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Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction
In October 2025, WOAH is hosting its third Global Conference, with the goal of galvanising advocacy efforts to manage the rising risk of biological threats from across the world.
The Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction – which will take place in Geneva on 28-30 October 2025 – will bring together top minds in the fields of
health-security, emerging technologies, and biothreat reduction policies, from the public and private sectors – to focus on the latest strategies, challenges and innovations in combating biological threats to our interconnected ecosystems.
The Conference will bring together approximately 400 participants from different sectors, including animal health, law enforcement and security, public health, international and regional organisations, investment and development partners, private sector and industry representatives, research, academia and regulatory authorities, youth organisations.
Attendees will engage in thought-provoking discussions and innovative technical presentations aimed at strengthening prevention, preparedness and response capabilities across the world.
The event will be guided by a narrative that traces WOAH’s commitment to biological threat reduction and the increasingly relevant role it plays at the health-security interface. Against the backdrop of an uncertain future, WOAH believes that synergies between sectors can drive positive change – making the world a safer and healthier place.
Context
In today’s precarious world, the risk of unintended or deliberate misuse of animal pathogens is a growing concern due to advances in biotechnology and accessibility. This increasing threat to global security can no longer be ignored. From disease outbreaks to environmental disasters and accidents, extreme events only compound the challenge undermining our ability to respond to unexpected, unforeseeable threats.
However, the collaboration between health and security stands as one of the promising solutions to mitigate such risks. By bridging expertise and resources, different sectors can work together to prevent the misuse of biological agents and enhance collective responses to emerging threats.
WOAH is a strong advocate for global health security. Without it, everyone’s future is at stake. A year after marking its 100th year of activity, WOAH continues to look to the future and how emerging trends will shape the animal health world. The Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction offers a fitting opportunity to reflect on past challenges, anticipate future risks and identify new areas for world-changing action.
The organisation of this event is supported by funding from the Weapons Threat Reduction Program of Global Affairs Canada.
Objectives
Learn from the past and prepare for the future
Strengthen international efforts in biological threat reduction
Foster multi-sectoral partnerships in global health
Identify innovative strategies
Expected outcomes
Recognise the importance of animal health and the One Health approach in biological threat reduction
Support situational awareness and risk management with case studies and a global stocktake of biological threat reduction efforts
Facilitate access to resources, strengthen network connections and identify practical pathways for cross-sectoral collaboration
Secure commitments to strengthen cross-sector partnerships, dialogue and tangible action to tackle biological threats
Scientific Committee
- Mr Trevor Smith, Global Affairs Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program, CANADA
- Dr Max Brackmann, Spiez Laboratory, Federal Department of Defence, Switzerland
- Dr Fanny Ewann, INTERPOL
- Dr Nahoko Shindo, World Health Organization (WHO)
- Dr Pascal Hudelet, Boehringer Ingelheim representing Health For Animals
- Dr Clarissa Rios Rojas, Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) Implementation Support Unit (ISU)
- Dr Julio Carvalho, Portuguese Army, PORTUGAL
- Dr Primal Silva, Consultant and Former Chief Science Operating Officer, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, CANADA
- Dr Salama Al Muhairi, National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- Dr Debbie Eagles, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (CSIRO), AUSTRALIA
- Dr Kirk Douglas, Centre for Biosecurity Studies, University of West Indies, BARBADOS
- Dr Zibusiso Masuku, Africa CDC (formerly NICD, South Africa)
- Dr Andrew Nerlinger, Global Health Security Fund
- Dr Chong Chee Kheong, ASEAN Mitigation of Biological Threats (MBT) program
- Dr Nick Lyons, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
WOAH Organising Committee
- Dr Daniel Donachie, Preparedness and Resilience Department
- Ms Madison Wimmers, Preparedness and Resilience Department
- Dr Keith Hamilton, Preparedness and Resilience Department
- Dr Alexandre Fediaevsky, Preparedness and Resilience Department
- Mr Paolo Galdenzi, Preparedness and Resilience Department
- Ms Giulia Mouly, Events Coordination Unit
- Ms Carlota Moran, Events Coordination Unit
- Mr Gregory Patou, Events Coordination Unit
- Ms Camilla Caraccio, Communications Department
- Ms Corina Monagin, Engagement and Investment Department
- Ms Nada Essawy, Engagement and investment Department
- Mr Ian Peter Busuulwa, Sub-Regional Representation for Eastern Africa
Watch the Replay
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Wednesday 29 October 2025
Thursday 30 October 2025
Join us for critical conversations that will drive global efforts to mitigate biological risks worldwide. This year’s conference offers a timely opportunity to explore the
ever-evolving landscape of biological threats by learning from the past and preparing for the future.
Key topics
| One Health and Security: The biological threat landscape | Deliberate biological threats |
| Neglected deliberate biological threats | Emerging disruptive technologies |
| Innovation to improve the sustainability of laboratories | Advances in surveillance and diagnostic technologies for biological threat reduction |
| Sustainable approaches in emergency management | Strengthening global frameworks for biological threat reduction |
| Advocacy and investment strategies for biological threat reduction | Taking action for collective biological threat reduction |
Poster Session
Participants are invited to submit abstracts for consideration for the Poster Session, a key platform for showcasing innovative approaches, tools and results-driven actions relevant to the field of biological threat reduction. Posters will be displayed throughout the duration of the Conference, with the official session being held during the Opening Cocktail on Tuesday 28 October.
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.pdf – 330 KB See the document
The following overview presents the agenda and the corresponding speakers for each session.
Session 4
Session 1 : One Health and Security – a multi-sectoral approach to biological threat reduction
Chair: Chadia Wannous, WOAH
Wanda Markotter
One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP)
Professor Wanda Markotter is the Interim Director and Research Chair: People, Health, and Places (One Health) at Future Africa, University of Pretoria. She also serves as Director of the Centre for Viral Zoonoses (UP-CVZ) in the Faculty of Health Sciences and holds the DSTI-NRF South African Research Chair in Infectious Diseases of Animals (Zoonoses). Her inter and transdisciplinary research focuses on bat pathogens and predicting and preventing spillover risks. Professor Markotter is Co-Chair of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), advising the WHO, WOAH, FAO, and UNEP. Professor Markotter is actively involved in several One Health initiatives with a pan-African focus, contributing to the development of integrated health strategies at the interface of human, animal, and environmental health.
Christian Arioli
Spiez Laboratory, Switzerland
Christian Arioli graduated with a diploma in natural sciences at ETH Zurich. He then earned a doctorate in biology (Dr. sc. nat.) at the University of Zurich. Additionally, he obtained diplomas in higher education teaching and as a Swiss Armed Forces Career Officer.
From 2006 to 2025, Christian Arioli served as a Career Officer in the Swiss Armed Forces, most recently commanding the Veterinary Service and Military Animals and the NBC EOD Centres of Competence. As chief of staff of the Joint Operations Command, he was promoted to brigadier general.
Since August 2025, he is Head of CBRNe Protective Systems Division at Spiez Laboratory.
Zibusiso Masuku
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
Agnès Romatet-Espagne
General Secretariat for Defense and National Security (SGDSN), France
Mme Agnes Romatet-Espagne was appointed Director of international, strategic and technological affairs on November, 27th 2024. After graduating from the Paris Institute of Political Studies in 1982, she joined the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983. Over the course of her career, she was posted in Spain, Jordan, Canada and Australia. She has specialized in communication and economic affairs and has held responsibilities in these areas as director of international economic affairs and director of the press and communication and spokesperson of the ministry, but also within the Treasury, the Financial Markets Authority and the National Company of the French Railways (SNCF). Before joining SGDSN, she was human ressources director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Naomi Acquah
Ghana Police Service
Chief Superintendent of Police Naomi Abriebeh Acquah is the Head of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Ghana. She has over 18 years of experience in law enforcement, including 17 years with NCB Accra where she has worked with INTERPOL to coordinate and implement multi-agency efforts and capacity building programmes to combat transnational crime. She is a certified INTERPOL instructor and focal point in Ghana for INTERPOL’s Environmental Security, CBRNE and Bioterrorism Programmes. She holds a Diploma in Police Studies from the Ghana Police Academy, a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management, and Professional Executive Masters in Alternative Dispute Resolution and General Paralegal Studies. She is also an Alumnus of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, USA. She actively promotes intersectoral collaboration to strengthen biosecurity and global health resilience.
Session 2: The biological threat landscape – drivers, current challenges and the future
Chair: Clarissa Rios, Biological Weapons Convention Implementation
Support Unit (BWC-ISU)
Alex Tasker
University of Bristol
Dr Alex Tasker is a dual-trained veterinarian and anthropologist focused on One Health at the security–policy interface. An Associate Professor in One Health at the University of Bristol, he advises UK and international actors on biosecurity, biothreats and emerging technologies. He leads a range of health and security projects, with a specialist interest in building cross-sector collaborative evidence ecosystems for fragile and conflict-affected settings. An ESRC Policy Fellow and Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Fellow, his work bridges research, strategy and operations to reduce biological risk and enable resilient systems.
Ishiyaku Musa Mohammed
Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Nigeria
Dr Ishiyaku Musa Mohammed is a seasoned professional whose career reflects outstanding dedication to agricultural development, animal health, and public service. He currently serves as Chief Veterinary Officer/Director, Head of the Sanitary Mandate, National Coordinator of the Anthrax Control Programme, and Chair of the Technical Working Group on Climate Change at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development. With extensive experience in national programmes, state advisory roles, and international humanitarian engagements, he has demonstrated expertise in veterinary practice, livestock management, and policy formulation. Dr Mohammed holds advanced qualifications in veterinary medicine and public health, exemplifying leadership and commitment to Nigeria’s development
Hendra Wibawa
Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia
Hendra Wibawa, DVM, MSc, PhD, holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (IPB University), Master in Molecular Biology (Gadjah Mada University), PhD in virology and epidemiology (The University of Queensland). He conducted research at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (2008–2012) and postdoctoral in disease modelling at Utrecht University (2015-2017). He led the Molecular Laboratory (2005-2021) and served as Head of Disease Investigation Centre Wates (2021–2025). He coordinates Influenza Virus Monitoring Network and play a role in strengthening molecular and bioinformatics capacity for veterinary laboratory in Indonesia. Currently, he is appointed as the Director of Animal Health at Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia.
Tania Sollogoub
Crédit Agricole Group
Tania Sollogoub is a senior Economist, head of geopolitical risks and emerging countries analysis in the Economic Research Department of Credit Agricole SA. Since 2002, she is also professor in macroeconomics and country risk analysis at Sciences Po Paris, where she used to be head of the Finance and Strategy master’s program. She has been President of the Graduation Jury at Sciences Po Paris and Jury at the French National School of Administration. She has been expert for the European Commission and has participated, as an Economic expert, to the London Club restructuring of Russian debt. Privately, Tania is also a novelist and has published six novels.
Session 3: Deliberate biological events – Agro-crime, agro-terrorism and bio-terrorism
Chair: Adrien Sivignon, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
Fanny Ewann
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
Dr Fanny Ewann is a Specialized Officer in INTERPOL Bioterrorism Prevention Unit. She is a developer and implementer of multiagency capacity building activities for INTERPOL member countries and the lead scientist for biosecurity and biosafety risk assessment. Prior to this assignment, Dr Ewann obtained a PhD in microbiology and worked as a scientist on respiratory pathogens in academia and research institutions spanning basic research to early vaccine and drug research and development, before joining the European Commission Joint Research Centre as a biosafety and biosecurity expert.
Quincy Lissaur
SSAFE
Quincy Lissaur is a management consultant with a degree in entrepreneurship from Babson College and more than fifteen years of experience working in the food sector. After five years in management consulting and eight years at the British Standards Institution (BSI), Quincy started his own management consulting firm in 2012 focusing on food safety, sustainability, compliance and general management. In March 2013 Quincy joined SSAFE as its Executive
Director.
Ahmed Kasraoui
General Directorate of National Security, Tunisia
Mr Ahmed Kasraoui is a Commissioner General of Police in Tunisia with over 30 years of service in the General Directorate of Special Services and the General Directorate of National Security. He currently serves in the National Investigation Unit on Terrorism, Organized Crime, and Threats to National Security and Territorial Integrity. A graduate of the Higher School of the Internal Security Forces with a Certificate in Leadership Competence, he is also a member of Tunisia’s national CBRNE team, contributing to preparedness against biological threats .
Stephen Goldsmith
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), USA
Stephen Goldsmith DVM is a Management and Program Analyst in the FBI Chemical-Biological Countermeasures Unit previously assigned to Hazardous Materials Science Response Unit for biological threat investigations.
He graduated from the University of Georgia with Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees.
His veterinary career includes rural-farm practice, Assistant Florida State Veterinarian, and as a USDA Field Veterinarian in Georgia and Florida, as well as with the Joint US and Bolivian Foot and Mouth Disease Eradication Program.
He also served 30 years in the US Army in Veterinary, Infantry, Civil Affairs, and Special Forces Units.
Mohamed Elias Barbria
General Directorate of Veterinary Services, Tunisia
Dr. Mohamed Elias BARBRIA is an official veterinary inspector and policy officer at the General Directorate of Veterinary Services, where he helps strengthen Tunisia’s food safety systems. He holds a Doctorate from the National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet (2009) and has advanced certifications in Public Health (CEAV, ENSV Lyon 2018) and Statistical Epidemiology (CEC, FMT Tunis 2015). His duties include creating and implementing best practices for controlling animal diseases and products at the border. He is also a member of the CBRNE National Team, working to strengthen the country’s resilience against threats like agro-crime and bioterrorism.
Session 4: Beyond traditional biothreats
Chair: Anne-Sophie Lequarré, European Commission
Karina G. Vignati
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
Karina G. Vignati is a Senior Analytical Chemist at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). A biochemist with a postgraduate residency in toxicology and an MA in Consulting and Auditing of Quality and Excellence Systems, she has held roles including Toxicologist and Teaching Assistant at CENATOXA-UBA, Head of Division and Quality Manager at Argentina’s National Commission on Atomic Energy, Toxicology Laboratory Manager at Cuenca Alta Hospital, and Forensic Scientist with the Cayman Islands Health Service Authority. Since January 2023, she has led biotoxins-related analytical method development, coordinated exercises, and advanced harmonization with external stakeholders at the OPCW.
Simone Haysom
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
Simone Haysom is Director of Environmental Crime at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, based in Geneva. She leads global policy engagement and research on the links between organised crime, environmental degradation, and governance, with a focus on wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and waste trafficking. Simone has worked across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, building coalitions between governments, civil society, and international organisations to strengthen responses to environmental crime. Her work engages international strategies and forums, advancing the case for systemic approaches to tackling transnational threats to biodiversity, ecosystems, and communities.
Júlio Carvalho
Portuguese Army
Júlio Carvalho is a Lieutenant-Colonel Veterinarian of the Portuguese Army. Commander of the Biological and Chemical Defence Laboratory. Doctor In Strategic Studies (Biological threats). National advisor for the Biological Weapons Convention. Co-chair of the Biological Security Working Group of the Global Partnership against the spread of weapons and materials of mass destruction. Qualified expert of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Mechanism for the investigation of alleged use of chemical and biological weapons. Member of the Health Security Interface Technical Advisory Group of the World Health Organization. Associate Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of Lisbon.
Session 5: Emerging technologies – opportunities and risks in biological threat reduction
Chair: Loren Matheson, Defence Research and Development Canada
Cindy Vestergaard
Stimson Center
Cindy Vestergaard is Project Lead of the Converging Technologies and Global Security program at the Stimson Center. She previously directed Stimson’s Nuclear Safeguards and Blockchain in Practice programs. Dr Vestergaard has served as Vice President of Special Projects and External Relations at DataTrails, as a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies in Copenhagen, and in Canada’s foreign ministry, focusing on non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament. She has lectured at the University of Copenhagen, contributes regularly to the media, and speaks internationally on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) non-proliferation, disarmament, and the security implications of emerging technologies.
Whitney Bowman-Zatzkin
Bioeconomy Information Sharing and Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC)
Whitney Bowman-Zatzkin, MPA, MSR, is the co-founder/director of BIO-ISAC, a nonprofit fortifying cybersecurity across the bioeconomy—everything from AI and apples to supply chains and vaccines. She brings two decades of leadership to connecting dots that ignite transformative change for the greater good. Whitney’s career spans healthcare delivery, policy, advocacy, quality measurement, data use transparency, and data integrity as well as leading several initiatives funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. A sought-after systems change architect and leading expert on cyberbiosecurity, she champions global efforts to bring the public and private sector together to protect the world’s investments in biotechnology.
Brad Pickering
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Dr Brad Pickering is the Head of Special Pathogens at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency leading research and diagnostic efforts focused on high-consequence zoonotic pathogens. His areas of expertise include pathogenesis, transmission dynamics, host-virus interactions, development of animal models, and diagnostic assay development. Dr. Pickering’s recent work spans development of mobile point-of-care diagnostics, surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging viruses in animal populations; and evaluating the risks of cross-species spillover. Dr. Pickering is committed to integrating “One Health” approaches, where wildlife, livestock, and human health intersect, aimed at viral pathogens with potential to adapt or spill over. Priority pathogens of interest include the henipaviruses, filoviruses and bunyaviruses among others. His ongoing research informs both national policy and international understanding of emerging infectious disease threats.
Elodie Liobard
INTERPOL
Session 6: Sustainable laboratories
Chair: Zibusiso Masuku, Africa CDC
Lisa McDonald
Global Health Security Fund
Dr Lisa McDonald is a physician entrepreneur passionate about creating innovation ecosystems that drive global health innovation. She leads the Global Health Security Fund, a Geneva-based nonprofit supporting equitable innovation in health security. Lisa co-founded PandemicTech in 2015 and launched the Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TEXGHS), which united 100+ organizations during COVID-19 and raised over $1M in support. She has mentored hundreds of startups, advised global competitions, and supported innovators worldwide. Lisa earned an MD from Yale University School of Medicine, an MS in Technology Commercialization from UT Austin McCombs, and a BS in Chemistry from UT Austin.
Allan Bennett
Consultant
Allan Bennett is an experienced microbiologist who specializes in biocontainment, environmental microbiology and the aerosol transmission of infection. After working for 40 years at Porton Down for UKHSA and its predecessors he now works as an independent consultant. He was a member of the editorial committee of the 4th edition of the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual and was awarded an OBE for his contribution to the UK response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. He is a past president of the European Biosafety Association and was a member of the Technical Working Group of the Biosafety Research Roadmap. He has a long standing interest in developing the evidence base for biosafety practices.
Gregers Chalker
OND/AFMS
Mr. Gregers Chalker is Biological Containment expert with more than 37 years which includes project management, design and construction of laboratories globally with majority in the African continent. The teams that he has managed over the years includes multi-disciplinary teams consisting of expatriate and local national staff, and has mentored, trained, and provided oversight in areas of project management, finance, project controls, design, procurement, construction, quality, and safety to ensure the work is performed per the SOW requirements. Gregers is well experienced in safety protocols, quality management systems and costing and schedule control to ensure that all projects adhere to legislation and are completed within budget.
Session 7: Advances in surveillance and diagnostic technologies for
biological threat reduction
Chair: Primal Silva, former Chief Science Operating Officer at
the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Kamran Khan
BlueDot
Dr Kamran Khan, MD, MPH, is a practicing infectious disease physician and a Professor of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto. Dr Khan has been conducting research on global epidemics for over two decades, publishing landmark studies in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet, Science and Nature. To translate and disseminate scientific knowledge into timely action during public health emergencies, Dr Khan founded BlueDot, a global infectious disease intelligence company that helps governments and multinational enterprises strengthen their readiness and resilience to emerging biological threats.
Michael Bryan
University of Oxford
Michael is a fellow in virology and vaccinology at the University of Oxford. His work focuses on developing computational tools for vaccine design and contributing to the attribution of biological threats. At Oxford, he leads collaborations with the UK Health Security Agency, applying machine learning to predict breakthrough infections and vaccine failure. He previously held a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School and was an affiliate scientist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Michael brings operational experience in biosecurity, including with UK law enforcement and INTERPOL’s Bioterrorism Prevention Unit.
Samuel L. Yingst
Columbia University
Dr. Sam Yingst is a veterinary virologist with over 25 years public health and veterinary infectious disease diagnostics experience including outbreak response, laboratory management, research and surveillance across the spectrum of austere environments to well equipped high containment laboratories.
Dr. Yingst served in the US Army at Walter Reed Army Inst. of Research, NAMRU-3, USAMRIID, AFRIMS and in Afghanistan, and later at Purdue and US CDC in Zambia. At Columbia University, Dr. Yingst works to integrate cost-effective pan-pathogen detection and discovery capture-based NGS methodologies into optimized One Health diagnostic networks for disease X and emerging disease detection
Ekta Patel
International Livestock Research Institute
Dr Ekta Patel is a scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Using a One Health approach, her research focuses on strengthening disease surveillance at the wildlife–livestock–environment interface to improve global health preparedness. She investigates pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in animal waste and food systems, with particular attention to risks linked to transboundary wildlife trade. Collaborating with national and international partners, she generates evidence to guide policy and practice. Her interests span wildlife trade, risk mitigation, preparedness, early warning, surveillance, and biosecurity. This work contributes towards early detection of emerging diseases and strengthens efforts to mitigate global health threats.
Session 8: Sustainable approaches in emergency management
Chair: Dr Kirk Douglas, University of West Indies
Lajos Bognár
Ministry of Agriculture, Hungary
Lajos Bognár had been the chief veterinary officer of Hungary for 7 years and the delegate of Hungary to WOAH till 1st of September 2025.
He has long experience in leadership and direct management of the competent authority, having been on the forefront of the establishment of the Hungarian food chain control system. He has long experience in handling emergency situations and leading crisis management and communication concerning several animal diseases (HPAI, ASF) and food crises (dioxin, Lysteria food scandals etc).
He was the chair of the FAO EUFMD Commission for 5 years.
Martin Chudý
State Veterinary and Food Administration of Slovak Republic
Martin Chudý has been appointed the Chief veterinary officer of Slovakia from May 2025 and delegate of Slovakia to WOAH from1-st of May 2024.
From 1999 to 2008, he served as a Head Chief Veterinary Officers Office and his responsibilities included, among others, coordinating the activities and work of the Chief veterinary officer of Slovakia, monitoring relevant EU legislation, representing the State Veterinary and Food Administration of Slovakia at meetings in European institutions and coordinating public information and media communication regarding the activities and actions taken by the central Slovak veterinary authority of State Veterinary nad Food Administration of Slovakia.
From 2008 to 2017, he worked in Brussels at the Permanent Representation of Slovak Republic to the EU as a diplomatic officer for veterinary care – the so-called veterinary attaché. From 2027 to 2024 he managed the animal health and animal welfare tasks in Slovakia.
Ekhlas Hailat
Johns Hopkins Affiliate
Dr Ekhlas Hailat is a dedicated One Health and veterinary public health specialist with more than 20 years of experience in detecting, preventing, and responding to emerging and re-emerging diseases, specifically animal health and zoonotic diseases. She has expertise in implementing projects that pertain to infectious diseases, biosafety, and biosecurity, AMR, in countries such as Jordan, Iraq, and Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tunisia, Libya, and Bangladesh. She is a Member of the Quadripartite’s One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), Traditional Food Markets and Malaria vector Control with WHO, expert in (JEE) Roster of Experts, and PVS with WOAH.
Nicolò Cinotti
International Poultry Council
Serving as International Poultry Council’s Secretary General since the 1st January 2020, Nicolò graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bologna in 2009 and further got a specialisation in Animal Health, livestock and livestock products from the University of Pisa.
After spending three years at the Ministry of Health in Italy, Direction General of Animal Health and Veterinary medicines, dealing with Animal Welfare related issues for different species, he then held the position of Policy Advisor at Unaitalia (Italian Poultry Producers Association) for seven years where he led lobbying activities on technical issues both at national and EU level, and was responsible for export-related matters.
As IPC Secretary General, Nicolò is leading the Organization in pursuing its goals by liaising with the most relevant International Organizations like FAO, WOAH, Codex Alimentarius and WTO, sitting in the Advisory Boards and Steering Committees of Platforms such as GASL and LEAP.
Singambaye Ghislaine Mbeurnodji
General Directorate of Veterinary Services, Chad
Singambaye Ghislaine Mbeurnodji holds a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and a Master’s degree in Human Food Quality with a specialization in Animal-Based Foods and Public Health. She currently serves as Director General of Veterinary Services and is Chad’s delegate to the World Organisation for Animal Health. In this role, she coordinates the development and implementation of national policies on animal health, animal welfare, and veterinary public health. With extensive experience in teaching and quality assurance, she is committed to implementing the One Health approach and preparing for health emergencies in Chad
Session 9: Strengthening global frameworks for biological threat reduction
Chair: Keith Hamilton, WOAH
Trevor Smith
Global Affairs Canada, Canada
Trevor joined Global Affairs Canada in 1999 and has been with Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program since its establishment (2002). He has overseen the development and implementation of more than $750 million in threat reduction and capacity building programming and has initiated and led many innovations and multi-sectoral collaborations to support partner countries, regions and organisations to prevent, detect, investigate and respond to chemical and biological threats. During Canada’s 2025 Presidency of the G7-led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (GP), Trevor is chair of the GP’s Biological Security and CBRN Working Groups
Debbie Eagles
CSIRO, Australia
Debbie Eagles is Director CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP). She a veterinarian with has postgraduate qualifications in veterinary public health, is a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Reference Laboratory Expert on Bluetongue Virus and is enrolled as a WOAH and Australian Qualified Expert on the UN Secretary-General Mechanism’s (UNSGM) Roster for investigations of Alleged Use of Chemical, Biological or Toxin Weapons. Debbie also has extensive experience in working in the Asia Pacific region, including in laboratory capacity building projects, in field investigations and through the provision of training courses.
Maximilian Brackmann
Spiez Laboratory, Switzerland
Max is a CBRN Arms Control Expert at Spiez Laboratory, the Swiss Institute for NBC Protection, where he is concerned with biological threats. He holds a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and a PhD in Infection Biology. His policy work is centred around biological agents, health security and biological security and his laboratory work focusses on toxins and pathogens, for which he develops and implements methods for their detection and characterisation.
Frederico Meyer
Permanent Delegation of Brazil to the Conference on Disarmament
Ambassador Frederico S. Duque Estrada Meyer Permanent Representative of Brazil to the Conference on Disarmament. Born on May 30, 1952; career Ambassador since 2009. Ambassador Frederico Meyer has served at the Brazilian Embassies in Iraq (1980-1983), in the Soviet Union (1985-1989), at the Brazilian Mission to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva (1989-1993 and 1998-2003), in Guyana (1993), in Cuba (1995-1998), at the Mission to the UN in NY (2003-2006). He has been Ambassador to Kazakhstan (cumulative with Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan) (2006-2011), Ambassador to Morocco (2011-2015), Alternate Permanent Representative to the UN in NY (2017-2019), Consul General in Guangzhou (2019-2023), and Ambassador to Israel (2023-2024).
Session 10: Advocacy and investment strategies for biological threat
reduction
Chair: Emma Ross, Chatham House
Willo Brock
the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)
Willo Brock is a senior executive with extensive international experience in public health, sustainable development, and humanitarian action. He currently is the Representative to the European Commission for CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Innovations. He held leadership roles in major global organizations, including senior management positions at TB Alliance, FIND Diagnostics, WWF International, and other leading NGOs. Throughout his career, Willo has worked closely with governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society to advance global health equity, climate resilience, and sustainable financing.
Pascal Hudelet
Boehringer Ingelheim / Health For Animal
JDr Pascal Hudelet is the Head of Technical Service at the Veterinary Public Health department of Boehringer Ingelheim. He oversees a global team of veterinary specialists supporting countries in the control of critical transboundary diseases, focusing on vaccine use and antigen bank management. A graduate of the Lyon Veterinary School, France, Dr. Hudelet also holds a degree in epidemiology from the Grenoble University. With over 20 years of industry experience at Boehringer Ingelheim, he has held roles in R&D, clinical development, and vaccine project management, including the development of vaccines against Bluetongue and Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
Wilmot James
Brown University
Wilmot James joined Brown University in March 2023 as Professor and Senior Advisor for Pandemics and Global Health Security at the School of Public Health. Prior to his appointment, he was a Senior Research Scholar at the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP) in the College of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University. Dr. James conducts research on pandemic prevention and response, biosecurity, non-proliferation, vaccine manufacturing and take up. He serves on a variety of advisory boards and committees including for the Wellcome Trust and plays a leading role in the efforts of the G7-led Global Partnership’s and Africa CDC’s Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biothreats in Africa. Wilmot was a Member of Parliament (South Africa) between 2009-2017. He was a Trustee of the Ford Foundation between 1996 and 2008. He is the author and/or editor of 17 books that include the policy-oriented Vital Signs: Health Security in South Africa (2020, Brenthurst Foundation), and a co-edited collection of the presidential speeches Nelson Mandela in His Own Words (Little Brown & Co. 2003 and 2017). The nicest job he ever had – he says – is as Chairman of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra.
Christine Middlemiss
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), United Kingdom
Dr Christine Middlemiss has served as the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer since 2018, leading national responses to major animal disease outbreaks in the UK including Avian Influenza and Bluetongue Virus, and the UK response to outbreaks in other countries. Christine represents the UK internationally on animal health, trade, and biosecurity.
Christine is a Council member of WOAH, sits on the EUFMD Executive Committee, and leads the FAO Multi Stakeholder Partnership Platform, Government cluster on AMR.
Graduating from Glasgow University Vet School in 1992, she has extensive experience in veterinary practice including during the 2001 FMD outbreak, she has worked as a government vet since 2008 including a term as CVO for New South Wales, Australia.
Session 11: Taking action for collective biological threat reduction
Chair: Tom Inglesby, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Participation
The Conference will be conducted in face-to-face format, featuring simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Spanish.
Please note that public registration is now closed. However, if you have already received an invitation and registration link, you are still able to use that personalised link to register for the Conference. WOAH Delegates are also still able to nominate members of their delegation to attend.
Code of conduct during meetings organised by WOAH
WOAH is committed to providing a safe environment for all staff members and meeting participants, free from discrimination of any kind and all forms of inappropriate behaviour and harassment. This commitment applies across all WOAH premises, including Headquarters, Regional and Sub-Regional Representation offices, as well as during any events organised by WOAH, such as the General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates, Regional Commissions meetings, conferences, and capacity building events.
WOAH enforces a zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment, whether moral or sexual, in the workplace and during its events. All allegations will be taken seriously, and addressed promptly and thoroughly.
Harassment refers to any behavior that causes someone to feel intimidated, humiliated, or offended. Harassment may consist of a single serious incident or a pattern of behaviour over time. Harassment can be physical, sexual, verbal and non-verbal. Examples of conduct or behavior that may constitute inappropriate behaviour or harassment include, but are not limited to:
Verbal conduct
- Comments on a person’s appearance, age, private life, etc.
- Sexual remarks, comments, stories and jokes
- Repeated and unwanted invitations to social events, dates, or physical intimacy
- Sexist insults or remarks
- Condescending or paternalistic remarks
- Sending sexually explicit messages (via phone, email or other means)
Physical conduct
- Unwelcome physical contact
- Acts of physical violence, including sexual assault
- Using of job-related threats or rewards to solicit sexual favors
Actions to be taken during events
WOAH treats all allegations of misconduct seriously. During events organised by WOAH, a designated focal person will be appointed to receive any complaints raised by an employee or participants. The first step will involve the focal point discreetly approaching the alleged perpetrator, inform him/her of the allegation(s), and discussing the incident. In many cases, the matter may be resolved through dialogue, with clarification if behaviour that may be culturally inappropriate. However, in cases involving serious misconduct or repeated inappropriate behavior, the focal point will escalate the matter. This may result in appropriate consequences, including a request for the alleged perpetrator to leave the event.
Venue
International Conference Center Geneva (CICG)
17 Rue de Varembé
CH – 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.
The CICG is committed to ensuring optimal accessibility for people with reduced mobility. Their facilities are adapted with barrier-free access, lifts and specialised equipment to ensure comfort and independence for all visitors.
Getting to CICG from the city
You have several options to reach the CICG from the Jet d’Eau:
Bus 8: 15 minutes – Depart from Métropole and get off at the UIT stop.
On foot: About 45 minutes.
By taxi: About 10 minutes (depending on traffic).
Getting to CICG from the train station
It will take you an average of 10 minutes to get from Cornavin Station to the CICG with one of the following options:
Bus 5: Depart from Cornavin Station and get off at the Vermont stop.
Bus 8: Depart from Cornavin Station and get off at the UIT stop.
Tram 15: Depart from Cornavin Station and get off at the Sismondi stop.
On foot: About 20 minutes.
Getting to CICG from the airport
Whether you come by public transport or taxi, it will take you about 15 minutes to reach the CICG from Geneva International Airport.
Bus 5: Depart from the airport and get off at the Vermont stop.
By taxi: About 15 minutes (depending on traffic).
Travel Requirements and Visa
All attendees are responsible for checking and complying with any health and sanitary measures in effect in Switzerland at the time of the event.
Participants are also responsible for ensuring that they have the appropriate visas to enter Switzerland and any other countries for transit required for their journey. Please verify visa requirements and make the necessary arrangements for the entire round trip.
For more information on Swiss visa requirements, visit: Online visa system.
Accommodation
For funded participants, WOAH will arrange accommodation directly. Further details will be shared in the coming months.
Non-funded participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation and covering all related expenses. To support this, a dedicated housing platform has been set up for the event: Hopscotch Housing – List of hotels.
If you need any support, please email [email protected] or call +33 1 40 54 64 00.
Transfers
Participants are responsible for arranging and covering the cost of their own transport between the airport/train station and their hotel or the conference venue. WOAH will not provide transfer services.
Useful links: Free Geneva Transport Card | Geneva Tourism, Home page Passengers – Genève Aéroport, Geneva Cornavin station | SBB
Meals
Coffee breaks and light lunches will be provided for all participants during the conference.
A Poster Exhibition Cocktail reception will be hosted on Tuesday 28 October. All participants are warmly invited to attend.
Book of Abstract
You can find HERE the Book of Abstract of the WOAH Global Conference on Biological Threat Reduction.
Our partners
European Union
Global Affairs Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program
Swiss Confederation
