Meet Our moderators

Philipp Bächstädt

Presenter, Www.baechstaedt.com

Philipp Bächstädt is the bilingual guarantee for your high-rating broadcast, your professional live event, analogue and digital, or your successful trade fair appearance. With him you will find the perfect combination of former professional athlete, CEO of an online platform, marketing expert and German-English presenter.

He moderated the n-tv auto magazine “PS-Das Automagazin” until 2012, and since then he has appeared on RTL with the program TV Bayern Live. A lot has happened since the trained editor ended his traineeship at the news channel in-tv in 2007. He was co-host of a kid’s show, an expert on the “Fritzl” case, he went live around 500 times for RTL and n-tv and finally hosted the car show PS – Das Automagazin on n-tv.

Jelmer van Ast

CEO & Founder, Conference Compass

Jelmer van Ast is the CEO & Founder of Conference Compass, a company dedicated to enhancing the event experience since 2009. Conference Compass’s platform, Floq, has supported over 2000 events worldwide, engaging more than 2 million professionals in healthcare, science, and other fields. With a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Jelmer combines his academic background with over a decade of experience in event technology to help organizations create meaningful in-person and hybrid event experiences. His focus is on fostering continuous community engagement, whether through live events or hybrid formats, ensuring that each event resonates well beyond the initial gathering.

Noemi San Emeterio Huang

Education and Events Director, European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Noemi San Emeterio Huang is the Education and Events Director at the EBTM (formerly known as the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation). She has been part of EBMT since 2018, and has held her current position for the past three years.

The EBMT is a community of healthcare professionals focused on innovation, research, and the advancement of cellular and stem cell-based therapies to save and improve the lives of patients with blood-related disorders. Education is one of the three pillars of the society, along with Science and Patient Care. EBMT's Education and Events Department organizes over fifteen meetings a year, ranging from a +5,000 participant congress to medium-sized conferences, and training courses. Additionally, EBMT offers an ever-growing catalog of e-learning opportunities, as well as online tools and reference handbooks

Daniel Palomo, MBA, MSc

Director, International Group and Leisure Sales, Houston First Corporation

Daniel Palomo is the Director of International Sales for Houston First Corporation. He has created and implemented business development, sales, and marketing strategies in the international meetings market globally. Daniel previously served as ICCA 1st Vice President worldwide, ICCA Board Member, and ICCA North America Chapter Chair.

He also served as Strategic Business Development Chair for BestCities Global Alliance and as Texas Medical Center’s International Affairs Advisory Council Chair. Daniel has taught strategic marketing and business administration courses to undergraduate students in Chile and conducted research on social development and rural poverty in Colombia. He received three scholarships from the governments of Mexico and Spain to pursue postgraduate studies in the EU and the Americas. Daniel worked as a professor and researcher at academic institutions in Latin America and has lived in Mexico, Spain, Belgium, UK, Colombia, Chile, and the US.

He holds a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Tec de Monterrey in Mexico, an MBA from ESADE Business & Law School in Barcelona with a specialization at KU Leuven in Belgium, and an MSc. in Politics of Development in Latin America from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Daniel was also a PhD candidate in Government at LSE and PhD candidate in Management Sciences at ESADE.

Thomas Reiser

Executive Director, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis - ISTH

Thomas Reiser is the Executive Director of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), the leading international medical-scientific Society in the field of bleeding and clotting disorders. In this role as chief executive, he works closely with ISTH’s Council to lead the strategic vision, organizational growth, and professional execution of ISTH’s programs and initiatives around the world.

Throughout his 25+ year career in Austria, Belgium and the Unites States, he has served in senior management roles at several leading global AMCs and PCOs and has led over 10 international scientific-medical professional organizations as their Executive Director. He is a long-time member of and contributor to the leading international, European and US organizations in the fields of association and not-for-profit management and writes and speaks regularly on topics related to professional association and conference management.

Cathy Persidis

General Manager, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology - EAACI-

Cathy Persidis is currently the HQ General Manager at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) and brings almost 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry from her various roles at DIA, IAS, EASD and Medtronic.

Meet Our Speakers

Mark Baecher

CEO, Life Science Communication AG

His long-standing communication experience in executive positions in agencies as well as in companies, he knows the challenges that companies face in the field of life sciences as well as the societal environment and the needs of patients and the public. Additionally, he has working knowledge of patient organisations and NGOs. Mark Baecher is a member of the professional associations SPRG (Swiss Public Relations Association), the Swiss Fundraising Association as well as of the Swiss Association of Science Journalism. He has worked for companies and organisations such as the Swiss Associate of Hill&Knowlton, Credit Suisse, the Swiss Aids Federation and the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Almuth Siemann

Director, Partnership Development, Encore

Creative, consulting, event production including project management for all conference congress formats on global scale

Elena Baggetta

Congress Manager, ESSKA - European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee surgery and Arthroscopy

Elena is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) with over 13 years of experience in organizing meetings and congresses. Beginning her career in the Tourism and MICE sector, she transitioned to a Professional Congress Organizer, where she spent 8 years managing medical congresses of various sizes, involving both Medtech and Pharma companies.

She has extensive experience in both industry and business development and logistics/congress management for medical congresses. Since 2023, she has been the Congress and Meeting Manager at the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA), where she is responsible for organizing the Biennial ESSKA Congress.

Simon Beard

Compliance Consultant, Healthcare Venues

Simon is a healthcare meetings and compliance specialist with 25 years of experience, supporting top Life Science companies and event agencies, medical societies, and PCOs to deliver successful, compliant events across the product lifecycle. He also created cutting-edge training content focused on compliance and the event management process.

Mark Handforth

Director, 3Sixty Event Consulting

Mark is a trusted healthcare meetings consultant with over 30 years of experience in the development of successful meeting strategies, commercialisation, compliance expertise, operational efficiency, and global collaboration.

Davi Kaur

CEO European Society for Emergency Medicine – EUSEM

Davi Kaur is the CEO of European Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM). She has over 20 years of experience working in the non for profit medical sector. She has been the director of EBC Council, the European Breast Cancer Council, supporting its activities towards its member societies. She was the Head of Communication for EORTC, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer developing the internal and external communication strategy for the organisation.

Davi has worked for ECCO - the European CanCer Organisation as the head of the Congress Unit, where she oversaw the organisation of a number of conferences with an international participation ranging from 600 to 20,000 participants. Graduating from the Cardiff University with an Honorary Degree in Applied Biology and Master of Philosophy in renal medicine research from University of Wales College of Medicine. She completed a Master of Business Administration degree at Vlerick Business School. She currently serves on the PCMA (Professional Conference Management Association) advisory board.

Catherine Kalamidas

Account Manager - International Congresses & Events, Rotterdam Partners

Catherine Kalamidas has been active in the international events industry for more than 20 years, initially developing & organizing high level congresses in the maritime industry, and later serving as Director of Operations for an international PCO, leading the activities of the European Space Agency Conference Bureau.

Catherine is on the Education Committee of the ICCA France Benelux Chapter and a member of the Meetings Industry Steering Group of City Destinations Alliance. Catherine joined the Rotterdam Partners CVB in 2016 and has since collaborated with Rotterdam’s triple helix of government, industry and academia to strategically acquire international congresses which align with the future ambitions of the city and its institutes.

Sissi Lignou

President & CEO, AFEA Congress

President, HAPCO & DES (Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers & Destination Event Specialist)

President-Elect, IAPCO (International Association of Professional Congress Organizers)

Sissi Lygnou has more than 20 years of experience in the Meetings Industry and has been involved in the bidding and organization process of major events worldwide. Born in Athens, Greece, Sissi completed her studies in Business Administration & Economics at the German School of Athens. In 2001, she commenced her career with the PR & Communications team of the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, swiftly advancing to the role of Communications Manager for the Olympic & Paralympic Village.

In 2004, Sissi assumed a role at AFEA, a prominent global player and accredited Professional Congress Organizer in the Meetings Industry and Corporate Travel Sector, operated by a family-owned company. Currently, she serves as CEO & President of the Board.

Since 2007, she has been an active member of the Council of the HAPCO & DES, initially holding the position of Secretary General before being elected President in 2022.
In 2021, Sissi was elected to the IAPCO Council for a two-year term. In February 2023, during the IAPCO Annual Meeting & General Assembly, she was re-elected to the Council for another two-year term. As an IAPCO Council Officer, she has overseen numerous projects and has been tasked with chairing the Committees Publications and Advocacy.

In February 2024, she was selected and voted in as President-Elect of the International Association, set to assume the role of President in 2025 for a two-year term.

Throughout her tenure, she has been involved in various capacities within IAPCO, including serving as an Edgineer, Ambassador, member of the Editorial Committee, speaker at WebEdge, IAPCO Edge seminars, and other educational events hosted by the Association. Additionally, she has been a member of the IAPCO Training Academy and IAPCO Faculty since 2021.

She speaks fluent English and German, she practices competitive dancing in her free time.

Magdalena Makiela Bogacka

Co-Vice President, International Pharmaceutical Congress Advisory Association - IPCAA

Magdalena Makiela-Bogacka has joined International Pharmaceutical Congress Advisory Association (IPCAA) in 2021 and since February 2022 has been serving as Co-Vice President. Magdalena started her career in EU Public Affairs in Brussels in 2006, before joining MSD in 2012.

At MSD she is leading GEMS, Consulting & Medical Education team focusing on Europe, Middle East, Africa & Canada region. Magdalena has a Master in Economics & International Relations from the Economic University in Krakow, Poland, & Bachelor in Business Administration from Avans University of Applied Science, Breda, the Netherlands.

Jürgen Meier

Director of Meetings & Operations, Eurospine, The Spine Society Of Europe

Jürgen Meier is a seasoned meetings and operations professional with a proven track record in the medical and tourism sectors. He currently serves as the Director of Meetings and Operations at EUROSPINE, the Spine Society of Europe.

Prior to this, Jürgen held key positions at INTERPLAN Congress, Meeting & Event Management AG, where he honed his expertise in project management and digital innovation. Notably, he successfully managed large-scale international congresses, including the annual meetings of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI).

Mike Morrison

Lead Scientist Experience Researcher, Curvenote

Dr. Mike Morrison is a designer and psychologist who is trying to speed up scientific discovery by creating new, more efficient designs for tools that scientists use every day. He's most known for creating the viral '#BetterPoster' movement and YouTube cartoons that affect how hundreds of thousands of studies are communicated.

Mike has been invited to give workshops on design and communication at many wonderful organizations including Harvard University, the US Centers for Disease Control, Microsoft Research, and Johns Hopkins. He is currently the Lead User Experience Designer at Curvenote, a scientific software startup redesigning the way scientific journal articles are written and published.

Sus Ngyaard

International Senior Sales Manager, Bella Center Copenhagen

Working more than 20 years for Scandinavian Airlines focusing on Business Events, Sus was representing the airline on the Board of Meetingplace Wonderful Copenhagen (CVB). She served 4 years on the ICCA Board. The ICCA involvement and network has stayed on in her new role at Bella Center Copenhagen since 2014, where the broad network and knowledge of the meeting industry, and association meetings in particular, is coming into good play at Scandinavia’s largest congress center. Here she is responsible for multiple key-accounts, association bids, site inspections and contracting.

During the last 10 years she has secured a significant number of association meetings for Copenhagen and the Bella Center, including many medical and medtech meetings. Sus is passionate about the meeting industry and is known for enjoying networking and participating in relevant industry events.

Christian Ortlepp

Director Guest Events, MCH Group

Christian Ortlepp has joined MCH Group in 2021 and is leading the Guest Events department since 2023. In this role, Christian is responsible for Sales, Marketing and Project Management for all guest events at the Messe and Congress Center Basel as well as Messe Zürich.

His current focus is on developing partnerships with international event organizer to attract leading international events to Basel and Zurich Christian stated his career back in 2009 at Messe Berlin and has been an active member of the events industry community ever since. Before joining MCH Group, he was Director of the newly founded Convention Bureau in Dusseldorf and Director Business Development EMEA for Simpleview.

Felix Strobl

Neuroscientist, Science and Business Development Manager, European Society of Preventive Medicine

Felix Strobl MSc, is Medical and Scientific Director at Scanderra GmbH in Basel, Switzerland. He is also Scientific and Business Development Manager of the European Society of Preventive Medicine (ESPM). Felix Strobl graduated in Neuroscience (MSc) from King's College London, UK and brings a comprehensive and holistic perspective on health, prevention and aftercare to his work with a solid background in emergency medicine as a paramedic.

Felix Strobl is also a trained tenor with international stage experience. He is the initiator of the Long Covid project MEA (Music, Emotion and Atmung/Breathing) in Switzerland, where he conducted research of the therapeutic potential of music in overcoming health challenges with the help of breathing techniques.

As a dynamic speaker, he shares his insights with a wide range of audiences, including companies, educational institutions and health conferences. In addition to his scientific activities, Felix Strobl also works as a trainer and consultant for various companies. His work is characterised by an interdisciplinary approach that combines scientific knowledge with practical applications to promote holistic health.

Kimberley Zimmermann

CEO, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Kimberley is recognised for her innovative leadership and strategic vision. With a passion for challenging traditional models and thinking outside the box, she has redefined EADV’s approach to corporate partnerships and sponsorships. Her forward-thinking efforts have forged enduring alliances that extend beyond events, driving impactful initiatives that enhance patient care and professional growth for dermatologists worldwide.

The EADV is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing dermatology and venereology. With over 11,000 members, the Academy provides high-quality education, research support, and advocacy for dermatologists and venereologists across Europe and beyond. The EADV is committed to improving patient outcomes and fostering professional development through its comprehensive congresses, workshops, and publications, making it a cornerstone of the global dermatology community.

Silvano Schaer

Chief Commercial Officer – Congrex Switzerland

Silvano spearheads the marketing, sales, and strategic communication divisions of Congrex Switzerland, and holds a pivotal role within the senior management team. His professional journey commenced in the realm of the hospitality sector, and he has since garnered over two decades of experience in the business events industry.

Silvano's academic credentials include degrees in project management, general management, leadership, marketing, and sales. Additionally, he holds an Executive MBA from the University of Berne.

Pigalle Tavakkoli

Founder & Director, School of Experience Design

Pigalle is an award-winning Experience Design educator, team trainer, and Founder of the School of Experience Design. She has created a comprehensive Experience Design system, process and methods underpinned by the latest in scientific research, based on 15 years as a producer, and 12 years as an educator and trainer. She has devised events, programmes, installations and immersive experiences which brought scientists and artists together across live and digital platforms, for the UK's leading scientific and cultural organisations such as the Science Museum, UK Space Agency, V&A, National Portrait Gallery, Barbican Centre.

Since 2012, she devised the first course in Experience Design in the UK, at the University of the Arts London, ranked 2nd in the world for art and design education. Pigalle has since founded the School of Experience Design, and received an award for her innovative and impactful teaching methods by Educators for Impact, European consortium of academies, businesses and networks. She is passionate to empower teams to unlock challenges and design impactful solutions, for clients such as the Institute of Physics, The Guardian, Pukka Herbs, L’Oréal, Unilever. She is also an international keynote, and was voted ‘Best Speaker’ at Conventa Crossover, Slovenia.

Petra Lammers

CEO, Onliveline Gmbh - Office For Transformation & Storytelling

Petra Lammers is a transformation dramaturg, communication consultant and storyteller. Together with Norwin Kandera, she founded onliveline, office for transformation & storytelling, in 2010. Lammers strengthens companies in their strategic transformation. Previously, Petra Lammers was Creative Director and Concept Designer at Panroyal and was responsible for artistic productions with complex technologies for comprehensive communication strategies.

As a freelance theater director, she combined the art of storytelling and dramaturgy for over 12 years at various locations, such as Container City Jeruville, Volksbühne Berlin, Hungary, Switzerland, Vienna, New York or Puerto Rico, where she transformed walk-in spaces into unique stage worlds. Petra Lammers, MBA from Murray State University and MFA in Dramaturgy & Directing from the State University of New York, innovatively implements strategic transformations through storytelling for business, industry, research, SMEs or pharma. Lammers is CEO, speaker and author and has received numerous awards with onliveline, such as the ADC*Europe Gold, ADC Silver in Storytelling, BEAworld, BrandEX, PR Award, German Design Award Gold, or Austrian Event Award.

Milo Vergucht

International Association Expert, Visit Flanders Convention Bureau

As an Association Expert, Milo supports local stakeholders (Professors, Experts, Entrepreneurs …) who excel in their field, to host an International Congress related to their specialty, with extensive support services for the bidding and organization of the congress. Equally he supports International Associations to identify and approach the right contacts within Flanders’ key industries and academic world and help find the right match between associations’ demands and the conference venues on offer in Flanders.

Milo started his career in the hotel industry in various International hotels, followed by destination promotion as Managing Director of the local convention bureau Ghent Congress. After almost 10 years at MCI - the world’s largest professional conference organiser, working mostly with associations and corporations active in the medical and pharmaceutical field, he joined Visit Flanders Convention Bureau.