Director General, World Health Organization

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is a globally revered public health leader, diplomat, and advocate who has dedicated his life to the conviction that health is a fundamental human right. As the first Director-General of the World Health Organization elected from the African Region, he has transformed the landscape of global health through a unique blend of scientific rigor and profound compassion.

From negotiating the Addis Ababa Action Agenda to directing the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he has successfully elevated health to the top of the international political agenda, engaging world leaders through the G7 and G20.

Dr. Tedros is defined by his unwavering commitment to equity. Whether addressing heads of state or training frontline workers, his approach is rooted in the "Triple Billion" targets: protecting the vulnerable, promoting well-being, and ensuring that high-quality care is accessible to "everyone, everywhere."

Named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and recipient of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award, Dr. Tedros remains a tireless voice for the 4.6 billion people still seeking essential health services.

Women’s Health Ambassador for England

Dame Lesley Regan is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Imperial College's St Mary's Hospital Campus, and Honorary Consultant in Gynaecology at the Imperial College NHS Trust.

She continues her clinical practice in reproductive medicine with particular expertise in menstrual health, recurrent miscarriage and the menopause. Professor Regan co-chairs the People and Culture Committee (Athena SWAN) for the Department of Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction at Imperial. She is a non-executive director on the board of NHS Resolution and an advisor on women's health to the Evelina Hospital group at GSTT NHS Trust.

Dame Lesley is the Women's Health Ambassador for England and Past President (2016-2019) of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, only the second woman to ever hold this role and the first in sixty-four years.

Professor Regan was awarded a DBE for services to women's health in the 2020 New Year's Honours List.

Pioneer of Foetal Medicine

Professor Kypros Nicolaides is the founder and chairman of the of The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) which he set up in 1995. The FMF has donated more than £45 million to finance the training of doctors from around the world and to carry out major multi-centre research studies in fetal medicine. The Fetal Medicine Foundation also organises the yearly World congress in Fetal Medicine which is attended by more than 2000 participants from all over the world.

Professor Nicolaides has authored over 1500 peer-reviewed journal articles and more than 30 books. He has an H-index of 183, which is the highest of any Obstetrician & Gynaecologist in the world, and has had his research cited over 135,000 times. He has provided training in Fetal Medicine to over 1000 doctors from over 50 countries.

Former Chief Executive, Oxfam GB

Dame Barbara Stocking was Chief Executive of Oxfam GB from May 2001 until February 2013. During this time, she led major humanitarian responses. On campaigning, Barbara led Oxfam's work on Make Poverty History, and more recently their work on climate change and the campaign on food justice in a resource constrained world. Barbara regularly spoke at major global meetings including Davos, World Economic Forum and the UN. 

Previously a member of the top management team of the National Health Service, in her eight years with the NHS Barbara worked as regional director for the South East of England, and then as the founding director of the NHS Modernisation Agency.

Dame Barbara was awarded a CBE for health services in 2000 and a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) for humanitarian services in 2008.

Global Health & Human Services Sector Leader, Deloitte
HEALTH INNOVATION & STRATEGY AWARD

Sara Siegel is the Global Health & Human Services Sector Leader at Deloitte, recognised for her groundbreaking work reshaping healthcare systems across the world. Based in the UK, Sara leads Deloitte’s health practice nationally and globally working with both public and private systems to tackle the most pressing challenges in care delivery. Her passion for health was ignited when she moved to the UK and witnessed the transformative power of the NHS.

Sara has led major projects including government support during the COVID-19 testing programme, and the introduction of robotic and cognitive automation across NHS services, freeing up vital time for patient care. Her work champions innovation, from adopting global best practices to embedding Al and digital transformation across health systems. A Trustee of both Helpforce and the Peter Sowerby Foundation, her vision is clear: to connect and empower health systems everywhere to do more, better. This award celebrates a leader driving global progress through strategy, technology, and a deep belief in health equity.

Chief Inspector, Primary Care & Community Services, Care Quality Commission
POPULATION HEALTH LEADERSHIP AWARD

Professor Bola Owolabi has an unwavering commitment to tackling healthcare inequalities. As former Director of the NHS Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, she created the Core20PLUS5 approach, targeting the most deprived 20% of the population and focusing on five key clinical areas where disparities are greatest. She also played a leading role in the NHS Ageing Well Programme, transforming care for older people through proactive and person-centred models.

Beyond her leadership in the NHS, Professor Owolabi has represented the UK globally, including the Commonwealth Fund/Academy Health Tour, sharing strategies for equity-focused healthcare. She holds an honorary professorship at the University of Birmingham, is a Vice President of the Royal Society of Public Health, and received the NHS Leadership Academy Award in Executive Healthcare Leadership. This award celebrates a career dedicated to fairness, innovation, and amplifying the voices of underserved communities.

CEO, Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
GLOBAL MATERNAL HEALTH LEADER AWARD

Kate Lancaster is the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). In her role, Kate has advanced maternal health worldwide by expanding RCOG’s global footprint, building partnerships in over 100 countries to improve the health of women and girls globally. Kate also established the Women’s Health Hub at RCOG’s Union Street headquarters, a collaborative community of fourteen women’s health organisations, including the Royal College of Midwives, working together to improve healthcare outcomes

Kate is a powerful champion for change. Under her guidance, RCOG co-signed an open letter alongside 11 leading organisations, calling on the public and NHS workforce to shape the government’s 10-year health plan through the Change NHS campaign, placing women’s health front and centre. This award honours a visionary leader whose career is defined by action advocacy, and a relentless commitment to prioritising women’s health.

Former Dean of Medicine& CEO of Imperial College Healthcare
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Professor Stephen Smith’s visionary leadership has profoundly impacted healthcare delivery through application of research. As Dean of Medicine at Imperial College London and CEO of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Professor Smith was instrumental in establishing the UK’s first Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) in 2007, integrating cutting-edge research with clinical practice. Thus, accelerating the translation of medical discoveries into patient care and setting a precedent for similar models nationwide.

Beyond his roles at Imperial College, Professor Smith served as Dean of Medicine at the University of Melbourne (2013-2015) and chaired East Kent Hospitals NHS University Foundation Trust (2018-2023). A clinician scientist by training, he has published over 230 papers on reproductive medicine and cancer. Currently, he chairs the Scientific Advisory Board at MirZyme Therapeutics, contributing his vast expertise to innovative medical solutions. This award celebrates a career dedicated to bridging the gap between research and clinical application.