Meet the Voices Driving Change: Speakers at the IFA 17th Global Conference on Ageing

The IFA 17th Global Conference on Ageing brings together thought leaders, researchers, policymakers, and advocates from around the world to drive action on ageing. Our distinguished speakers are at the forefront of shaping evidence-based policies and practices that impact older adults globally.

Explore their expertise, insights, and contributions as they lead critical discussions on the most pressing issues in ageing today.

Opening Ceremony Speakers

Ms. Alana Officer

Ms. Alana Officer

Unit Head, Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing, World Health Organization (WHO)

Prof. Bismark Tyobeka

Prof. Bismark Tyobeka

Vice Chancellor, North-West University

Mr. Graeme Prior

Mr. Graeme Prior

President, International Federation on Ageing (IFA)

Mr. Gregor Sneddon

Mr. Gregor Sneddon

Secretary General, International Federation on Ageing

Mr. Kgosietsile Sehularo

Mr. Kgosietsile Sehularo

Chair, South African Older Persons Forum

Prof. Jaco Hoffman

Prof. Jaco Hoffman

Co-President, IFA 17th Global Conference & Professor of Socio-Gerontology, North-West University

Keynote Speakers

Ms. Grace Chan

Ms. Grace Chan

International Vice President, IFA and Business Director, Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Hong Kong, China

Prof. Jeffrey Mphahlele

Prof. Jeffrey Mphahlele

Deputy Vice-Chancellor for research and innovation at North West University and Chairperson of the Board, National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) South Africa

Presidential Symposium Speakers

Mr. Chan Yue Chun

Mr. Chan Yue Chun

Head of Spatial Data Office, Development Bureau, Hong Kong, China

Ms. Claudia Mahler

Ms. Claudia Mahler

UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons

Prof. Hannelie Meyer

Prof. Hannelie Meyer

Professor and Head, South African Vaccination and Immunisation Centre (SAVIC), Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Dr. John Beard

Dr. John Beard

Irene Diamond Professor and Director of the International Longevity Center - USA at Columbia University, New York

Prof. Julie Byles

Prof. Julie Byles

Emeritus Professor, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Co-President: ILC GA;

Prof. Mabel Bianco

Prof. Mabel Bianco

Founder and President, Foundation for Studies and Research on Women (FEIM)

Plenary Symposium Speakers

Dr Alexandre Kalache

Dr Alexandre Kalache

President at International Longevity Centre-Brazil

Ms Alison Marshall

Ms Alison Marshall

CEO, Age International

Prof Anne Margriet Pot

Prof Anne Margriet Pot

Professor, Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management in Rotterdam, Netherlands (Reflexive regulation standards)

Mr. Cherian Mathews

Mr. Cherian Mathews

Chief Executive, HelpAge International & IFA Director

Dr. Cynthia Stuen

Dr. Cynthia Stuen

IFA Regional Vice President and Main Representative to the United Nations & Past Chair, NGO Committee on Ageing (New York)

Prof. De Wet Swanepoel

Prof. De Wet Swanepoel

Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, University of Pretoria

Dr. Debra Whitman

Dr. Debra Whitman

Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer, AARP

Prof. Elisabeth Shroeder-Butterfill

Prof. Elisabeth Shroeder-Butterfill

Associate Professor, Head of Department of Gerontology, University of Southampton

Dr. Janet Annanias

Dr. Janet Annanias

Senior Lecturer in social work at the University of Namibia

Prof. Jolene Skordis

Prof. Jolene Skordis

Vice-Dean (International) for the Faculty of Population Health Sciences, Director of UCL's Centre for Global Health Economics

Ms. Katrina Bouzanis

Ms. Katrina Bouzanis

Director, Policy, Advocacy and Innovation, International Federation on Ageing

Dr. Kiran Rabheru

Dr. Kiran Rabheru

Chair of the Board, International Longevity Centre Canada (ILCC) Chair, Canadian Coalition Against Ageism (CCAA) (person centred care)

Prof. Kirti Ranchod

Prof. Kirti Ranchod

Co-Founder: Africa Brain Health Network, Global Atlantic Fellow

Ms. Laura Tamblyn-Watts

Ms. Laura Tamblyn-Watts

President and CEO, CanAge

Dr. Lizette Kuhn

Dr. Lizette Kuhn

GERATEC

Mr. Mansur Dalal

Mr. Mansur Dalal

Chairman, CommonAge

Ms. Margaret Gillis

Ms. Margaret Gillis

Co-President: Internatonal Longevity Centre Global Alliance (ILC GA). President ILC Canada

Prof. Norah Keating

Prof. Norah Keating

Professor and Co-director Research on Ageing, Policies and Practice, University of Alberta & Director, Global Social Issues on Ageing, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics

Dr. Paul Ong

Dr. Paul Ong

Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of the Tsao Foundation, (Local policy approach)

Mr. Peter Holland

Mr. Peter Holland

Chief Executive, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness

Mr. Peter Rundlet

Mr. Peter Rundlet

Vice President, AARP International

Dr. Prakash Tyagi

Dr. Prakash Tyagi

Executive Director of GRAVIS and Founder-Director of GRAVIS Hospital & IFA Director

Prof. Ralph Martins (AO)

Prof. Ralph Martins (AO)

Chair,Ageing and Alzheimer’s Disease, ECU, Director, Research, Australian Alzheimer’s Research Foundation

Dr. Shanika Donalds

Dr. Shanika Donalds

PhD in Gerontology, University of Alberta and Director of Housing and Client Services, GEF Seniors Housing

Ms. Shusmita Rashid

Ms. Shusmita Rashid

Director, Knowledge Mobilization and Strategic Relations, Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest

Ms. Silvia Peril-Levin

Ms. Silvia Peril-Levin

Independent consultant on ageing, health and human rights of older persons. Past Chair, NGO Committee on Ageing, Geneva

Ms. Siobhan Casey

Ms. Siobhan Casey

Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland and Regional Vice President, Europe, IFA

Ms. Susana Harding

Ms. Susana Harding

Senior Director, International Longevity Centre Singapore (ILC-S) Tsao Foundation

Dr. Temitope Farombi

Dr. Temitope Farombi

Geriatric Neurologist, Chief Tony Anenih Geriatric Center, University College Hospital, Ibadan

Mr. Thiago Herick De Sa

Mr. Thiago Herick De Sa

Technical Officer, Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing Unit, World Health Organization

Ms Tu-Anh Hoang

Ms Tu-Anh Hoang

Deputy Director, Center for Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP)

Dr. Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez

Dr. Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez

Healthy Ageing Senior Advisor, The Fred Hollows Foundation