Meet the Radical Health Festival Helsinki Advisory Board
ANN AERTS
Head, Novartis Foundation, Switzerland
Dr. Ann Aerts leads the Novartis Foundation, advancing health for low-income populations with data, digital, and AI. She holds an MPH from the University of Leuven and a diploma in Tropical Medicine from the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp. She chairs the Broadband Commission Working Group on Digital and AI in Health and advised U.S. NASEM and NAM panels. World Summit AI named her a Top 50 Innovator in 2020.
Her Excellency AMNA FIKRI
Ambassador to Finland and Estonia, Economic Advisor to the Minister of State HE Ahmed Al Sayegh – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE
H.E. Amna Fikri serves as UAE Ambassador to Finland and non-resident Ambassador to Estonia, and Economic Advisor to Minister of State H.E. Ahmed Al Sayegh. She previously directed the Ministry’s Economic and Trade Affairs Department and led UAE engagement with FATF. She holds an MSc from LSE and a postgraduate diploma from the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. In 2024 she received the UAE Prime Minister’s Medal.
JOAN GUANYABENS
General Manager, TIC Salut Social Foundation, Spain
Joan Guanyabens is the Director of the TIC Salut Social Foundation, a public organization within the public Catalan Health System that accelerates digital transformation through innovation tech projects. A physician trained at the University of Barcelona with a master’s in Healthcare Management from ESADE, he has held senior decision-making roles across public, academic, and private healthcare. He leads initiatives that align technology, data, and governance to improve system performance and patient outcomes.
MADDALENA ILLARIO
Professor, Federico II University & Hospital Department of Public Health, Italy
Dr. Maddalena Illario, MD, PhD, is an endocrinologist, Associate Professor at the Federico II Department of Public Health, and Coordinator of the Health Innovation and Integrated Care Unit at Federico II Hospital. She chairs the European Reference Site Collaborative Network and previously coordinated the Campania Region’s Division for Health Innovation (Dec 2016–July 2020). She has led more than ten projects advancing the digital transformation of health and care, including mHealth Hub, VIGOUR, HS-Monitor, and RADAR.
JUHA JOLKKONEN
Executive Director – Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division, Finland
Juha Jolkkonen, MD, geriatrics specialist, EMBA, serves as Executive Director for Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services in the City of Helsinki. He brings clinical experience and leadership across the capital region’s health and social care. Jolkkonen focuses on digital transformation, integrated care pathways, and service delivery. He leads cross-agency collaboration to improve access, quality, and outcomes for residents, aligning investments, data, and operations across city systems.
PATTY KOSTKOVA
Professor in Digital Public Health, Director, UCL Centre for Digital Public Health in Emergencies, United Kingdom
Professor Patty Kostkova directs UCL’s Centre for Digital Public Health in Emergencies (dPHE) and is Professor of Digital Health. An ISI Foundation Fellow, she advances digital epidemiology—applying analytics, mobile tools, and social media insights to preparedness and response. During COVID-19 she advised WHO on digital strategy. A computer scientist (MSc, PhD), she has led major projects and was named Innovator of the Year (2019) at Women in IT Excellence Awards.
JAANIKA MERILO
Head of eHealth Strategy, Ministry of Social Affairs, Estonia
Jaanika Merilo brings 25 years in digital transformation, investment and communications. Recognized in 2015 by Google and Financial Times (NE100) and Smart City World Expo, she has driven Ukraine’s digital agenda since 2015 as Deputy Mayor of Dnipro and advisor to two Infrastructure Ministers. Since 2019 she advises the Vice Prime Minister–Minister of Digital Transformation, and from 2023 she leads Estonia’s eHealth Strategy. She holds two master’s in eHealth Management.
DAVID NOVILLO ORTIZ
Head of Data and Digital Health, WHO, Denmark
David Novillo Ortiz heads Data and Digital Health at WHO/Europe in Denmark, leading the digital health flagship and the data, metrics and analytics portfolio. He previously coordinated PAHO’s eHealth program (2010–2018) and served Spain’s Ministry of Health as Technical Officer and Executive Advisor (2006–2010). He holds a PhD in Information Sciences (UC3M) and an MPH (Bordeaux/Navarre), and serves as Honorary Senior Research Fellow (UCL) and Adjunct Professor (University of Utah).
GARETH PRESCH
CEO, World Health Innovation Summit, United Kingdom
UK-based Gareth Presch founded the World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS), advancing healthcare through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable investment. He serves as CEO of the Global Social Prescribing Alliance and co-founded the Radical Health Foundation. With 25+ years’ experience, he previously led Ireland’s National Haemophilia Council as Chief Officer. He also founded World Health Innovation Day and the World Health Service, and advises international organizations aligned with UN SDG 3.
MIKAEL RINNETMÄKI
Innovator and Patient Advocate, Finland
Mikael Rinnetmäki founded Sensotrend to scale digital therapeutics. As HL7 Finland’s FHIR Ambassador, he advances interoperability across health IT. He chairs the Regional Network of Diabetes Associations in Pirkanmaa and serves as vice chair of Sailab–MedTech Finland’s Diabetes Unit. An active Nightscout/#WeAreNotWaiting contributor, he champions patient data access via MyData Global and HL7 International. He lives with type 1 diabetes and holds an M.Sc. in computer science.
DR. PÄIVI SILLANAUKEE
Special Envoy for Health and Wellbeing, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland
Dr. Päivi Sillanaukee is Finland’s Special Envoy for Health and Wellbeing at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. She previously served as Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing (2019–2023), Permanent Secretary (2012–2019), and Director General (2008–2012). A public health and management specialist and doctor honoris causa (University of Helsinki), she served as WHO Executive Board vice chair, led the WHO Europe Regional Committee, and served on HIMSS and I-DAIR boards.
ANNI TÜSKI
Policy Advisor in Social and Healthcare and Patient Advocate, The Netherlands
Anni Tüski is a policy advisor in social and healthcare and a patient advocate based in the Netherlands. She focuses on integrating patient perspectives into policy design, with experience spanning service access, quality, and digital health. Anni advises public and nonprofit stakeholders on participatory policymaking, co-creation, and equitable care pathways. She champions patient rights, data transparency, and collaborative approaches that translate lived experience into measurable improvements across systems.