Speakers

M.D., Ph.D, and clinical hematologist at the Besançon University Hospital in France earlier in his career, Pierre Tiberghien has headed a regional blood establishment at EFS (Etablissement Français du Sang, the French transfusion public service) as well as a University INSERM research team on immune interactions and cellular therapies. Pierre Tiberghien is Professor of medicine (Immunology) at Marie et Louis Pasteur University. After leading medicine and research at EFS, he is currently Senior advisor for European and international medical and scientific affairs. Pierre Tiberghien is president of the European Blood Alliance and president of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT).

Dr. Roland Willy NIYIBIZI is a physician and transfusion medicine specialist dedicated to strengthening blood safety systems across Africa. He holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Burundi and a Master’s specialization in Immuno-Hematology and Transfusion from the University of Liège, Belgium. At the WHO Regional Office for Africa, he serves as Technical Officer for Blood Safety, Organ and Tissue Transplantation. Since 2013, he has supported national and regional transfusion services to improve financing, expand blood supply, and enhance safety. His research on decentralizing transfusion services in Burundi earned international recognition from the International Society of Blood Transfusion.

Susan Elaborot Acana is the Quality Manager and Senior Lab Scientist at the Uganda Blood Transfusion Service (UBTS), with over 20 years of leadership in laboratory medicine. A Commonwealth Fellow, Salford University, UK and RMIT University Australia, alumna with MSc Laboratory Medicine, she specialized in Advanced Transfusion, and Transplantation Science, Hematology, Clinical Biochemistry and Quality Systems and accreditation.

A pioneer member in accreditation, to Uganda’s first ISO 15189 and 9001 accredited laboratory in 2007. That same year, she served on the indigenous multidisciplinary team that performed Uganda’s first successful open-heart surgery. At UBTS, she championed the first Level 2 AfSBT certification and current member of AfSBT Standards committee.
A member of Ministry of Health technical working groups and multiple international professional bodies (ISBT, AfSBT), Susan is dedicated to quality systems and accreditation works at UBTS, Plasma fractionation Initiatives, researcher and mentor. Susan is a change agent, remains a passionate advocate for blood safety, quality improvement, and the advancement of laboratory practice in Uganda and across Africa.

Lesley qualified as a pharmacist and worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years before moving to blood transfusion. Previously, she held the position of Quality Manager for Western Cape Blood Service in South Africa. Currently, she is the Quality Consultant for the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT).

In addition, Lesley is a board member of the ISBT Quality Working Party where she led a working group on the harmonisation of definitions used in quality management. Lesley recently co-chaired a WHO working group tasked with developing the WHO Guidance on Implementing a Quality System in Blood Establishments.

Lizeka Mtebele is currently employed as an Immunohematology Subject Matter Expert in Molecular Research & Development Department at the South African National Blood Service. She holds BTech in Biomedical Technology. During her 13-year career in the blood industry she’s developed experience across various roles: Blood Bank Laboratory Technologist, Transfusion Virology Technologist, Quality Management Systems officer and currently specializing in Immunohematology to support blood banks in the investigation of complex cases using serological and molecular techniques.

Professor Eichbaum was born in Namibia and educated at Harvard Medical School and MIT (MD, PhD, MPH) followed by clinical training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was then recruited to Vanderbilt University as Assistant Dean and Professor of Pathology and Medical Education and served Medical Co-Director and Fellowship Director of Transfusion Medicine. He is currently Vice-chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Director or Transfusion Medicine at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York. He founded the AABB Global Transfusion Forum and serves on numerous international committees and Boards. He has published numerous articles and seven books in medicine and humanities

Professor Mickey Koh received his medical degree at the National University of Singapore followed by all of his subsequent specialist Haematology training (FRCPath, MRCP and PhD) in London.

He holds several joint positions. Prof Koh is the Clinical Director of the Haematology, Renal and Oncology Departments at St George’s University Hospital, London, UK and part of Infection and Immunity Academic Group at St George’s Medical School.
He is also Professor and Honorary Consultant of the Advanced Cell Therapy and Research Institute (ACTRIS) in Singapore which is a national facility involved in supporting cell and gene therapy trials across haemato-oncology and regenerative medicine.

Professor Mickey Koh has been appointed as part of the Expert Advisory Panel at the World Health Organisation and sits on the Expert Committee on Biological Standardisation. He has also acted as co-chair for this committee.

He is the current Vice-President of the Worldwide Network for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (WBMT) and will be the incoming President of WBMT 2026-208.

In addition, Professor Koh is on the Board of Directors for ISBT International Society of Blood Transfusion) and ICCBBA, an international WHO -affiliated organisation overseeing the standard for terminology, coding and labelling of medical products of human origin. He has also been a past Board member of the International Society of Cellular Therapy (ISCT)

Dr Shruthi Narayan is the Medical Director of Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT)—the independent, professionally led haemovigilance scheme covering the entire UK. She also serves as a Donor Consultant at NHS Blood and Transplant. Shruthi chairs the Royal College of Pathologists Transfusion Specialty Advisory Committee, is part of the leadership team of the ISBT Haemovigilance Working Party and currently serves as President of the International Haemovigilance Network. A passionate advocate for transfusion safety, Shruthi is deeply engaged in education and quality improvement initiatives that advance safe transfusion practice globally.

Dr Claire Armour (Barrett) is a Specialist Physician who is passionate about Blood Health and how it intersects with Patient Blood Management. She strives to develop both research and education in this field. Her special research interest is anaemia.

Claire is the Head of Research and Development at the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of the Free State. Her current project is the development of a biobank representing the general central South African population. Claire has about 40 publications in peer reviewed journals, and is the member of various international committees. She is the co-chair of the Global Transfusion Forum (GTF) Education Subcommittee

Thabiso Rapodile is the Lead Consultant for Training, Education and Advisory Services at the South African National Blood Service, with over 13 years’ experience in transfusion medicine. Her expertise spans the full blood value chain, including donor care, technical support, and healthcare professional education. She has co-developed university-accredited training and short learning programmes, contributed to nursing and registrar education, and launched SANBS’ digital learning platform. With a background in paediatrics, HIV care, and nursing education, she is an active AfSBT and ISBT member, with research presented at AfSBT and ISBT congresses on blood safety and donor eligibility in Africa.

Peter J.M. van den Burg, MD, PhD graduated as physician in 1989 at the university of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and worked as resident in internal medicine, pulmonology and cardiology. He finalised his PhD in blood coagulation in 1994 at the University of Utrecht.

Peter specialised in transfusion medicine and works for Sanquin blood supply in The Netherlands. Besides his work in transfusion medicine, he is active in various international projects and programs such as the ISBT, EBA and EHA. Peter is also head of the Management in Transfusion Medicine postgraduate program at the university of Groningen.

Dr Jean Baptiste Tapko ; MD, CES and DES; Blood Transfusion Expert. Holds several post graduate degrees in hematology, microbiology, virology, parasitology, immunology and Molecular Biology.
Education manager at AfSBT ; Member of the WHO Advisory Group on Blood Regulation, Availability and Safety ;

Former WHO Regional Advisor Blood Safety for the WHO African Region; former WHO Representative in Tanzania; Past president of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion
Former Lecturer of hematology and Immunology at faculty of medicine of Marseille France and Senior lecturer at the faculty of medicine of Yaoundé, Cameroon, cumulatively with his functions of blood bank head and director of the clinical laboratory of the reference hospital of Yaoundé.

Among others received Awards of best Manager of WHO/AFRO in 2012 and AfSBT Presidential award in 2021

Likes music, sport, dance and literature.

Meghan Delaney is the Chief of the Division of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and the Director of Transfusion Medicine at Children’s National Hospital and she is Professor of Pathology and Pediatrics and the George Washington University in Washington, DC, USA. At Children’s National, Dr Delaney is the president of the medical staff and is immediate Past President for AABB. In global health, Delaney focuses on improving access to safe blood transfusion in low- and middle-income nations. She serves as the Chair of NIH’s BLOODSAFE Program that aims to improve access to safe blood in Sub Saharan Africa.

Dr Carla Van Zyl is a Medical Practitioner by training and currently the Medical Division Manager at the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NAMBTS). She obtained her medical degree from the University of Namibia and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Management of Transfusion Medicine at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.

Dr. Ashenafi Amare is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and the Director General of the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service. He has served as a clinician, researcher, and academician, dedicating his career to improving child health and advancing transfusion and transplant services in Ethiopia. Dr. Ashenafi has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and has contributed significantly to evidence-based practice, policy development, and health system transformation. He currently leads Ethiopia’s national blood service modernization initiative, focusing on strengthening safety, quality, governance, digitalization, and equitable access. Passionate about innovation and capacity building, Dr. Ashenafi remains committed to advancing lifesaving services for patients, donors, and communities across Africa.

Israel Chipare is the Chief Executive Officer of NAMBTS, where he oversees the operations of Namibia’s sole blood service. He is a Medical Laboratory Scientist specialized in blood banking, and also holds a Master of Transfusion Medicine, Cellular and Tissue Therapies degree as well as an MBA. Mr. Chipare is a recognized global expert, having served as an external consultant for the WHO Regional Office for Africa and the National Bioproducts Institute NPC. His leadership roles include serving as Vice President of the AfSBT (SADC region) and contributing to various WHO Working Groups, notably developing costing guidelines for blood establishments, plasma centres and hospital blood banks. An active member of the ISBT Global Blood Safety Working Party, he has authored or co-authored eight scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals. His career reflects a commitment to advancing blood transfusion through operational excellence, strategic management, and international collaboration.

France Pirenne, MD, PhD, is Professor of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine at University Paris-Est-Créteil, France. She began her career at the National Blood Group Reference Center in Paris, where she developed France’s first molecular blood group laboratory. She later served as Medical Director of the Paris region of the French Blood Agency (EFS) and is currently Deputy Director of International Affairs at EFS. Her research was among the first to identify and characterize severe post-transfusion reactions and alloimmunization in patients with sickle cell disease. She has authored over 190 scientific publications, chaired the ASH Transfusion Scientific Committee in 2025, and served as President of the French Society of Transfusion for nine years.

Dr. Leni von Bonsdorff serves as Executive Director of the International Plasma and Fractionation Association (IPFA), where she leads efforts to support the not-for-profit sector in plasma collection and the production of plasma-derived therapies. With extensive experience in the field, Dr. von Bonsdorff has held executive roles at Sanquin in Finland and contributed significantly to R&D at the Finnish Red Cross Blood Service.

Her broad expertise covers research and development, production, clinical use, marketing, and sales of plasma products. Dr. von Bonsdorff has authored numerous publications.
Deeply committed to advancing plasma-based therapies and increasing patient access, Dr. von Bonsdorff remains a strong advocate for public sector initiatives in this vital area.

Dr. Tanya Glatt is a haematopathologist at the South African National Blood Service (SANBS). She oversees the Clinical Apheresis Department, which provides a mobile apheresis service across eight of South Africa’s nine provinces. She is also the programme director of SANBS’s JACIE-accredited Cellular Therapy Facility and a course supervisor for the national registrar training programme in transfusion medicine.

Dr. Glatt is an honorary lecturer in the Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, and is a Research Associate in the Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Johannesburg. Her professional interests include apheresis, stem cell transplantation, and immunohaematology, with a strong commitment to the training and development of medical personnel in the field of transfusion medicine.

Sue T. Johnson, MSTM, MLS(ASCP)SBBCM is Director of Clinical Education and the SBB program at Versiti and Director of the Transfusion medicine Program at Marquette University and a Clinical Associate Professor at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, College of Health Science.

Sue has been actively involved in AABB serving on many committees and is a past member of the AABB Board of Directors. Sue is past chair of the American Society of Clinical Pathology Board of Certification Board of Governors and currently secretary of the ISBT Immunohematology Working Party.

Sue has authored numerous publications in Immunohematology including Judd’s Methods in Immunohematology and Blood Banker Favorites: A Collection of Best Recipes for Blood Sample Preparation. She has also had the honor of being an associate editor of the 20th and 21st edition of the AABB Technical Manual.

Ruwayda Soeker is an expert in immuno-haematology and a dedicated mental health professional, currently serving as the Manager of the Immuno-haematology Laboratory at the Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) in South Africa. With a career spanning several decades, she gained experience in Blood Banks, Training and Specialised laboratories. She is a leading voice in the management of rare blood donor programs and the implementation of advanced laboratory technologies. She has professional qualifications in Biomedical Science and Psychology

• Laboratory Leadership: She oversees critical immuno-haematology operations, including the identification of unexpected antibodies and the resolution of donor discrepancy queries.
• She is a recognized specialist in the Rare Donor Program, has contributed to international collaborations and research regarding rare blood types in South Africa. Her laboratory contributed to the classification of the Rh CEWA (originally Rh51) antigen.
• Counselling and Social Advocacy: Beyond the laboratory, she has extensive experience as a family counsellor and volunteer, having served organizations such as SANCA (South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence), the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children and FAMAC (Family and Marriage Association of the Cape)
• Global Collaboration: She actively represents South Africa at the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in the Rare Donor and Immunohaematology Methods Working groups

• Chief Medical Officer of the Blood Transfusion Service at Swiss Transfusion SRC, Swiss Red Cross, Bern
• Consulting Transfusion Technology Expert for the International Departement Swiss Red Cross
• Bureau Member of the European Council Directors Committee on Blood Transfusion (CD-P-TS)
• Secretary of the German Society for Transfusionmedicin and Immunohaematology
• Member of divers national and international Working parties.

Dr Lilian Antwi Boateng is a senior lecturer and a researcher in the Haematology Unit of the Department of Medical Diagnostics, KNUST, Ghana. She holds a PhD in Tropical Medicine from the University of Liverpool. Her research focuses on optimising blood transfusion practices in Africa in the area of immune responses to RBC antigens. She is a fellow of AREF and the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars programme.

Lilian is passionate about promoting blood transfusion research in Ghana and imparting evidence-based laboratory transfusion practices to students pursing laboratory training in blood transfusion for which she has been the recipient of five different grants.

As a Manager of the Donor Division, she leads all donor-related operations with a focus on safety, efficiency, and donor experience. In this capacity she oversees blood collection activities across fixed collection centres, mobile outreach units, and apheresis services, ensuring that each programme meets regulatory standards and aligns with national transfusion needs.

I am a Consultant Hematologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford (NHSBT and Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust), and Professor of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Oxford. My overarching work continues to address the fundamental question raised by patients: “What good will this transfusion do me?” My research is centred on clinical indications of blood transfusion components or alternatives, through systematic reviews and clinical studies/trials. I am the Director of the NIHR Blood Transfusion Research Unit (BTRU) Data Enabled Transfusion Practice, which promises new analytics with health data science and new methods of assessing and improving transfusion practice

As Head of the Knowledge Unit within the International Cooperation Department of the Belgian Red Cross–Flanders, Florine coordinates technical managers, delivering best-in-class blood expertise to strengthen blood systems internationally, leveraging Belgian Red Cross-Flanders’ expertise.

The department implements projects to support Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and blood services, across Africa. Its objective is to build sustainable blood systems based on voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation and to ensure access to safe, high-quality blood products that meet the needs of the population.

With a background in business engineering, Florine joined the Belgian Red Cross–Flanders in 2024 and received hands-on training in blood services.

Marion Vermeulen is the Executive: Transfusion Medicine and Technical Services at the South African National Blood Service (SANBS). She has spent most of her 35 years working in Transfusion Transmissible Infections. Her current role includes developing the SANBS strategy with direct responsibility for donation screening, processing, crossmatching, issuing, transportation, and logistics of 1 million donations annually. She earned her PhD from Stellenbosch University for advancements in transfusion safety concerning Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTI). She is the ISBT regional director for Africa, an active member of the international society for blood transfusion (ISBT) TTID working party, and chairperson of the I TRY IT programme that provides mentorship to young early-career researchers through ISBT.

Dr Caroline Hilton graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2005. She joined the Western Cape Blood Service in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2014 as the Head of the Medical Division and became the Lead Medical Consultant in 2022. Her main areas of interest are haemovigilance and transfusion medicine education.

Ellen van der Schoot is professor of Experimental Immunohematology at Sanquin and the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Her research focusses on the alloimmunization against blood group antigens, studying both the blood group antigens and the alloantibodies. She is founder of the Blood Group Genomics consortium that recently developed a comprehensive blood group genotyping array. Her present research mainly focusses on RhD-mediated HDFN, also in Africa as part of the AFRICARhE research consortium. She is the chair of WIRhE, the world wide initiative to eradicate Rh disease (www.wirhe.org) . She has published over >300 peer reviewed papers and supervised 50 PhD students.

Dr Jeh-han Omarjee is currently Head of Biotechnology and Product Development at the National Bioproducts Institute. Previously, she served as Manager: Microbiological Sciences and Quality Active Raw Materials, where she oversaw the safety, quality, testing, and release of plasma and intermediates for 18 years. She holds a PhD from Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and has published on plasma fractionation in South Africa. Her expertise includes plasma master files, epidemiology data, GMP audits, and quality oversight of plasma, intermediates, and APIs. She actively supports the Plasma from Africa for Africans programme to improve plasma quality in African blood establishments

Ravi Reddy is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African National Blood Service (SANBS) and has worked for the Blood Transfusion Services in South Africa for 40 years. His main role is to lead the executive committee in executing the strategy to collect, process, test and issue 964 000 units of whole blood annually.

He has served on the Board of the International Society for Blood Transfusion (ISBT) for 10 years and as President of ISBT from 2016 to 2018. Ravi has also served on the Board of the African Society for Blood Transfusion for 8 years.

He is author/co-author of over 40 scientific publications in international journals and has presented numerous posters and papers at International and National Congresses.

Mr. Penda Ithindi is a seasoned Namibian public servant and economist with over two decades of experience in government service. He holds an M.Sc. in Economics from the University of London (2001–2002) and a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Saint Olaf College (1989–1993). Mr. Ithindi has held several key positions, including Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, and served in the Ministry of Finance as a technical advisor to the Minister. On 1 December 2023, he was appointed Executive Director in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, before transitioning to the Ministry of Health and Social Services as an Executive Director effective 1 April 2025.

Dr Farouk is specialized in “Transfusion medicine” and “Human Tissues and Cells”, and he holds a master degree in Business Administration. Over his 26 years of experience, he implemented many EU, WHO, USAID, GIZ, and Swiss Red Cross projects in Eastern Europe, Balkans, Middle-East, Africa, and the Far-East in fields of blood transfusion, Human tissues and cells, public health, and maternal health. Dr. Farouk authored and reviewed over 45 scientific papers, book sections, and researches in the same fields. Currently, Dr. Farouk is the Director of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion (AfSBT), the Chair of the ICCBBA ISBT 128 organization Board of Directors, a member of AABB Global Transfusion Forum, and a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Transfusion Medicine Institute (IDTM), Netherlands.

Prof Claude Tayou Tagny is a medical doctor with specialized training in Laboratory medecine and hematology. He has specific training and expertise in Transfusion medicine notably in blood safety in resource-limited settings. Claude works for 3 different entities: 1)The Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaoundé 1 as a full Professor of hematology and Transfusion Medicine; he chairs the hematology unit 2)the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital as the head of the hematology and blood transfusion department 3) The National Blood Transfusion service, as the Medical Director. Prof Claude Tayou has published more than 130 papers in peer-reviewed journals, books and chapters of books, mainly in the Blood Transfusion safety area, focusing on issues and strategies for resource-limited countries. Claude is the accreditation manager for the Africa Society of Blood Transfusion and a WHO expert.

Saliou Diop is Professor of Hematology and blood transfusion, Head of the Hematology Department of the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal. Prof. Saliou Diop is also the former Director of the National Blood Transfusion services of Senegal from 2009 to 2025. He is the current President of the Africa Society for Blood Transfusion. Prof Diop is involved in many research activities including blood transfusion safety, hematologic diseases particularly hemoglobinopathies and inherited bleeding disorders published in peer reviewed journals.

Public Health Specialist with a vast experience working with the WHO both at the Country and Regional Levels in Health Policy Analysis and Development within the context of functional health systems. She has worked extensively within the WHO African Region providing guidance on access to health products including blood, medical devices and assistive technologies and in regulatory systems strengthening. She is based in Congo, Brazzaville at the WHO Regional Office for Affrica

Professor. Hume is a pediatric hematologist and transfusion medicine (TM) physician in the Department of Pediatrics at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Sainte-Justine (CHUSJ), Montreal, QC, Canada.

Her clinical and research career in TM has spanned activities from vein-to-vein in both high- and low-resource settings. From 1985 to 2000, she was the medical director of the CHUSJ blood bank and the hemoglobinopathy program; from 2001-2009 she was an Executive Medical Director at Canadian Blood Services (CBS).

From 2010 to 2020 she divided her time and professional activities between CHUSJ, Montreal and Kampala, Uganda, where she was a Visiting Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University.

Since March 2024, Professor Hume has retired from clinical and laboratory practice but continues to be active with African colleagues in research and educational collaborations.

Currently:

• Executive Director of ESBS [Egyptian Society of Blood Services].
• Co-chair of PPI (Policy and Practice Improvements) working party, GTF (Global Transfusion Forum) of AABB.
• Member of standard committee of AfSBT.
• Consultant of Transfusion Medicine for WHO, CDC, EU, SRC, AfSBT & ESTM,
• Board member of ATMF.

Formerly:

• Head of NBTS (National Blood Transfusion Services), Egyptian MOH.
• President of AfSBT (Africa Society for Blood Transfusion),
• President of ATMF [Arab Transfusion Medicine Forum].
• Head of NBTS (National Blood Transfusion Services), Oman MOH.
• Director of Blood transfusion Center, Cairo University Hospitals.
• ECBS- WHO board member.
• ICCBBA, and EMATAG board member.
• Director of ISBT-EMR from 2002 to 2006, and was the Head of working party of education, ISBT (2004-2010).
• Panel expert for WHO.

Qualifications:

• Graduated from the medical school of Cairo university (MBChB),
• Obtained the certificate of transfusion medicine (CTM) from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Achievements:

• Established with other colleagues the Egyptian fellowship degree in transfusion medicine, a four-year degree for medical doctors’ graduates.
• Chair the national transfusion advisory committee, the technical committee of blood products in Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), and the scientific committee of Egyptian fellowship board for TM.
• Received several awards: Egyptian medical syndicate awards for outstanding achievements two times (2005 & 2008), the ABTA (Arab Blood Transfusion Association) prize for regional and local contribution in the development of transfusion services (2009), and the ISBT award for achievement as head of education working party (2010).
• Authored and co-authored more than 60 publications, books, guidelines, and papers.
• Contributed to the restructuring of blood services in several countries including Yemen, Libya, Oman, South Sudan, Uganda, & Ethiopia.
• Organized and presided the 27th regional ISBT conference in Cairo in 2009.

Renetha Van der Walt is a seasoned ICT professional at the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) with over 30 years of experience across business and technology domains. She began her career as a Medical Technician and Phlebotomist, gaining insight into blood service operations. For the past 20 years, she has specialised in implementing, supporting and optimising Blood Establishment Computer Systems (BECS), supported by a Bachelor’s degree in Business Psychology and a diploma in Business Analysis. Currently the Business Applications Team Lead, responsible for maintaining and enhancing BECS applications to enable efficient, compliant and sustainable blood service processes.

Dr. Reinhardt studied Biology and received a PhD in virology. After working as a post-doctoral researcher in California and in France, he joined the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut in 2008. He is deputy head of the section “Quality Assessment Coagulation Products and Gene Therapy”, where he is leading the group responsible for the quality assessment of blood products and their recombinant counter parts, as well as coordination of the assessment of Plasma Master File applications. Jens Reinhardt is also the Head of the GHPP-BloodTrain, focusing on strengthening the regulatory systems for blood and blood products in African Partner Countries.

Dr Karin van den Berg is the Medical Director of the South African National Blood Service, serves on the Board of the South African Bone Marrow Registry and is an affiliated lecturer at the University of the Free State. She is member of several of the ISBT, AABB and the World Health Organisation Working Parties. Her main research focus areas are the intersection of the HIV and Iron Deficiency epidemics and blood donation in South Africa.

Member, Board of Directors Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies(AABB) Grassroots policy advocate for social inequalities and blood availability in LMICs Founding member of the Blood Desert Coalition and current lead, Advocacy and Communications Board Member, World Wide Initiative for Rh disease Eradication (WIRhE Africa Board) Member, Tax Appeals Tribunal of Kenya

Jenny is the Executive Director of the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) based in Amsterdam and has been in post since April 2020. She is responsible for the implementation of the ISBT Board’s strategy that includes providing opportunities for education in transfusion medicine, advocating for blood systems, patients, donors and transfusion professionals, and building relationships with partner organisations.

Jenny has a background in biomedical science working in the English National Blood Service and as a hospital transfusion laboratory manager before specialising in External Quality Assessment (EQA). She was with the UK National EQA Scheme for >20 years, laterally as Scheme Director for the Blood Transfusion Laboratory Practice scheme. Whilst in the UK, she was a member of the British Society of Haematology (BSH) Transfusion Task Force overseeing the development of BSH transfusion guidelines. She has been the Chief Examiner for Transfusion Science for the Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS), an examiner for the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathology (FRCPath) in Transfusion Science and has worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) on projects to develop and deliver training in EQA, quality and blood group serology in LMIC.

Mr. Eoin McGrath is the Executive Director of ICCBBA, formerly known as the International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation, since March 2022. ICCBBA develops and maintains the international ISBT 128 standard for terminology, coding, traceability and labelling of medical products of human origin (MPHO). He previously worked as Director of Advocacy & Quality of Care at the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) where he led the pioneering JACIE Accreditation programme and coordinated EBMT’s interactions with European Union agencies, national regulators and other stakeholders.

He coordinated EBMT’s successful efforts to achieve a qualification opinion by EMA on the EBMT cellular therapy registry and regularly interacted with European regulators in the field of cell therapies.

Zita Tobin is the Manager: Marketing and Donor Relations at the Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia (NamBTS), where she leads national strategies focused on voluntary blood donor recruitment and retention. She has successfully implemented targeted marketing campaigns that strengthen donor loyalty and increase repeat donations across Namibia.

Zita leads a strategically focused team committed to excellence in donor relations, consistently going the extra mile to ensure donors feel valued and motivated to return.

Ms Edwig Shingenge (nee Hauwanga) is a Medical Laboratory Sciences lecturer in Haematology and Immunohaematology at the Namibia University of Science & Technology (NUST). She has a mono specialisation in Immunohaematology from the South African Medical Technology Association (SLMTA) and has worked previously as the Windhoek Blood Bank supervisor for the Namibia Blood Transfusion Services (NAMBTS). She is an alumnus of the WHO International Agency for Research (IARC summer school, in Cancer Epidemiology and a prospective PhD student with a focus on the epidemiological and diagnostic landscape of haematological malignancies in Namibia.

Dr Kudakwashe Simba is a Specialist Physician and Clinical Haematologist based in Windhoek, Namibia, practising across both the private and public healthcare sectors. He qualified as a medical doctor in 2007 and has extensive regional experience in internal medicine, HIV-associated disorders, and both malignant and non-malignant haematology. He completed specialist training in Internal Medicine and subspecialty training in Clinical Haematology at the University of Cape Town, where he was awarded a Master of Medicine degree (Cum Laude) and a Master of Philosophy in Clinical Haematology. In November 2025, he led Namibia’s first bone marrow transplant through the Namibia Bone Marrow Transplant Collaboration Group, advancing equitable access to specialised haematology services both in private and public health institutions.

Present Affiliation : Medical Director & Unit Head; Dibrugarh Cancer Hospital, India
PRESIDENT, ASIAN ASSOCIATION OF TRANSFUSION MEDICINE (www.aatmweb.org)

Martin Smid (1958, Netherlands, MD Medicine, PhD, MBA) has more than 25 years’ experience in blood bank management, transfusion medicine and coagulation. He was managing director of Sanquin Consulting Services and director of the Academic Institute IDTM. He is the Treasurer of the International Society for Blood Transfusion and also chaired the ISBT WP GBS of which he is a member from the start in 2010. Martin’s work experience combined transfusion medicine and management and his main responsibilities include international cooperation and knowledge sharing in international projects and the Management of Transfusion Medicine programme at the Graduate School of Medical Science of the University of Groningen. He has over 60 publications mainly in the area of blood products and transfusion.

Philippe Vandekerckhove is CEO of the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders since 2003. Prior to this position Philippe worked as Clinical Director of the University Hospital Leuven from where he also obtained his M.D., Ph.D and Pathology degree. His training was further carried out in South Africa (Baragwanath Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital), the USA (Woods Hole Marine Biology Laboratory, University of Hawaii, New York University), and The Netherlands (Erasmus University, Rotterdam).

In addition, Philippe studied healthcare management at INSEAD (France) and general management at Harvard Business School. He has published about 200 articles in peer reviewed journals.
Philippe is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Leuven (Belgium) and Professor Extraordinary at Stellenbosch University. He is honorary president of the European Blood Alliance, honorary president of GAP (Global Advisory Panel of Red Cross Blood Services), and past-president of Briant (a network of general hospitals in Belgium).