Speakers

Dr Githinji Gitahi

AMREF Health Africa

A passionate advocate for pro-poor Universal Health Coverage, Githinji leads the largest Africa-led international organisation, reaching more than 11 million people each year through 150 projects across 35 countries.

Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa

Director General National Development Planning Commission, Republic of Ghana

An impressive CV which includes Global Policy Advisor for the United Nations Development Programme, and work with the United Nations Capital Development Fund, Netherlands Development Organisation and many others.

Shomy Hasan Chowdhury

Co-Founder, Awareness 360

Shomy is an award-winning Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) activist from Bangladesh. She is a development professional with 10+ years of experience in social service. Shomy co-founded the global non-profit Awareness 360, through which she empowers young people across 30+ countries in advancing the UN Global Goals. For her outstanding social impact, she made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List and was spotlighted as a Featured Honoree.

Kitty van der Heijden

Director-General International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Netherlands

With responsibilities including development cooperation policy, implementation and funding, Kitty brings a wealth of insights and experience in areas such as gender, sustainable economic development and climate policies. Previously VP at the World Resources Institute in Washington and Dutch Ambassador for Sustainable Development.

Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah

Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Republic of Ghana

Honorable Cecilia Abena Dapaah is an astute Politician with over Twenty- Five years’ experience in management and an hotelier. She is a Gender and Human Rights activist and has a great passion for the WASH sector which has heavily contributed to Ghana’s great strides in achieving the SDG 6 goal. She was the Minister for Aviation from 2017 and served in that capacity till she was moved to the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources in 2018 till date.

Neeta Pokhrel

Chief of Water Sector Group, Sustainable Development and Climate Change Dept, Asian Development Bank

An environmental engineer who brings 25 years' of experience working on innovative urban development and water supply and sanitation projects.

Dr Mary Ashinyo

Quality Lead and Deputy Director, Institutional Care Directorate, Ghana Health Service

A Public Health Physician Specialist with emphasis on Health Policy and Systems Management, Mary previously worked as a Medical Director of a district-type hospital in Ghana. She has experience implementing national and international maternal and child health flagship programs. She serves on Ghana's National Quality Steering Committee as the Ghana Health Service Representative, as the General Secretary for the Ghana Public Health Association and as a Representative for the Harvard University's Planetary Health Alliance.

Ikenna Azuike

Journalist, presenter, speaker and
filmmaker

After working as lawyer, Ikenna decided to change course and follow his passions for broadcasting and social activism. Notable productions include a travel series 'Planeet Nigeria' (Planet Nigeria) for BNNVARA; the documentary 'De Post-Racistische Planeet' (The Post-Racist Planet) for VPRO Tegenlicht and he is currently developing a comedy drama with Kaap Holland. Ikenna is regularly invited to host national and international events.

Mariana Mazzucato (PhD)

Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London, Co-Chair of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water

Named one of the three most important thinkers about innovation (New Republic), one of the 50 most creative people in business (Fast Company) and one of the 25 leaders shaping the future of capitalism (Wired). Her latest book is: Mission Economy: a moonshot guide to changing capitalism.

Hajar Yagkoubi

Youth Inclusion Expert and former UN Youth Representative for the Netherlands

An unstoppable force for change, Hajar has been collecting representing young people's views and ideas on international platforms since she was 18 years old. She is particularly passionate about human rights, the climate crisis, and water, sanitation and hygiene – and of course, the interconnections between them.

Henk Ovink

Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Government of the Netherlands

The world's first Water Ambassador, Henk Ovink works across the world initiating innovative approaches to address our biggest challenges. He is Sherpa for the UN 2023 Water Conference and leads the government of the Netherlands as co-host of the conference. He's Principal of 'Rebuild by Design' and served on President Obama's Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force.