Borislava Ananieva
Capacity Building Officer & Patient Advocate, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
The congress' contributors
The congress'
Contributors
Susanna Palkonen is the Director of the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA), uniting 48 member organisations from 28 countries to improve care, environment, participation, and equality for over 200 million people with allergy, asthma, and COPD in Europe. She leads EFA’s strategy, partnerships, and operations, supporting its volunteer Board and office in Brussels.
At EFA, Susanna represents the organisation in the EU Steering Committee on the Prevention of Respiratory Infections, powered by Vaccines Europe. She has also initiated numerous collaborative projects, including the Breathe Vision 2030 #KeepBreathing campaign, advocating for lung health in European policies, and the European Respiratory Patient Advocacy Academy.
Since 2020, she has served as an Advocate for the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and as a patient representative in Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA), contributing to global respiratory health guidelines. Previously, she was Vice President of the European Patients’ Forum (EPF), representing patients in the European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s Patient and Consumer Working Party.
A co-author of several scientific papers, Susanna studied social policy and, as a patient with atopic eczema and allergic rhinitis, she is interested in understanding how policies, systems, and patients can build patient-centred care and prevention.
Capacity Building Officer & Patient Advocate, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Strategic Partnerships Senior Manager, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Climate Projects Officer, Health Care Without Harm Europe (HCWH)
President, European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA)
President, Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME)
Secretary General, The European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare)
Executive Director, Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking
President & CEO, The Ehlers-Danlos Society
Director of Preference Research and Global Lead of the Patient-Centered Outcomes, OPEN Health
MD, Board & Youth Group Member, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Senior Manager IVD, MedTech Europe
Executive Director, European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA)
Director of Operations, Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations (CyFPA) and Board Treasurer, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Board Member, European Patients' Forum (EPF) and Secretary General, Greek Patients' Organisation
Researcher & Populariser, Vaccination et Lien Social (VLS)
Senior Research Officer, Swedish Research Council
Chair, Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO)
Director Government Affairs & Policy Medtech EMEA, Johnson & Johnson
Executive Director, European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI)
Deputy Director-General, Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Austria
Deputy Administrator General, National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI)
President, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Board Chair, Czech National Association of Patient Organizations (NAPO) & Board Member, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Director for Executive Education in Government, Health and Non Profit Division, SDA Bocconi
Implementation Scientist & Qualitative Researcher, University of Antwerp
Policy Officer, DG SANTE, European Commission
Youth Group Member, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
President, European Liver Patient Association (ELPA)
Professor, Sorbonne University
Regional Adviser Control of Antimicrobial Resistance, World Health Organisation/Europe (WHO/Europe)
Director HTA, National Agency for Regional Healthcare Services (AGENAS) and Co-Chair, HTA Member State Coordination Group (HTACG)
Youth Group Member, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Director, Digital, EU4Health and Health systems modernisation, DG SANTE, European Commission
Scientific Lead, Gustave Roussy
Vice President and Head of International Market Access, MSD International Business GmbH
CEO, Rigshospitalet
Director, European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA)
Senior Advisor, Representation Office to the European Union, World Health Organization (WHO)
Senior Economist, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Head of Global Patient Engagement, Boehringer Ingelheim
European Affairs Advisor, France Assos Santé
Senior Expert, DG HERA, European Commission
Executive Director, Biomed Alliance in Europe
SVP International, Butterfly Network Inc
Director General, Association of the European Self-Care Industry (AESGP)
Vice President Corporate Affairs, Shionogi Europe
Public Affairs Director, OM Pharma
Chief Medical Officer, European Medicines Agency
Prof Dr, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, European Commission
CEO, Millwater Partners
Chief Partnership Officer, The Synergist
Regional Head of Innovation, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC)
Policy Officer, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
PhD, MBA. Secretary of the Board at Health Technology Assessment international (HTAi).
Policy Officer, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
CEO, European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP) and Board Vice President, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Head of Policy, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
Interim Executive Director, European Patients' Forum (EPF)
