Doha: The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF), has announced that Mary Robinson (pictured) as the first keynote speaker of its fourth global summit, to be held at the QNCC in November.
Robinson is currently a member of the ‘Elders’, a group of independent global leaders, which includes former UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, convened by Nelson Mandela in 2007 in order to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges.
Robinson was the first female President of Ireland, serving between 1990 and 1997. She has led a distinguished career, which has included serving as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She is also a recipient of the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience award, given in recognition of her work promoting human rights. As founder of the Mary Robinson Foundation for Climate Justice, which counts H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, as a member of its international advisory board, Robinson has a strong interest on the health impact of climate change.
Looking ahead to her visit to Doha, Robinson said, “I am honoured to be representing the Elders at WISH 2018 and look forward to discussing with global health leaders how we can accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage. The Elders believe that this represents the best strategy to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal on good health and well-being.”
WISH Executive Chair, Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, said, “We are delighted to welcome Mary Robinson to WISH 2018 to give a keynote address. With a long and distinguished career of championing human rights, social justice, and healthcare issues at the highest level, she perfectly embodies WISH’s vision of bringing about a healthier world through global collaboration.”
WISH 2018 will once again gather global healthcare leaders at QNCC to highlight and address some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges. WISH, which hosts its showcase Doha summit biennially, has quickly established itself as a major highlight of the global healthcare calendar for thousands of high-level policy-makers, academics, and professionals who attend. It has also become a key platform for the dissemination of healthcare innovation and best practices.
