This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
EHMA 2017 Annual Conference – Meet our keynote speakers
9 March 2017
The EHMA 2017 Annual Conference will be held on 13 – 15 June in Milan, Italy on the topic of ‘Health Futures’. Our Conference will discuss two perspectives: external trends in demography, technology, economy and culture; and how such trends are impacting the current reform agenda and whether they are making service improvement challenging to achieve. This year we will host several parallel sessions, Special Interest Groups meetings, and thematic sessions, together with social events. We bring together health managers, health professionals, policy and decision makers, educators and heads of research programmes. This year we are honoured to have with us renowned keynote speakers: Dr Josep Figueras, Prof Jan Kimpen and Sir David Sloman.

The EHMA 2017 Annual Conference will be held on 13 – 15 June in the vibrant city of Milan, Italy, hosted by the prestigious Bocconi University on the topic of ‘Health Futures’. Two perspectives will be considered. On the one hand, we will identify external trends in demography, technology, economy and culture and discuss what those trends mean for the demands on and organisation of our healthcare systems in the (near) future. On the other hand, we will assess how such changes are impacting the current reform agenda and whether they are making service improvement challenging to achieve.
Over the three days we will bring together health managers, health professionals, policy and decision makers, educators and heads of research programmes. We will host several parallel sessions, Special Interest Groups meetings, and thematic sessions, together with social events that will enhance networking and knowledge sharing among the delegates in an informal atmosphere.
This year we are honoured to have with us three renowned keynote speakers: Dr Josep Figueras, Director of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; Sir David Sloman, Chief Executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; and Prof Jan Kimpen, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Royal Phillips.
Dr Josep Figueras
On 13 June, at the Opening Plenary, the EHMA 2017 Annual Conference will be inaugurated by Dr Figueras’ speech that will outline the main challenges and opportunities for European health policy.
Dr Figueras is the Director of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and Head of the WHO European Centre on Health Policy in Brussels, proud holder of an academic position at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a visiting professor at Imperial College London. His research interests are mainly focussed on the comparative health system and policy analysis. He has worked with a wide range of international organisations, including the European Commission and the World Bank.
Dr Figueras is also President of the Board of Accreditation of APHEA and the Honorary Fellow of the UK Faculty of Public Health Medicine. He is a long-standing friend of EHMA and has twice received the prize for the best annual publication on policy and management as well as the Andrija Stampar Medal in 2006.
Sir David Sloman
During the second plenary session, Sir David Sloman will give a speech on the challenges and opportunities for hospitals in the 21st century, with a specific take on the partnership that the Royal Free Hospital has recently formed with Google.
Sir David Sloman is Chief Executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. In 2016, he was listed as the third most influential Chief Executive in the English national Health Service by the Health Service Journal. Sir David has held several senior leadership roles in the NHS and in the private healthcare sector. Also, he was knighted in the 2017 New Year’s Honours for services to the National Health Service.
Prof Jan Kimpen, MD
The EHMA 2017 Annual Conference will draw to a close with Prof Kimpen’s speech on 15 June, during the closing plenary. Prof Kimpen will discuss the way a technology company, such as Philips, may respond to the challenges and opportunities for healthcare in the next decades.
Since 2016, Prof Kimpen has been the Chief Medical Officer at Royal Phillips. Prior to joining Phillips, he was Professor of Paediatrics and Director of the Residency Program at Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital and Dean of the Medical Faculty at the University of Utrecht, as well as the CEO of the University Medical Center Utrecht.
At Philips, Professor Kimpen works closely and collaboratively with business and functional leaders across the organisation, in pursuit of organic and external growth opportunities. He states his role and experience acquired aims to drive the development and implementation of Philips’ medical strategies across the Health Continuum, from the perspective of consumers, patients, and providers.
Recent News

Putting patients first: the commitment of health management to uphold patients’ rights

Developing educational materials for health professionals to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance – The AMR-EDUCare project kicks off

Promoting risk-reduction interventions in Rare Tumour Risk Syndromes – The PREVENTABLE project kicks off
What our Members say
I have been active in EHMA since the first years of the '90s and I have seen its evolution from a small association of members interested in sharing knowledge on health management practices to the current status of reference and advisory key player for EU, health systems and organisations, stakeholders associations, industry and universities. EHMA is now a unique knowledge hub, policy advisor, community of practice and network of best in class organisations involved in health policy and management. A place where health managers can build their competences, policy-makers and stakeholder associations envision how to implement and sustain change through health management, industry leaders understand how to engage more effectively with health organisations and systems. The right place to nurture and grow health management capabilities and capacity for every stakeholder of health systems.
Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan, Italy
Health management has a crucial function in shaping public health and health system challenges. The Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria had success in collaborating with EHMA on EU-funded projects that has resourced us to create new health management competencies for the future workforce. In addition to all classical definitions, health management is a science dealing with individuals, groups, and society at large. It is an art contributing to the beauty of our lives and an interactive communication process at all levels of institutions and human energy. I have also had the pleasure to chair the South Eastern European Special Interest Group which gives members a space to discuss and tools to address how health systems are managed in our regions.
Prof. Todorka Kostadinova, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria
I enjoy the high level of interaction and engagement in EHMA’s activities, in particular during the annual conference where the panel discussions are rich and well prepared. As a hospital manager and professor of health management, EHMA motivates and inspires me to be creative. You go back home feeling energised from seeing old friends and making new connections, as well as being convinced of serving as EHMA’s ambassador. It’s a strong feeling of interdisciplinary engagement, but it also feels like being part of family-like community.
Prof. Sandra C. Buttigieg, University of Malta, Malta
EHMA is a pre-eminent organisation for everyone working in planning, managing and delivering health services across Europe. As a long standing member of EHMA I have always been impressed by the vibrant community of managers, researchers and academics it has created and by the many opportunities for sharing knowledge and funding opportunities it has brought to its members. Its international scope is impressive and its impact is often felt in management and research across European and national health systems.
Prof. Axel Kaehne, Edge Hill University, UK
Health workforce has become more essential in operating, managing and maintaining health systems lately, particularly in crisis and emergency situations. European healthcare professions and the workforce need to be high on the agenda of managers and decision makers. The Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University in Hungary is a longstanding EHMA member, because it connects us with collaborators and experts, with whom we can have complex debates, from whom we can learn and at the end find solutions in various challenging fields of healthcare management.
Dr Eszter Kovács, Health Services Management Training Centre, Semmelweis University, Hungary
As a hospital administrator and health management professor, I see on a daily basis that the healthcare challenges require talented and skilled managers to transform it. the EHMA membership has been beneficial to bring healthcare management research and education to the demanding healthcare services world, promoting healthcare management competencies and knowledge creation.
Dr Alexandre Lourenco, APAH - Association of Portuguese Hospital Managers, Portugal
Many healthcare systems in Europe and beyond are facing similar challenges which require innovative and creative solutions. EHMA’s annual conference, webinars, Programme Directors’ group and other activities and resources provide incredible opportunities for networking, connecting and sharing experiences. A distinct feature of EHMA is the diversity of members with representation from many countries, sectors and different communities of practice – academic, policy-makers, practitioners, managers, leaders and students. The annual conference is a highlight in the calendar year, offering a friendly, fun and learningful environment for emerging and established members to engage, collaborate and meet up with old and new friends. I am proud to be a member of the EHMA Board.
Prof. Ann Mahon, University of Manchester, UK
Society evolution, pandemics and ageing modify health needs. So, health policies and services are to change dramatically. EHMA, through webinars, workshops and annual conference provides an excellent insight to a professional changing world, favouring closeness to management innovation and the protagonists of these changes. As a primary care services’ manager, participating in EHMA activities is really worth it and allows to involve oneself in the innovation processes.
Dr Antoni Peris Grao, Consorci Castelldefels Agents de Salut (CASAP), Spain