Moderator & Speakers
Meet Our Moderator
KATRINA SICHEL
Managing Director, Wit and Word Communications
Rigour. Humour. Dynamism. These are the personal and professional hallmarks for Katrina Sichel acquired after more than 25 years in the communications arena.
Katrina’s style is best described as journalism crossed with theatre. Warm, lively and on point, she puts speakers at ease. She always brings in the audience from the outset, ensuring dynamic, inclusive and engaging conversations. Faultless time-keeping, thoughtful reflections that underline key messages, and strategically-applied humour characterise her approach.
As part of an eclectic career spanning steel-trading in West Africa to business development in the post- Soviet states, Katrina spent four years as company director at an award-winning broadcast PR agency. She produced news packages for BBC, Sky News, Channel 4, ITV, AP and Reuters, covering finance and fashion, sport and current affairs, and more.
Tony Blair, JK Rowling, Tom Hanks, Alex Ferguson and Diana Ross were all on the end of her microphone. Later, when collaborating with two of Brussels’ leading communications and public affairs agencies, she managed the messaging, development and roll-out of pan-EU campaigns that targeted the public, and EU and national stakeholders.
Today, Katrina frequently moderates European policy events featuring heads of state, MEPs, Commissioners and ministers. She is a first choice in Brussels for the European Commission, Member States and Representations, business and industry, assorted trade associations, NGOs and the scientific/research community.
Katrina is re-engaged or recommended by clients time and again for her ability to orchestrate balanced debates where all voices – not least conflicting ones – are heard.
KATRINA SICHEL
Managing Director, Wit and Word Communications
Rigour. Humour. Dynamism. These are the personal and professional hallmarks for Katrina Sichel acquired after more than 25 years in the communications arena.
Katrina’s style is best described as journalism crossed with theatre. Warm, lively and on point, she puts speakers at ease. She always brings in the audience from the outset, ensuring dynamic, inclusive and engaging conversations. Faultless time-keeping, thoughtful reflections that underline key messages, and strategically-applied humour characterise her approach.
As part of an eclectic career spanning steel-trading in West Africa to business development in the post- Soviet states, Katrina spent four years as company director at an award-winning broadcast PR agency. She produced news packages for BBC, Sky News, Channel 4, ITV, AP and Reuters, covering finance and fashion, sport and current affairs, and more.
Tony Blair, JK Rowling, Tom Hanks, Alex Ferguson and Diana Ross were all on the end of her microphone. Later, when collaborating with two of Brussels’ leading communications and public affairs agencies, she managed the messaging, development and roll-out of pan-EU campaigns that targeted the public, and EU and national stakeholders.
Today, Katrina frequently moderates European policy events featuring heads of state, MEPs, Commissioners and ministers. She is a first choice in Brussels for the European Commission, Member States and Representations, business and industry, assorted trade associations, NGOs and the scientific/research community.
Katrina is re-engaged or recommended by clients time and again for her ability to orchestrate balanced debates where all voices – not least conflicting ones – are heard.
Meet Our SPeakers
JENS IHSEN
Managing Director, Visit Düsseldorf & Director, Düsseldorf Convention
Jens Ihsen is Managing Director of Düsseldorf Tourismus GmbH/Visit Düsseldorf and Director at Düsseldorf Convention. With over 11 years of experience in sales in the international hotel industry, including with renowned chains such as Deutsche Hospitality, Swissôtel and Meliá Hotels International, he has made a name for himself in the industry.
Over the past four years, he has successfully managed the marketing and relocation of congresses and conferences in Düsseldorf. As Managing Director of Visit Düsseldorf since 2024, he has also been responsible for establishing the city of Düsseldorf as one of the top destinations in international city tourism.
JENS IHSEN
Managing Director, Visit Düsseldorf & Director, Düsseldorf Convention
Jens Ihsen is Managing Director of Düsseldorf Tourismus GmbH/Visit Düsseldorf and Director at Düsseldorf Convention. With over 11 years of experience in sales in the international hotel industry, including with renowned chains such as Deutsche Hospitality, Swissôtel and Meliá Hotels International, he has made a name for himself in the industry.
Over the past four years, he has successfully managed the marketing and relocation of congresses and conferences in Düsseldorf. As Managing Director of Visit Düsseldorf since 2024, he has also been responsible for establishing the city of Düsseldorf as one of the top destinations in international city tourism.
Prof. Dr. med. Stephan Martin
Director, West-German Centre of Diabetes and Health & Chief Physician, Diabetology of the Catholic Hospital Group Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. med. Stephan Martin has studied human medicine at the universities Essen und Düsseldorf. After his postdoc fellowship at the Harvard Medical School in Boston he specialised in internal medicine, endocrinology and diabetology.
His current position is the director of the West-German Centre of Diabetes and Health and chief physician for diabetology of the Catholic Hospital Group Düsseldorf. He has published more than 180 peer review papers in different fields of medicine. His current scientific interest is the development of new forms of medical care, including telemedicine, to prevent and treat chronic diseases with lifestyle interventions.
He received several scientific awards as the Frerichs-Prize of the German Association for Internal Medicine, the Ernst-Friedrich-Pfeiffer Prize of the German Diabetes Association and the Bennigsen-Foerder-Prize of the state North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2020, he received the North Rhine-Westphalia Health Award for his telediabetological care model TeDia. In addition, he was awarded the Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia in 2024 for his commitment to diabetes research.
Prof. Dr. med. Stephan Martin
Director, West-German Centre of Diabetes and Health & Chief Physician, Diabetology of the Catholic Hospital Group Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. med. Stephan Martin has studied human medicine at the universities Essen und Düsseldorf. After his postdoc fellowship at the Harvard Medical School in Boston he specialised in internal medicine, endocrinology and diabetology.
His current position is the director of the West-German Centre of Diabetes and Health and chief physician for diabetology of the Catholic Hospital Group Düsseldorf. He has published more than 180 peer review papers in different fields of medicine. His current scientific interest is the development of new forms of medical care, including telemedicine, to prevent and treat chronic diseases with lifestyle interventions.
He received several scientific awards as the Frerichs-Prize of the German Association for Internal Medicine, the Ernst-Friedrich-Pfeiffer Prize of the German Diabetes Association and the Bennigsen-Foerder-Prize of the state North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2020, he received the North Rhine-Westphalia Health Award for his telediabetological care model TeDia. In addition, he was awarded the Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia in 2024 for his commitment to diabetes research.
Prof. Dr. David Matusiewicz
Dean of Health & Social Affairs, Director of the Institute for Health & Social Affairs (ifgs) and Center for Innovation, Business Development & Entrepreneurship (CIBE), FOM University of Applied Sciences
David Matusiewicz is Professor of Medical Management at the FOM University of Applied Sciences and Dean of Health & Social Affairs. He heads the research institute ifgs and is co-founder of the CIBE Center for Innovation, Business Development & Entrepreneurship. As a business angel, he invests in technology-driven start-ups with his DXM Group (family office). He is also an advisor and member of the supervisory board of numerous digital companies. Matusiewicz is one of the best-known voices in digital health in Germany - as a keynote speaker, moderator, editor, columnist and author.
David is one of the most renowned keynote speakers in the context of digital transformation. His main topics are digital health, digital medicine, digital work and digital economy. With over 15 years of speaker experience, he illuminates his topics from both a scientific and a practical perspective. His style is edutainment or sciencetainment with a high level of audience interaction. His presentation is often seen as the highlight of the respective event by the participants.
Prof. Dr. David Matusiewicz
Dean of Health & Social Affairs, Director of the Institute for Health & Social Affairs (ifgs) and Center for Innovation, Business Development & Entrepreneurship (CIBE), FOM University of Applied Sciences
David Matusiewicz is Professor of Medical Management at the FOM University of Applied Sciences and Dean of Health & Social Affairs. He heads the research institute ifgs and is co-founder of the CIBE Center for Innovation, Business Development & Entrepreneurship. As a business angel, he invests in technology-driven start-ups with his DXM Group (family office). He is also an advisor and member of the supervisory board of numerous digital companies. Matusiewicz is one of the best-known voices in digital health in Germany - as a keynote speaker, moderator, editor, columnist and author.
David is one of the most renowned keynote speakers in the context of digital transformation. His main topics are digital health, digital medicine, digital work and digital economy. With over 15 years of speaker experience, he illuminates his topics from both a scientific and a practical perspective. His style is edutainment or sciencetainment with a high level of audience interaction. His presentation is often seen as the highlight of the respective event by the participants.
Christian Zaum
Commissioner for Law & Order, City of Düsseldorf
On April 6, 2017, Christian Zaum was elected by the City Council of Düsseldorf as the Commissioner for Law and Order. His current areas of responsibility include the Office of Economic Development, the Legal Department, Law and Order Department, the Health Department, the Office for Statistics and Elections, as well as the Compliance Office.
Prior to his election as Commissioner, Christian Zaum worked as the Managing Director of the CDU City Council Group in Düsseldorf, and before that in a leadership position in the insurance industry.
Christian Zaum studied law at the Universities of Passau and Würzburg. He completed his legal clerkship and second state examination in Düsseldorf and Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Christian Zaum
Commissioner for Law & Order, City of Düsseldorf
On April 6, 2017, Christian Zaum was elected by the City Council of Düsseldorf as the Commissioner for Law and Order. His current areas of responsibility include the Office of Economic Development, the Legal Department, Law and Order Department, the Health Department, the Office for Statistics and Elections, as well as the Compliance Office.
Prior to his election as Commissioner, Christian Zaum worked as the Managing Director of the CDU City Council Group in Düsseldorf, and before that in a leadership position in the insurance industry. Christian Zaum studied law at the Universities of Passau and Würzburg. He completed his legal clerkship and second state examination in Düsseldorf and Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Meet THE STudents
Fresenius University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf & DHBW Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, Ravensburg
Ophelia Maier
MICE Management student in dual study program
Anne Sack
Former student, now working in conference management with a focus on healthcare