Meet the 'Type 1 Diabetes – Advancing a Global Road Map for Improved and Integrated Care in Low-Resource Settings' speakers and moderators.
Dr. Kouamivi Agboyibor is a Technical Officer for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) at the World Health Organization African Regional Office in Brazzaville, Congo, serving as a regional advisor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes, and integrated service delivery for NCDs.
He is a medical doctor specialized in Public Health, holding master’s degrees in Cardiology and Public Health, and a PhD in Cardiovascular Health Epidemiology.
Dr. Agboyibor has extensive experience in the prevention and control of cardiometabolic conditions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), supporting Member States in policy development, strategic planning, and integrating NCD services into primary healthcare using WHO frameworks and evidence-based strategies.
He also brings expertise in managing international partnerships, project oversight, and budgetary compliance for large-scale health initiatives, working closely with global health partners to advance NCD prevention and control in the African region.
Dr. Agboyibor has collaborated with multiple international organizations and has authored several publications in cardiovascular health and public health interventions.
Sana has a track record of global advocacy. She is the founder and Executive Director of Meethi Zindagi in Pakistan, a community led non-profit organization focused on improving lives of the type 1 diabetes community.
Her commitment to the cause has led to global recognition in the form of the inaugural Leonard Thompson Award for Advocacy.
She has been deeply involved with International Diabetes Federation, Young Leaders in Diabetes and WHO’s Global Diabetes Compact.
She is an advisor to Breakthrough T1D’s Global Access Strategy and a Core Commissioner for the Lancet Commission on type 1 diabetes.
She also serves as the Deputy Secretary General of Parliamentarians for Diabetes Global Network. Sana has 26 years of experience living with type 1 diabetes.
MBChB., MSc., Cert.FD&E., FRCPI, PhD
Silver Bahendek is a Professor of Medicine & Endocrinology at Uganda Martyrs University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda and a Senior Consultant Physician, Diabetes and Endocrinology, St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya, Kampala, Uganda.
He was the Chair of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Africa Region, from 2009 to 2013.
He is the Chair of the East Africa Diabetes Study Group (EADSG) and the Principal Co-Ordinator Type 1 Diabetes Uganda on behalf of the Ministry of Health through St. Francis Hospital, Nsambya.
In his early scientific carrier, he concentrated on Beta cell function in relation to Gut Hormones – specifically, Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide which was part of his doctorate. Currently his research focuses on Primary Health Care in Low Resource Settings (The Health of a Population in Epidemiological Transition – Uganda [HOPIET – UG], which comprises of three districts of Isingiro, Ntungamo and Sheema.
M.B.B.S., M.R.C.P., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.P.
Prof. Abdul Basit serves as the Professor and Head of the Diabetes and Endocrinology Centre at Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN). In addition to this role, he holds the position of Secretary General of the Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP) and is the Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for “Treatment, Education & Research in Diabetic Pregnancies.”
Prof. Abdul Basit also contributes as the Vice Chairman of both the Health Promotion Foundation (HPF), the Health Research Advisory Board (HRAB), the President of the Diabetes in Asia Study Group (DASG) and the Chairman of the Pakistan Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (PWGDF).
Furthermore, he is a founding member of the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES) and the National Association of Diabetes Educators (NADEP). His previous experience includes serving as the chair of the IDF MENA Region and as the editor of the Journal of Diabetology (JOD), which is the official journal of DASG.
Throughout his career, Prof. Abdul Basit has made significant contributions to the field, having published more than 240 research papers.
PhD., Dr.
Dr. Mark Barone has lived with type 1 diabetes for 34 years. He holds a PhD in Human Physiology and post-graduate diplomas in Diabetes Education and Communication.
In the early 2000s, he joined ADJ Diabetes Brasil, contributing to movements that led to comprehensive diabetes care in Brazil.
In 2017, he co-founded and manages the Intersectoral Forum of NCCs/NCDs in Brazil (ForumCCNTs), which includes over 250 institutions collaborating to reduce premature deaths by NCCs (SDG 3.4).
He led a group that proposed the Ladder of Empowerment for People Living with NCCs (PLWNCCs) and collaborated with the WHO-GCM/NCD on the framework for meaningful engagement of people with lived experiences.
He has served as Vice-President of ADJ Diabetes Brasil and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Currently, he is a member of committees at IAPO, Life for a Child, WHO-GCM/NCD’s NCD-LAB and Meaningful Engagement of PLWNCDs, BMJ Patient Advisory Panel, Breakthrough T1D, and RICPHI.
Tinotenda Dzikiti is a passionate global advocate for type 1 diabetes and a dedicated health equity champion.
Living with type 1 diabetes since 2010, Tino has transformed his personal experience into a driving force for change, focusing on improving access to diabetes care, particularly in low-resource settings. As an influential advocate, Tino has been at the forefront of grassroots mobilization, policy engagement, and community-driven initiatives across Africa and beyond.
He is the host of a renowned diabetes-focused podcast, where he amplifies voices from the diabetes community, shedding light on lived experiences, innovation, and systemic challenges.
His work has earned him recognition and opportunities to collaborate with key stakeholders, including international organizations, healthcare professionals, and fellow advocates, in shaping policies and interventions that prioritize people living with diabetes. Tino remains committed to fostering impactful collaborations and advancing health equity for all.
MPH., MD.
Ileana is a Venezuelan MD with further training in Body Imaging at Yale University and an MPH at Harvard University.
She is also an Associate Clinical Professor in Radiology at the University of Miami and Policlinica Metropolitana de Venezuela.
As the Co-Founder and International Director of Guerreros Azules, a private foundation established to enhance the lives of children living with type 1 Diabetes in Venezuela, Ileana has dedicated her efforts to this important cause since 2016.
Ileana is also the mother of four daughters, two of whom have been living type 1 Diabetes since they were four years old.
PhD., MD.
Dr. Jean Claude Katte is a Research Fellow in Global Health Diabetes at the NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Exeter, where he holds a Translational Fellowship.
He is also a consultant research physician for the Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) programme in Cameroon.
Dr. Katte is a medical/public health doctor with vast experience in primary diabetes care and is particularly interested in type 1 diabetes in African populations.
His research focuses on understanding the interaction between the pathogenesis and specificities of type 1 diabetes in African populations and how this knowledge can be translated to improve the survival of people living with type 1 diabetes in Africa.
He holds a PhD from the University of Exeter, Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Yaoundé 1, Cameroon, and a pioneer member of the Cameroon Academy of Young Scientists (CAYS).
Bsc., MBChB., PG Cert., FWACP, PGDip., MSc., PhD
Dr Roberta Lamptey is passionate about self-management education and support particularly in resource-constrained settings. She has been working as a consultant diabetologist for close to decade.
She understands the burden of and is intrigued by the complex nature of NCDs in Africa, most especially among families with high-deprivation.
Dr Roberta Lamptey serves as a diabetes expert to the NCD control program of Ghana.
She is a member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (STAG-NCD).
Her research interest is focused on improving self-management and outcomes of cardiometabolic conditions at primary care levels.
Roberta is a consultant for the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) and a part-time lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School.
Nupur Lalvani is the Founder Director of the Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation in India, a patient-led organisation & NGO for people with all types of diabetes & their caregivers which works in diabetes awareness, education, peer support and advocacy.
She has contributed to key discussions on global health platforms, including addressing the United Nations on Universal Health Care and is also a member of the NCD Alliance Our Views Our Voices Advisory Group. Nupur also brings lived experience as a person with type 1 diabetes.
Bent Lautrup-Nielsen is Head of Global Advocacy at World Diabetes Foundation (WDF).
Over the past decade he has developed some of WDF’s largest national NCD response partnerships with governments in particular in East Africa and the Middle East. He leads WDF’s global collaboration with the WHO, NCD Alliance, Africa CDC and other international agencies and plans and attends high-level policy events and international meetings on diabetes and other NCDs.
More recent focus areas of his work include NCDs and intersections and dynamics towards multisectoral frameworks, development financing, humanitarian settings, and integrated primary care.
Prior to joining WDF he was based in East Africa with the UN system and involved with humanitarian operations.
Mads Loftager Mundt heads up the Regional Africa Team and is global lead for type 1 diabetes at the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF). Mads holds master’s degree in Chinese Studies supplemented by studies in human rights law.
Mads has more than fifteen years of experience within development work through positions at the Danish Institute for Human Rights and Dan Church Aid and has lived in both China and Malawi.
Since 2015 Mads has worked at WDF, where he is currently overseeing the Africa region with includes a portfolio of projects in 25 countries in sub-Saharan and is coordinated by team members based in Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire and Copenhagen.
Mads has coordinated WDF engagement in type 1 diabetes since 2022 which seeks to explore how integration of type 1 diabetes into national NCD responses could support sustainable solutions for patients with diabetes in LMIC.
Newton Ngugi Macharia is a Health systems strengthening specialist, Type 1 Diabetes Advocate, Lived Experience Expert, and Diabetes Podcaster.
He currently serves as the Associate Programme Manager at the World Diabetes Foundation.
Newton is a seasoned professional with diverse experience, serving in roles such as Diabetes Peer Educator, and Type 1 Diabetes Advocate, and host of the Young Unsweet Podcast.
Newton has been recognized for his contributions, including being awarded by the NCDAK as an influential Type 1 Diabetes Advocate and founding the Young Unsweet Community Based Organization and Podcast.
Sanjana Marpadga is a Technical Officer with the WHO Global Diabetes Compact, dedicated to strengthening health systems and expanding access to diabetes care.
She first joined WHO as a consultant in 2022, focused on country support, grant development and project management, before transitioning to her current role in July 2024.
Her previous work has bridged research and implementation, spanning type 1 and type 2 diabetes projects in Tanzania and the United States, as well as the design, implementation, and scale-up of a large-scale produce prescription and healthy food voucher program across multiple U.S. cities.
Sanjana holds an MSc in Global Health Sciences from the University of California San Francisco and a BS in Biology from Duke University.
Dr. Bente Mikkelsen is a prominent figure in global health, renowned for her extensive experience and significant contributions to public health and development.
Dr. Mikkelsen brings over 11 years of senior management experience from the World Health Organization (WHO). As the Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, she played a pivotal role in advancing international efforts to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Her tenure at WHO was marked by her ability to implement global health decisions at the country level, effectively exercising the WHO reform as a method of work as well as establishing new initiatives like the Global Diabetes Compact and leading the Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative (CCEI).
Before WHO, Dr. Mikkelsen was the CEO of the South-Eastern Regional Health Authority in Norway, where she successfully restructured the public health sector. She has extensive board-level experience, including leadership roles in state-owned hospital trusts and the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI).
Her academic work includes lecturing at the University of Oslo and EU-HEM from 2015 to 2021. Currently, she is the Senior Advisor to the Innovation District Oslo Science City and will join the World Diabetes Foundation Board of Directors in 2025. Dr. Mikkelsen is known for her strategic planning, change management, and ability to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders to promote public health and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
MD, PhD, FESC,
Dr. Mocumbi is an Associate Professor of Cardiology at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Mozambique, Affiliated Professor at the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington and the Lead Researcher at the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Division at the National Public Health Institute Mozambique (Instituto Nacional de Saúde).
Her career focuses on neglected cardiovascular diseases, including epidemiological, clinical and health systems research, particularly task-shifting and incorporation of new technologies.
Dr. Mocumbi has Co-Chaired of The Lancet Global Commission on Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries (NCDI) of the Poorest Billion, and is Co-Chair of the NCDI Poverty Network. Through this role she co-leads the PEN-Plus partnership in delivering an integrated care delivery strategy focused on alleviating the NCD burden among the poorest children and young adults by increasing the accessibility and quality of chronic care services for severe NCDs—such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatic heart disease, and sickle cell disease.
Amos Msekandiana is a medical doctor from Malawi with over 15 years of clinical experience and is the first pediatric endocrinologist for Malawi.
After graduating from the Pediatric Endocrinology Training Center for Africa (PETCA) in 2019, he has been involved in mentoring and training more than 500 clinicians, nurses, and medical doctors in Malawi on the management of Type 1 Diabetes.
He developed the first specialized pediatric diabetes clinic at Kamuzu Central Hospital, which is used as a hub for pediatric diabetes training for nursing and medical students in Malawi.
He was also part of the team involved in the desk review for the development of the first pediatric NCDs guidelines for Malawi and contributed to the endocrinology chapters, including Type 1 Diabetes, a project under Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHes).
He has supervised and contributed to clinical research in various topics, including diabetes in children.
Christine Nabatanzi is a Warrior Coordinator with the Sonia Nabeta Foundation (SNF), dedicated to improving care for children and young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Uganda and in low-resource settings.
Living with type 1 diabetes for 10 years, Christine combines personal experience with professional expertise to address the unique challenges faced by underserved communities.
In her role as a Warrior Coordinator at T1D clinic in Jinja, Uganda, Christine plays a vital role in patient education, home visits, crisis intervention and psychosocial support.
Christine is passionate about advocating for improved diabetes care in remote areas and among vulnerable populations and brings a unique perspective on the intersection of poverty, healthcare access and chronic disease management.
She recently completed SNF’s Warrior Educator training program and is pursuing a diploma in special needs education, further enhancing her ability to support patients with complex needs.
Vivian Nabeta is the Founder and Executive Director of the Sonia Nabeta Foundation (SNF), dedicated to improving the lives of children with type 1 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa.
An environmental engineer turned global health expert, Vivian brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her work, combining technical expertise with a passion for health equity to drive innovative solutions in global health and sustainable development.
In establishing SNF, Vivian leveraged over a decade experience at the United Nations Development Programme where long career there expanded beyond environmental issues to encompass energy, climate change and South-South cooperation.
Her diverse professional background also includes roles at the International Finance Corporation and as a Project Engineer at Rizzo Associates in Connecticut.
Vivian holds an MBA in Finance and Strategic Management from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and a BSc and MSc in Environmental Engineering from the University of Windsor in Canada.
Graham Ogle is a paediatric endocrinologist working for Diabetes Australia as General Manager for the Life for a Child Program, and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney.
During his training, he did research in growth and body composition. In the 1990s he worked in Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.
Life for a Child commenced in 2000; the programme supports the care of 57,000 children and youth with diabetes in 53 countries. Support is provided directly to existing diabetes services, with the aim to provide the best possible care, given local circumstances, with the vision that no child should die of diabetes.
Graham was awarded the Harold Rifkin Award for Distinguished International Service in the Cause of Diabetes by the ADA (2013), and the Lestradet Award for Advocacy by ISPAD (2019).
Research interests include type 1 diabetes epidemiology, access to care, and other issues related to diabetes in young people in under-resourced countries.
Dr. Mona Osman is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, the medical director, director of community and outreach activities, Director of the University Health Services, and the director of the fellowship in sports medicine in the Department of Family Medicine at the American University of Beirut.
Dr. Osman is the Head of the Training and the Regional Diploma in Family Medicine Committees of the Scientific Council of Family Medicine at the Arab Board of Health Specializations.
She is the President of the Lebanese Society of Family Medicine. She is a member of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (STAG-NCD) at the World Health Organization.
She founded the CHAMPS Fund in memory of her son Hicham to save lives from sudden cardiac arrest.
She has more than 20 years experience in public health, non-communicable diseases, primary health care, medical education, and global health.
PhD.
Stephanie Pearson combines her academic expertise in International Relations and International Education with over a decade of leadership experience in her role as Senior Director of Global Responsibility at Breakthrough T1D.
With a PhD. in International Relations and a master’s in international education, she has focused her career on addressing global disparities in healthcare and education.
During her decade at the United Nations, Stephanie led initiatives aimed at improving access to health and education in underserved communities, gaining valuable insights into the challenges of global systems.
Since joining Breakthrough T1D in 2023, of which she is now senior director, she has concentrated on expanding access to type 1 diabetes care in low-resource settings through strategic partnerships and innovative programs.
Her work reflects a strong commitment to advancing equity and improving lives worldwide.
Vanessa’s role at IFPMA covers a wide range of global health topics relating to the access to medicines agenda and health systems strengthening, whilst also leading on non-communicable disease policy and advocacy.
Before she joined IFPMA, Vanessa was Senior Analyst and Public Policy Lead at The Economist Intelligence Unit in Geneva, the research and analysis division of The Economist Group. There, she was responsible for delivering economic, policy, and business analysis and advisory services to clients across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Prior to this, Vanessa was a Senior Consultant at GHK Consulting (now ICF Consulting), a public policy consultancy specializing in evaluating public projects and programs in the UK and Europe.
Vanessa has a Masters in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a bachelor’s degree in economics from University College London (UCL).
Erika Placella is currently the Head of Health at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Erika Placella received her Master degree in History of Medicine at the University of Geneva. She completed her education with a specialization in Public Health and various additional trainings, including at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and ICRC/WHO.
Erika Placella has over 20 years of experience in public health and global health. She is currently the Head of the Global Program Health of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Before joining the SDC, Ms Placella worked for various medical and public health organisations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, in the field of zoonoses, sexual, reproductive and child health, food security/safety and NCDs (including mental health).
Ms Placella has a thorough understanding and knowledge of health trends, health reforms, health systems and related challenges, with a focus on primary healthcare and prevention and control of major NCDs, in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Ms Placella leads the development of health at SDC (Head of Health), as well as global initiatives aiming at contributing to major health challenges, including global health governance issues.
Ms Placella also provides health policy and policy influencing guidance and contributes to positioning the SDC/Switzerland in global health debates.
DNB., DM. (Endocrinology)
Dr. D. Vijay Sheker Reddy currently holds the position of Professor and Head of the Department of Endocrinology at Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad, India.
Since 2022, he has been running the CDIC-supported Center of Excellence at Gandhi Hospital, which caters to 500 children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
Dr. D. Vijay Sheker Reddy has undergone extensive training and fellowships, including a course in Scientific Writing and Communication at the National Teacher Training Centre in BHU, Varanasi, India, and a Certificate Course in Endocrine Techniques at the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad. He has also been awarded the Henning Anderson Fellowship in Clinical and Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology in Copenhagen, and a Fellowship in Advanced Diabetes and Metabolism at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark.
In terms of academic and research contributions, Dr. Reddy has published 39 papers in indexed national and international journals and has delivered 50 oral and poster presentations at various conferences. He has served as the Principal Investigator in 18 national and global diabetes drug development phase-3 clinical studies sponsored by industry. Additionally, he has been a reviewer for various journals and ENDO US Abstracts since 2020, as well as a Publons Peer Reviewer.
Dr. D. Vijay Sheker Reddy is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Endocrine Society of India (ESI), the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), the US Endocrine Society, and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD). He has also contributed to the development of Standard Treatment Guidelines for Andhra Pradesh during the period of 2013-2014.
James Reid is a Program Officer for the Helmsley Charitable Trust's Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Program. In this role, he oversees a grant portfolio to improve access to T1D care and insulin in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Prior to joining Helmsley, James worked at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) where he led external partnerships and strategy development to accelerate access to emerging HIV prevention products in LMICs.
James has worked with multicultural teams and in remote settings across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, leading international cleft surgery missions with Operation Smile. Throughout his career, James has led employee resource groups and supported organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
James holds a Master of Public Administration from University of Delaware's Biden School of Public Policy & Administration. James is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of Boston University, earning a B.A. in international relations.
Dr. Atun is Professor of Global Health Systems and Director of the Health System Innovation Lab at Harvard University.
From 2006 to 2013, he was a Professor of International Health Management and Head of the Health Management Group at Imperial College London.
His research focuses on health system performance, design, and innovation.
Dr. Atun has published over 450 articles in leading journals, including NEJM, Nature Medicine, JAMA and Academy of Management Journal, with over 110 articles in the Lancet/Lancet family of journals.
In 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Dr. Atun was recognized by Clarivate/Web of Science as one of the World’s Highly Cited Researchers across multiple disciplines.
In 2019 and 2020, he was a senior advisor to the G20 Presidency and in 2022-23 co-chaired the Task Force on Global Health Security for the G20 Indonesian Presidency. He has advised over 30 governments, the World Bank, WHO and leading life-science companies on health systems.
He was a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine Committee on Health Systems, and the Advisory Boards of WHO Research Centre for Health Development in Japan, Norwegian Research Council for Global Health Research and the UK Medical Research Council’s Global Health Group.
Dr. Esraa Shatnawi is a board-certified pediatrician and fellowship-trained pediatric endocrinologist with seven years of clinical experience.
Her expertise in type 1 diabetes is widely recognized, evidenced by numerous publications and active involvement in leading professional organizations. Dr. Shatnawi practices at Jordan Ministry of Health hospitals, including Princess Rahma Teaching Hospital and Prince Hamza Hospital.
She is a member of the Jordan Pediatric Society, the Jordanian Growth Committee, the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES), the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), the Arab Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ASPED), and the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE).
Dr. Hiwot Solomon Taffese is the Lead Executive Officer for Disease Prevention and Control at Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health.
She oversees programs for communicable, non-communicable, and neglected tropical diseases.
With extensive experience in public health, she has managed HIV and other disease programs.
Dr. Hiwot Solomon Taffese has contributed to developing national strategic plans, guidelines, and multi-year grants. Notably, she led the malaria prevention program for seven years, advancing it from control to elimination.
Zoran Stojkovski is an experienced management consultant, author, and volunteer with nearly 30 years of expertise in re-granting, social development, and capacity-building programs.
He has authored a series of books and handbooks on grant project development, organizational sustainability, and advocacy.
His postgraduate studies at London Metropolitan University focused on international donor practices.
Beyond his professional career, Stojkovski is a passionate advocate for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), a condition he has managed for 27 years. As an active volunteer with the Union of Associations of Persons with Diabetes of North Macedonia, he applies his expertise to strengthen advocacy efforts, lobbying the government to secure CGM sensors and insulin pumps for people with T1D.
He was recently appointed as the Advocacy Ambassador for the T1D Fund, further amplifying his efforts to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes through policy change and enhanced healthcare access.
Anne Sofie Westh Olsen has a PhD in Political Science with extensive experience in access to social services in low- and middle-income setting.
As a Project Director in Global Health Equity at Novo Nordisk, she currently leads the Changing Diabetes in Children Partnership. She previously worked for the World Bank and regional development banks.
She is the author of numerous articles, books, reports and blogs, including the recent publication 'Report cards: Parental preferences, information and school choice in Haiti'.
Olsen's interests lie in evaluating and assessing the impact of national interventions, as seen by her work in Ecuador on 'Order Effects and Employment Decisions: Experimental Evidence from a Nationwide Program'.
Sarah Wild did her medical training in London and Cambridge. Her postgraduate experience included general medicine and diabetes, general practice and public health medicine, a cardiovascular epidemiology fellowship at Stanford University and a PhD at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Sarah has worked at the University of Edinburgh since 2002 and is now professor of epidemiology and an honorary consultant in public health at Lothian NHS Board and at Public Health Scotland.
Her main interests are the epidemiology and prevention of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases and the use of routine data for research. She has led the annual Scottish Diabetes Survey since 2022.