Special Guests

Discover the special guests who will be presented onstage during the event, including our open ceremony speaker who will relate her journey from industry to global health, and seven speakers who took part in our film project, discussing transition to the professional world, networking, career choices and much more! This filmed mini-roundtable will be shown in the auditorium in four separate parts throughout the day.

The guests will also be present during the Networking and Orientation session along other alumni and invited speakers (full list here), during which you will be able to ask them questions directly.

Open Ceremony Speaker

Isabelle holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Geneva and has extensive experience in clinical and medical research. At Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), she leads the Pyramax project, driving its submission to the European Medicines Agency for regulatory approval as well as the Tafenoquine project through its approval by the US Food and Drug Administration. With over 20 years of experience in clinical development and research, she is passionate about applying her expertise to develop life-saving antimalarials for the populations that most need them. Before joining MMV, Isabelle spent 10 years in clinical development at Serono International, focusing on biotechnology products for autoimmune diseases and hemato-oncology. Prior to that, she worked for a decade in academia, conducting research on hyperlipidemia and diabetes. Her expertise spans clinical development strategy and planning, trial design and implementation, regulatory approval processes, and partnership management. For Isabelle, contributing to the fight against malaria is more than a job — it’s a privilege to be part of an effort that transforms global health.

Mini-roundtable Speakers

Christina holds a Master’s degree in Ethnology and Sociology from the University of Neuchâtel, a PhD in Life Sciences/Public Health from the University of Lausanne, and a Privat-docent from the Faculty of Biology and Medicine at the University of Lausanne. She currently leads the Social Science Sector at Unisanté, where she manages a multidisciplinary team conducting public health research and teaching. Previously, she served as Director of Community Health at the Health Office of the Canton of Vaud – overseeing high-level project management during the COVID-19 crisis – and completed a Swiss National Science Foundation funded fellowship at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston Children’s Hospital. Her main field of research and expertise are in adolescent health, qualitative and mixed methods, and participatory research. With her interdisciplinary and cross-sector expertise, Christina offers valuable insights into public health, research methods, social and health behavior, and policy-making.

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Mathieu is a Biomedical Engineer (EPFL Life Sciences Alumnus from 2020), Digital Ecosystem Innovation Manager at Roche Diagnostics, and Healthtech Podcaster living in Zürich. He joined Roche in 2021 as a Trainee in Global Access & Policy before joining the Digital Health Innovation unit, through which he works closely with partner startups, health systems, and internal lifecycle teams to explore new care delivery methods and business models. Previously, he worked as a Field Engineer at Abbott in France, supporting cardiac ablation surgeries, and started his career as a Development Engineer at B. Braun in Germany, focusing on the development of drug-eluting stents and balloon catheters. He has a fierce interest in advances in medical technology, which he shares with leaders from the field and the general public through his content production and thought leadership activities, including the podcast “Impulse – Meeting Healthcare Pioneers”.

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Imogen is a consultant, trainer and coach specialized in business strategies, leadership development and career management. She holds Master’s degrees in Forensic Science and in Criminology, and has an MBA. She has been a leader in international industries before setting up as an independent. She has coached professionals from government, academia, business, medical and the arts. She was a lecturer at UNIL for many years in the areas of communication, marketing strategies and leadership. Imogen’s mission is to blend expertise with human values, empowering individuals and organizations to achieve sustainable success. 

Imogen will be here to bring her insights as a coach, thus complementing from that perspective other alumni’s interventions.

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Céline is a neuroscientist specializing in mental health and human potential development. She holds a PhD in Neurosciences from UNIL-UNIGE, and a Master’s degree in Biology from the University of Claude Bernard Lyon. She is also a certified coach-therapist and trainer in Peak States® psychotraumatology. After conducting research in neuroscience at CHUV, she transitioned to clinical and therapeutic work, supporting individuals in distress. She has experience in psychiatric institutions and has trained internationally in advanced human potential techniques. Today, Céline runs Conscience 21, helping individuals and businesses manage mental health, trauma recovery, and personal growth.

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Anne is a biologist specializing in biodiversity and conservation. She holds a Master’s degree in Biodiversity and Systematics from the University of Geneva. Currently, she is a Data Administrator at Info fauna, the national data and information center for swiss fauna, where she develops the SwissNatColl portal, showcasing Switzerland’s natural history collections. She also creates educational materials to make museum data accessible to the scientific community. Previously, she worked as a botanist at the University of Bern, digitizing the herbarium, and as an university graduate intern at the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, focusing on the trade of protected species (CITES). Passionate about botany, species conservation, and scientific communication, Anne is also actively engaged in public speaking and debate.

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Armand is a specialist in Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. He holds a Master’s degree in Bioinformatics from the University of Bordeaux and a PhD from the University of Lausanne. As an AI Director at Playtika, a company specializing in mobile game development, he leads global AI programs focused on Personalization and Real-Time Recommendations. He manages international teams and heads the AI site in Lausanne. Before this, Armand built a diverse career across industries, from Pharma and Health Sciences to Tech and Big Data, tackling complex AI and data science challenges.

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Maryam Yepes is a registered dietitian dedicated to making healthy and sustainable food choices easier. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, a Master’s degree in Dietetics and Human Nutrition from McGill University, and a PhD in Life Sciences (Public Health) from the University of Lausanne. With more than twenty years of international experience across the agri-food industry, academia, and healthcare in Canada, France, and the U.S., she has collaborated with institutions like Harvard and ETH Zurich, publishing research on nutrition and sustainability. In 2013, she founded Myravan Solutions, helping food service professionals create healthier, more sustainable menus. She also developed nutriMenu.ch, an innovative tool that won the Grand Prize Swiss Citizen@Work in 2017 for improving meal quality in Lausanne’s cafeterias. Today, Maryam works with public and private organizations worldwide, designing impactful food strategies for better health and a healthier planet.