & Medical Development Foundation, Board Director of the International Federation on Aging, Honorary Advisor of InnoHK Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center, Professional Advisor of the Master of Public Health programme in JC School of Public Health & Primary Care in Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mr. Orr has strong passion in youth development, well-being & mental health, and sports medicine; he applies social innovation with impact investment model by providing AI programming & STEAM education for the youth & instructors, and promotes digital inclusion for the elderlies in Hong Kong, he serves as the Chairman of the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund Task Force under Commission of Poverty of HKSAR Government, Vice President of Centum Charitas Foundation, and Vice Chairman of Hong Kong United Youth Association. Read less
Ms. Mabel Bianco
President and Founder, FEIM
Read more Mabel Bianco is the President and founder of FEIM, an NGO working to improve women’s rights since 1989. MD MPH and specialist in Epidemiology and Medical Statics. Co-coordinator of Women Won’t Wait, a global campaign to eliminate VAW and HIV and Director of the Latin American and the Caribbean Women Health Network (1991- 1999). She attended the Río Conference in 1992, Cairo Conference in 1994 and Beijing Conference in 1995 and did their follow-up. In 2000/2001 she was Chief of the HIV/AIDS National Program in MOH and Coordinator of WB Project. Member of UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and HR (2002-2011). She was twice elected as NGO member of UNAIDS PCB. Member of Civil Society Regional Advisory Committee UNWOMEN till 2016. Since 2012, Co-Chair of the CONGO CSW LAC. Member of WMG since 2014. Awarded by the Argentinian MOH, Women Deliver and Newsweek recognized her as one of the “150 women that moved the world” and in 2017 by NGO CSW NY as “Distinguished Woman of the Year”. In 2019 she was included by the BBC as one of 100 Influencers and in 2020 by Politicals. She is author and editor of 10 books and more than 150 papers and articles. She was the founder and coordinator of the Women’s Human Rights Defenders for G20 Observatory’s as part of the W20 and local coordinator of the C20 Gender Group for the G20 Argentina 2018. She has been elected as Women’s Mayor Group WMG Organizing Partner for Latin America and the Caribbean for period 2019-2020. In 2021 was elected CoChair of the MGoS Coordination Mechanism. Read less
Dr. Leon Geffen
Director, Samson Institute for Ageing Research (SIFAR)
Read more Leon Geffen is a GP based in Cape Town since 1990. He graduated with an MBChB from University of Cape Town in 1987 and completed his qualification as Family Physician in 1995. He is the Director of the Samson Institute For Ageing Research. He is a Fellow of interRAI. He serves as an expert to the World Health Organisation’s Clinical Consortium For Healthy Ageing & Global Network for Long-term Care . He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Ageing in Africa at the University of Cape Town. He has an interest in health systems research and is currently investigating novel ways of improving the assessment and management of people older than 60 presenting at primary care services. He has previously served as the medical director of AgeWell. In 2023 he was elected Chairperson of the Ageing & Health Special Interest Group of the World Organisation of Family Doctors. In September 2022, he was named by the WHO as one of the 50 leaders across the globe working to transform the world to be better place to grow old. He has been a member of the South African Academy of Family Physicians (SAAFP), the South African affiliate of WONCA. As a member of the SAAFP, he has coordinated CPD programmes for the general practitioners in hs local community, served as the chairperson of the Southern African Sentinel Practitioners Research Network (SASPREN), served as the SAAFP representative on the WONCA IT working group from 1998 – 2004 and was on the local organising committee for WONCA 2001 conference held in Durban, South Africa. He served on the editorial board of the SA Family Practice Journal. His work over the past 10 years has seen him develop initiatives to provide a community based peer support program for older persons (AgeWell) which was recognized by the WHO in their World Report on Ageing and Health as an innovative program on providing long-term support services to older persons living in resource constrained countries and communities. He has subsequently founded the Samson Institute For Ageing Research, an independent non profit research institute in South Africa,and the only research institute of its kind focusing on older persons in sub-Saharan Africa. He is a member of the WHO Global Network on Long-term Care and the WHO Clinical Consortium on Healthy Ageing. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he joined forces with experts across the globe to assist in putting together an action plan for mitigating the effects that COVID would have on older persons. He has provided input on COVID at a global, national, sub-national and community based level. His work in this area has been widely reported in the media which has allowed him to advocate for the rights of older persons. His hobbies include hiking, including summiting Mount Kilimanjaro on 3 occasions, good food, listening to music, travel and a good argument. He lives in Cape Town. Read less