Speakers

Dr Natalia Allué Orduña is Medical Director of Fundació Sanitària Mollet, where she oversees clinical management and supports the integration of data-driven approaches to improve healthcare quality and performance. She is a specialist in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, with a strong focus on the use of data and clinical information systems in healthcare management.

Her work centres on the analysis of healthcare data, clinical documentation, and the development of dashboards and performance indicators to support decision-making and continuous quality improvement. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and Clinical Documentation and has extensive experience in applying data analytics to enhance clinical and organisational outcomes.

Prof Ronald Batenburg is Endowed Professor in Health Workforce and Organisation Studies at Radboud University and Programme Leader at the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel). His work focuses on the dynamics of labour markets, professional roles and organisational structures in healthcare, with particular attention to how these shape the quality of work and the organisation of care delivery.

His research examines how institutional reforms, organisational change, task delegation and professional substitution influence job structures and the work of healthcare professionals. A central focus of his work is strategic health workforce planning and the alignment between population health needs and the supply, skills and distribution of health professionals.

Prof Batenburg leads several research initiatives on labour markets, education and workforce development in the health sector, providing evidence to support health policy and management decisions. He trained as a sociologist, obtaining his Master’s degree from Utrecht University and his PhD from the University of Groningen.

Mr Michele Calabró is Director of the European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA), the European reference network representing regional and local health authorities. In this role, he leads the work of the association’s secretariat, overseeing advocacy, knowledge exchange and partnerships, as well as communication activities and events.

Prior to joining EUREGHA in May 2022, he worked at the European Health Management Association (EHMA) as Policy and Communications Manager. He also served as Policy Adviser at the European Patients’ Forum and as Senior Manager for Digital Health Policy at DIGITALEUROPE.

Mr Calabró has been actively engaged in European health policy networks and initiatives. Between April 2020 and January 2022, he co-chaired the EU4Health Civil Society Alliance. He is also part of several professional networks, including the Young Forum Gastein, the European Health Parliament Alumni group and the IPSE Network – Italiani per le Politiche Sanitarie Europee.

Prof Naomi Chambers is Professor of Health Management at the University of Manchester, with a long-standing focus on healthcare leadership, organisational culture, board governance and the role of clinicians in management. Her work spans health policy and management in Europe, primary care, and patient and public involvement, reflecting a sustained commitment to strengthening leadership and governance across health systems.

She leads and contributes to a range of executive and doctoral-level education programmes, including co-directing leadership and management within the Higher Specialist Healthcare Scientist Training Programme. She has previously held senior teaching and leadership roles across major NHS leadership initiatives, including as programme director of the Nye Bevan executive programme for aspiring NHS board directors and as university lead for NHS Leadership Academy programmes.

Prof Chambers brings over 30 years of experience in health services management and research. She has held prominent governance roles, including serving as President of the European Health Management Association and as Vice Chair of an NHS Clinical Commissioning Group. She continues to work closely with NHS boards, regulatory bodies and leading policy organisations such as the The King’s Fund, Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation.

Her research focuses on leadership and governance in healthcare organisations, including board-level leadership in hospitals, the implementation and impact of the NHS well-led framework, and approaches to organising care around patients. She is editor of the Research Handbook on Leadership in Healthcare (2023) and continues to lead work on contemporary policy and workforce challenges, including analyses of maternity services inquiries and the evolution of health policy leadership in the United Kingdom.

Dr Montserrat Codina is Project Lead at the Center for Research in Healthcare Innovation Management at IESE Business School, where she leads and coordinates several training and health innovation initiatives. Her work focuses on the development of innovative education models and approaches to training, capacity building and skills development in the health sector, with the aim of fostering innovation and supporting its effective adoption within healthcare systems.

She contributes to the design and implementation of programmes that strengthen the capabilities of healthcare professionals and organisations to respond to evolving system needs and technological change. Through her role, she collaborates with academic institutions, healthcare organisations and international partners to advance innovation and knowledge exchange in health management and healthcare delivery.

Dr Codina brings extensive experience across biomedical research, project management and competitive research funding. Prior to joining IESE Business School, she worked in biomedical research at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Technical University of Munich and Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute. She also held roles in the management of international training programmes at IDIBAPS and in the development of European and national health research projects at Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica.

Dr Codina holds a PhD in Biology from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and served as Adjunct Faculty for ten years at Universitat de Barcelona – Hospital Clínic Campus.

Dr Jaume Duran is Chief Executive Officer of Fundació Sanitària Mollet (FSM), a non-profit organisation delivering public health and social services to more than 165,000 citizens in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Through a team of around 1,500 professionals, the organisation manages an annual budget of approximately €85 million and oversees a network of healthcare services including the Hospital de Mollet.

Trained as a general practitioner and holding a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Dr Duran has held several executive leadership positions in Catalan hospitals. He is actively engaged in governance and sector representation within the Catalan health system and serves as Secretary of the Directors’ Committee of the Catalan Union of Hospitals.

Under his leadership, Hospital de Mollet has become an international reference for sustainable healthcare. The organisation’s “Green Hospital” initiative has received international recognition, including the Silver Award at the Ashikaga-Nikken Excellence Award for Green Hospitals from the International Hospital Federation. Over the past decade, the hospital has reduced its CO₂ emissions by more than 70 per cent as part of its broader commitment to achieving carbon neutrality.

Dr Mireia Espallargues Carreras is Director of the Quality and Performance Area at the Healthcare Quality and Evaluation Agency of Catalonia (AQuAS), where she leads work on health system performance, quality of care and evaluation. She is a specialist in Preventive Medicine and Public Health, with extensive experience in the management and evaluation of health services.

Her work focuses on advancing patient-centred and coordinated care, strengthening quality assessment frameworks and supporting evidence-informed decision-making in healthcare systems. She has contributed to research on patient-centred care, the role and impact of nursing, including nurse prescribing, and broader approaches to evaluating health services and outcomes.

Dr Espallargues Carreras has been involved in key studies exploring experiences of person-centred care and end-of-life care in Catalonia, contributing to a better understanding of quality and value in healthcare delivery. She holds a Master’s degree in Management and Evaluation of Health Services and combines research and policy expertise to support the continuous improvement of health system performance.

Marc Gibert is Technical Coordinator at Fundació Unió and a health economist with over 12 years of experience in strategic consulting, innovation, and organisational transformation in the health sector. He has worked extensively with public administrations and multilateral organisations across Europe and Latin America.

His work focuses on health system performance and efficiency, including quality improvement, costing and expenditure analysis, evaluation and auditing of primary care strategies, strategic planning, and the design of monitoring and evaluation frameworks. He has also contributed to the development and implementation of digital solutions, with a focus on functional analysis and business process optimisation in healthcare organisations.

In addition to his current role, he has experience supporting the implementation of information systems in the health sector, including work on business process analysis and the deployment of ICT solutions to improve service delivery and system performance.

Prof Scott L. Greer is Professor of Health Management and Policy and Global Public Health at the University of Michigan, with a courtesy appointment in Political Science. He also serves as Senior Expert Advisor on Health Governance to the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

His work focuses on the politics of health policy, with particular emphasis on European Union health policy, comparative federalism, and the governance of health systems. His research examines how political institutions shape health policy decisions, including in areas such as public health, pandemic response, disaster preparedness, and health system reform.

Prof Greer has published extensively in leading international journals, including The Lancet, British Medical Journal, Milbank Quarterly, American Journal of Public Health, Social Science and Medicine, and the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. He is the author and editor of numerous books on European health policy, health system governance, and the political determinants of health, including Strengthening health system governance, The European Union after Brexit, and Coronavirus Politics.

His research spans Europe and the United States and includes comparative work on COVID-19 responses, strategic purchasing, and the politics of public health and ageing. He engages closely with policymakers, governments, and international organisations to support evidence-informed approaches to health system governance and reform.

Prof Dr Franz Heukamp has served as Dean of IESE Business School and holder of the Antonio Valero Chair of Business Administration since 2016. He is a tenured professor at IESE, where he previously held several leadership roles, including Associate Dean for MBA Programs and Secretary General.

He obtained his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His teaching focuses on decision analysis and forecasting methods, while his research explores behavioural decision-making, with a particular interest in neuroeconomics.

As Dean, Prof Heukamp has focused on strengthening IESE’s international reach and reinforcing its position as a global leader in humanistic management. He places particular emphasis on the development of impactful ideas and thought leadership, as well as on supporting executives and professionals throughout their careers through customised lifelong learning. This includes responding to emerging challenges related to artificial intelligence, leadership development and broader global transformations, with a strong focus on leadership grounded in human dignity and the development of appropriate attitudes, capabilities and skills.

Under his leadership, IESE has launched new research initiatives, including the Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Management Initiative and the Institute for Sustainability Leadership. He has also supported the introduction of new degree programmes such as the Master in Management, the Master in Finance and the Munich Executive MBA, alongside the continued development of executive education programmes and innovative learning formats.

Mr Salvador Illa i Roca has served as President of the Generalitat de Catalunya since 2024. Born in La Roca del Vallès (Barcelona) in 1966, he has dedicated much of his professional career to public service at local, regional and national levels.

He holds a degree in Philosophy from the University of Barcelona and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from IESE Business School at the University of Navarra. He has also served as Associate Professor at the Blanquerna Faculty of Communication and International Relations.

Mr Illa began his public career in 1995 as Mayor of La Roca del Vallès, the municipality where he was born and has always lived. He later served as Director General for Infrastructure Management in the Department of Justice of the Generalitat de Catalunya between 2005 and 2009. In 2010 he joined Barcelona City Council as Director of Economic Management and subsequently coordinated the Municipal Socialist Group, also serving as Manager for Business, Culture and Innovation.

In January 2020 he was appointed Minister of Health of the Government of Spain, leading the country’s health response during the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the national vaccination campaign. Following the Catalan elections of 2021, he served as President of the Socialists and United to Advance Parliamentary Group and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Catalonia. After winning the regional elections in May 2024, he assumed the presidency of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Since December 2021, he has also served as First Secretary of the Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC).

Thomas Kergall is Senior Technical Advisor for Health and Social Care at the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), where he supports the development and financing of health and social care investments across member countries, with a focus on strengthening system capacity, resilience, and social inclusion.

He brings extensive experience in health economics and international development, having worked for over two decades with public institutions, development agencies, and consulting organisations. Prior to joining CEB, he served as an independent consultant on health economics and development projects, and held senior roles at Conseil Santé and other organisations supporting health system strengthening initiatives in Europe and beyond.

His work focuses on the design, financing, and evaluation of health and social care programmes, with particular attention to investment strategies, system performance, and the alignment of financial instruments with policy objectives.

Thomas Kergall holds postgraduate qualifications in economics from Sciences Po and Saint Louis University and was a PhD programme fellow in Economics at Georgetown University.

Denis Kordež is State Secretary at the Ministry of Health since October 2023. He holds a Master’s degree in Innovative Management in Social Sciences and a Master’s degree in the topic of family doctor shortage factors. He is also a graduate of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Primorska.

From 2010 to 2019, he worked in the Emergency Surgical Unit of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana. Since 2019, he has been working at the Health Care Centre Litija, where he was initially the coordinator of the Emergency Medical Service, and later the assistant and deputy director.

Denis Kordež has a wide range of experience in the healthcare sector. He has been responsible for work organisation, human resources management, and has been involved in the preparation of investments, infrastructure projects and public tenders. He was the administrator of the quality and safety system (ISO 9001) and the municipal representative in the Health Committee of the Regional Development Agency (RDA). He also led the organisation and implementation of the First Intermediaries system in the Litija Health Centre area. He has extensive experience in the field of emergency medical assistance.

Prof Mireia Las Heras is Professor in the Managing People in Organizations Department at IESE Business School, University of Navarra, where she has served since 2019 as Director of the International Center for Work and Family. Her work focuses on organisational behaviour, work–family dynamics, and the intersection between employment practices and well-being.

She holds a degree in Industrial Engineering, an MBA from IESE Business School, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Boston University. Her research examines how organisations can better support employees in balancing professional and personal responsibilities, with implications for leadership, organisational culture, and workforce sustainability.

Prof Las Heras has published extensively in leading international journals, including Human Relations, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management Journal, and Journal of Business Research. She has co-edited several academic books and contributes actively to the global research community on work and family.

She is Chair of the International Work Family Conference, held biennially in Barcelona, which brings together leading researchers and practitioners from around the world to advance knowledge and practice in this field.

Prof Federica Morandi is Professor of Management at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Faculty of Economics, Department of Management Studies. She is Programme Chair of the Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Service Management and obtained her PhD in the Economics and Management of Healthcare Organisations at the same university.

Since 2020, she has served as Director of Academic Programmes at ALTEMS, the Graduate School of Economics and Management of Healthcare Systems, where she also coordinates the research activities of the Patient Advocacy Associations Lab and the Clinical Trial Management Lab. Her research focuses on organisational models in healthcare and the healthcare workforce.

Prof Morandi has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific articles and around 10 book chapters and is the author of the monograph Managerial Solutions to Hospital Challenges (Nova Science Publishers, 2016). She is co-editor of a book series on healthcare management and Associate Editor of Health Services Management Research. She has received research awards from the Academy of Management and ASSIOA and regularly presents her work at national and international conferences.

Dr Antoni Peris-Grao is President of the European Health Management Association (EHMA) and Chief Executive Officer of CASAP – Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut, a public consortium delivering primary care services through a Primary Care Team and a Primary Care Emergency Unit. CASAP is committed to providing highly resolutive, high-quality primary care, with a strong emphasis on organisational development, service innovation and team cohesion.

Dr Peris-Grao is a medical doctor specialised in Family and Community Medicine. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Health, a qualification in Quality Management, and a degree in Primary Care Management. He is actively involved in professional and scientific networks and serves on scientific and organising committees of CAMFiC and the European Forum for Primary Care (EFPC). He is also a member of BSalut, an association dedicated to research, innovation and management in health services.

Dr Marius-Ionuț Ungureanu, MD is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health at the School of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He also holds an appointment as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. His work focuses on health workforce policy, health systems development and evidence-informed decision-making.

He has held several senior roles in the Romanian Ministry of Health, including Advisor to the Minister of Health, Chief of Staff to the Minister and Deputy Minister of Health. In these positions, he contributed to the development of national strategies on health workforce planning, service delivery and health system reform.

Dr Ungureanu’s research and policy work focuses on strengthening the health workforce, advancing leadership and governance in health systems, improving primary and community care, and supporting the use of research evidence in policy design and implementation. He has led and contributed to national and international initiatives on workforce development, quality improvement and service delivery innovation across Europe.

He currently serves on the Board of the European Health Management Association (EHMA), represents Babeș-Bolyai University on the Governing Board of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA), and is President of EUPHA’s Health and Care Workforce Section. He collaborates regularly with European institutions, academic networks and policy bodies to advance evidence-based approaches to workforce and health system development.

Dr Rosa Vidal is Economic Affairs Director at La Unió, where she leads work on health system financing, payment systems, and economic analysis. She is a health economist with over 19 years of experience in the design, evaluation, and management of healthcare funding and service delivery models.

She has extensive experience within the Catalan Health Service (CatSalut), where she held a series of senior roles over more than 15 years. Her work spanned healthcare financing and expenditure analysis, operational planning and purchasing of healthcare services, and the evaluation of service delivery. In her most recent role at CatSalut, she led work on payment systems and economic evaluation within the economic and investment area.

Dr Vidal’s expertise focuses on health system financing, performance evaluation, and the development of payment mechanisms that support efficiency, quality, and sustainability in healthcare systems.

Marta Villanueva Cendán is Councillor for Health, People with Disabilities and Strategy against Loneliness at Barcelona City Council, where she leads policy and strategic initiatives aimed at improving population health, inclusion, and social well-being. She also serves as Councillor for the Sant Andreu District.

She is President of the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities (IMPD), the City Council body responsible for promoting accessibility and inclusion across services, public spaces, and city-wide initiatives. In this role, she contributes to advancing policies that address health inequalities and support vulnerable populations.

With a degree in Political Science from the University of Barcelona and several postgraduate qualifications, she combines a policy and governance background with clinical experience. She also holds a diploma in Nursing and previously worked as a nurse at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.

Prior to her current role, she held a range of positions within the Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya (PSC), with a focus on organisational development and health-related policy.

Dr Gemma Williams is a Research Fellow at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and a member of the Observatory’s London hub, based at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her work focuses on comparative health systems research, with particular attention to the health workforce, health financing policy, health inequalities, healthy ageing, digital health, and migration and health.

Her research spans multiple regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. She contributes extensively to the Observatory’s publications, serving as author and editor of studies, policy briefs and rapid responses, and contributing to outputs for the State of Health in the EU programme. She also monitors and analyses health system and policy developments in Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom. In addition, she is co-editor of Eurohealth, the Observatory’s quarterly journal.

Before joining the Observatory, Dr Williams worked as a Research Officer at LSE Health and served as an ODI Fellow Health Economist in the Ministry of Health in Rwanda.

Dr Matthias Wismar is Programme Manager at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, where he leads and develops studies, policy briefs, and rapid responses to support evidence-informed health policy. He also coordinates high-level dissemination activities, including policy dialogues, evidence briefings, and expert events.

His work focuses on health policy, politics and governance, with particular interests in civil society engagement, European integration and health, the health workforce, and Health in All Policies (HiAP). He has extensive experience in bridging research and policy, supporting decision-makers across Europe.

Prior to joining the Observatory, he led a health policy research unit at Hannover Medical School in Germany. He holds a doctorate in Political Science from Goethe University Frankfurt and has also studied at the University of Southampton and Nuffield College, University of Oxford.