Agenda

Ambassador Alshanfari is an internationally recognized Omani diplomat, healthcare executive, engineer, and strategic leader with over 23 years of experience. He is the Founder of the Oman Health Office in Geneva, Ambassador for Health Affairs, and Oman’s Representative to the World Health Organization.

He is widely recognized for his contributions to global health governance, health diplomacy, AI governance, digital health, and health security. He currently serves as Chair of the Credentials Committee at the 79th World Health Assembly (2026) and has contributed to the WHO Pandemic Agreement negotiations (INB). He was named a Global Leader by The Leaders Network (2026).

At the national level, he has led major healthcare infrastructure transformation initiatives in Oman, overseeing the development and modernization of hospitals and health facilities across the country.

Ambassador Alshanfari holds a Master’s in Strategic Planning and Defense Studies (Distinction) from the National Defence College, Oman, and a Bachelor of Engineering from the State University of New York, USA.

Professor Nikica Darabos is Croatia’s Health Representative and Minister Plenipotentiary to the World Health Organization in Geneva. A physician, diplomat, and health systems expert, he combines expertise across medicine, public health, diplomacy, and health management.

With over 20 years of national and more than a decade of international experience, he has led public health programs and multilateral initiatives. He served as Regional Coordinator for the WHO European Region, representing 53 countries and advancing strategic health leadership and advocacy in Geneva.

Professor Darabos is also active in academia and research, collaborating with leading institutions in Geneva and the WHO Academy, and contributing to global health policy, including emergency preparedness, health workforce support, and pandemic response.

Ms. Bivolaru is a researcher at the Geneva School of Diplomacy, contributing to the Programme for Frontier Technologies and Governance, with a focus on the intersection of AI, technology, and public policy.

With an interdisciplinary background in economics, national security, diplomacy, and international relations, her work explores how emerging technologies can be effectively governed to support innovation and societal impact.

Born in Romania and established in Greece, she combines her research with private sector leadership as Chief Operating Officer of a fruit distribution company, overseeing operations and business development, and as a business developer in the tourism sector focused on European programs and strategic partnerships. She began her professional career in procurement within a company under the Romanian Ministry of Health, providing early exposure to healthcare systems and policy.

Professor Wallace S. Cheng is Programme Director for Frontier Technologies and Governance at the Geneva School of Diplomacy. His work focuses on AI governance, digital policy, and technology applications in high-risk and humanitarian contexts.

He has worked with leading international organizations including the UN World Food Programme (WFP), UNCTAD, and ICTSD, and advises institutions such as WFP, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and global AI ethics initiatives.

A contributor to the World Economic Forum since 2015 and an Expert Member of the UN’s United for Smart and Sustainable Cities (U4SSC), he supports global policy development at the intersection of AI, sustainability, and governance. A Yale World Fellow, he brings an interdisciplinary approach to advancing responsible and inclusive technology governance.

Diana Meskendahl is Director of Strategic Projects & AI at the German Digital Health Association (Spitzenverband Digitale Gesundheitsversorgung – SVDGV). Before joining SVDGV, she was a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group, where she mostly advised pharmaceutical manufacturers. She also helped scale the mobility company Blacklane from 2 to 150 employees as Project Manager. Diana has authored articles on healthcare management and co-authored SVDGV’s DiGA Reports.

As the Director of Digital Health & Medtech Value at MedTech Europe, Alexander oversees all activities related to digital regulations impacting the medical technology sector. The primary areas of focus include artificial intelligence, data management & governance, the European Health Data Space, and cyber resilience.

Before joining MedTech Europe, Alexander was employed by the Belgian technology association and actively participated in multiple other European associations. In addition, he held positions as a business unit manager, product manager and medical advisor in both the medical technology and pharmaceutical industries. Throughout his professional career, he has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing digital health.

Alexander holds multiple degrees in Biomedical Sciences, Medical Imaging, and Management in Healthcare. As a Belgian national and native Dutch speaker, he is fluent in French and English. In his leisure time, Alexander enjoys participating in triathlons and indulging his passion for skiing during the winter season.

Mr. Weibin Liu is Vice President of BGI Group. In his role at BGI, Weibin leads international spatial biology and population genomics initiatives, as well as other key Group-level special missions. In addition to his work at BGI, Weibin is also the lead architect of the Human Genome Project II (HGP2).

Dr. Krishnan is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, keynote speaker, and distinguished leader in international relations and diplomacy. With a rich academic background and extensive professional experience in academia, the UN, civil society organisations, and the private sector, Dr. Krishnan has significantly contributed to the strategic direction and growth of the global influence of several renowned organisations.

In his current role as Director of the Geneva School of Diplomacy & IR (GSD), Dr Krishnan draws upon his extensive background in international relations and business to drive the organisation’s strategic growth and influence. His extensive diplomatic and political experience and his deep understanding of business development have been instrumental in positioning GSD as a leading institution of excellence.

In his current and previous roles, Dr Krishnan has been instrumental in building numerous meaningful partnerships with governments, international organisations, NGOs, businesses, and universities all over the world.

Throughout his career, Dr Krishnan has demonstrated a strong commitment to humanitarianism, peacebuilding, and refugee issues. In his past roles, he has extensively worked on several refugee and humanitarian projects with the UN and other international organizations, which have had a direct field impact.

Dr Krishnan’s unwavering ambition is to democratize the education and practice of diplomacy and international politics, making it accessible to all. As part of this vision, he is dedicated to creating future leaders who not only have the vigour but also possess the right skills to give back to society. He is a keynote speaker on many important platforms, sharing his insights on topics related to IR, diplomacy, international politics, education, youth development, leadership, and many more.

Dr Rakesh Krishnan is a visionary leader dedicated to fostering a global community of leaders and thinkers in international relations and diplomacy. His innovative approach and dynamic leadership continue to drive impactful collaborations and educational advancements.

Dr Krishnan is multilingual. He has a Doctorate degree in International Relations, a Master's degree in International Relations, a PGD in international law and diplomacy, and a Bachelor of Business administration.