Challenging Big Industry Narratives:
Alcohol, Tobacco, Unhealthy Food and Drinks: Population Measures and Policies
Date: 27–28 June 2024
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Hotel Intercontinental Ljubljana*****
Themes: non-communicable disease prevention, NCDs risk factors, Commercial Determinants of Health, population-wide prevention measures
Working language: English
The event is conluded.
We are pleased to share the conference article “Challenging Industry Narratives and Advancing Unified Advocacy: Reflections from the Filtered 2024 Conference,” which highlights key discussions and outcomes from our event. You can read the full article here.
The conference aims to provide a platform for policymakers, advocates, researchers, patients, youth, and health practitioners to collectively address the challenges of reducing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by effectively managing their main risk factors.
This conference incorporates the 10th European Alcohol Policy Conference, building on the series of very successful previous European Alcohol Policy Conferences (Warsaw 2004, Helsinki 2006, Barcelona 2008, Brussels 2010, Stockholm 2012, Brussels 2014, Ljubljana 2016, Edinburgh 2018, and Oslo 2022).
Objectives
- Better understanding of successes in population measures in the past 10–20 years
- Exchanging best practices in advocacy and strategy (alcohol, tobacco, unhealthy food and drinks)
- Addressing concerns about corporate lobbying (Commercial Determinants of Health) and influence at both EU and national levels
- Facilitating cross-sector learning and exchange
Participation Fee
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Student |
NGOs |
Govt. Instit. |
Other |
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Early birds: until 30 April 2024 |
€200 |
€250 |
€300 |
€300 |
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Regular applicants: from 1 May to 4 June 2024 |
€225 |
€275 |
€325 |
€375 |
|
Late applicants: after 5 June 2024 |
€250 |
€300 |
€350 |
€450 |
The participation fee covers: Unlimited access to the entire conference program, daily lunches and coffee breaks, discounts on accommodation, and a conference bag.
Travel and accommodation
The participants cover their own travel costs to and from the venue in Slovenia and their accommodation. Upon completing the registration process, you will receive a personalized booking code or links to access the discounted top hotel options in close proximity to the conference venue, including Hotel Intercontinental Ljubljana*****. This ensures you can secure accommodation at a discounted rate tailored exclusively for event attendees.
Other accommodation options can be booked here.
Nearby airports
Nearby airports are Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, Franjo Tuđman Airport Zagreb, Trieste Ronchi Airport, and Venice Marco Polo Airport. Upon completing your registration, we will provide exclusive 10% discount codes for GoOpti.com, a door-to-door shuttle transportation service. Direction for public transport will be provided upon registration.
Hotel Intercontinental Ljubljana*****
The Conference is happening in the best hotel in Ljubljana, which is located centrally, only 5 minutes walking distance from the main railway and bus station and 10 minutes walking distance from the Ljubljana’s popular Tri Bridges.
Selection process and confirmation of attendance
Applicants not affiliated with the Alcohol or Tobacco Industry, as declared mandatorily during the application process, will be considered approved once the participation fee is paid. Your place at the conference will be guaranteed after the receipt of the participation fee or booked ticket confirmation.
The spots for the conference are limited and participants will be accepted on a “first come, first served” basis.
In the event that, subsequent to successful registration, it is discovered by the organizers that an applicant represents one of the aforementioned industries or affiliated economic operators, the organizers retain the right to decline their participation in the conference. In such cases, a partial refund of the participation fee will be issued to the card used for registration, with an administrative fee deduction of 100 euros.
Programme and more information
Programme and more information
Thursday, 27 June 2024
| Time | Session |
| 08:30–09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00–09:10 | Welcome & introduction
This short session will ensure all participant are informed about the objectives and format of the conference.
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| 09:10–09:45 | Keynote introductions Through their interventions, the high-level speakers will be invited to answer the following questions:
Facilitated by Ajda Stepišnik, Junior Project Associate, Youth Health Organisation & Representative in the Evid-Action Youth Network |
| 09:45–10:00 | Tiziana Codenotti Award for the Fight Against the Commercial Determinants of Health Moderated by Florence Berteletti, Secretary General, European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare) and Dr Peter Rice, President, Eurocare |
| 10:00–11:15 | Plenary Panel Discussion 1
This session will explore PRICING policies related to the CDoH (pro-health taxes). Objective of this session is to address the following questions:
Led by SFP
Moderator: Lilia Olefir, Executive Director, Smoke Free Partnership |
| 11:15–11:45 | Coffee break Exhibition Booth on Alcohol Health Warnings by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe |
| 11:45–12:45 | Plenary Panel Discussion 2 This session will explore the theme of marketing. Through this session we will aim to answer the following questions:
Led by Eurocare
Moderator: Sylviane Ratte, Director Vital Strategies, European Office |
| 12:45–13:45 | Lunch Exhibition Booth on Alcohol Health Warnings by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe |
| 13:45–15:00 | Parallel session 1 This session will explore the theme of Health warnings including terminology Session objectives are:
Led by Eurocare Presentations
Panel discussion
Moderator: Stig Erik Sørheim, Head of the International Department of Actis Parallel session 2 Led by YHO
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| 15:05–16:15 | Parallel session 3 Throughout this session we aim to answer the following questions:
Led by Eurocare
Moderator: Amalie Brokhattingen, Research and Policy Officer, Eurocare
Parallel session 4 Throughout this session we aim to answer the following questions:
Led by EHN
Moderator: Anamaria Suciu, Advocacy and Project Coordinator, Eurocare |
| 16:15–16:45 | Coffee Break Exhibition Booth on Alcohol Health Warnings by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe |
| 16:45–18:00 | Plenary Panel Discussion 3 The session will explore the facilitators and barriers to working across risk factors. We aim to respond to the following questions:
Led by Eurocare & SFP
Moderator: Florence Berteletti, Secretary General, Eurocare |
Friday, 28 June 2024
| Time | Session |
| 08:30–09:00 | Registration for late arrivals /participants coming for morning 2 only |
| 09:00–09:15 | Welcome and summary of Day 1 Florence Berteletti, Secretary General, Eurocare |
| 09:15–10:15 | Plenary Panel Discussion 4 This session will clarify the different definitions/meanings of prevention. We aim to answer to the following questions:
Led by Eurocare
Moderator: Fiona Godfrey, Independent Consultant on EU Health Policy |
| 10:15–10:45 | Coffee Break Exhibition Booth on Alcohol Health Warnings by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe |
| 10:45–12:00 | Parallel session 5 Session objectives:
Led by SFP/Eurocare Sheila Gilheany, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland Manca Kozlovič, Coordinator of Programmes, No Excuse Slovenia Zaza Tsereteli, Program Director of Corus International Moderator: Hazel Cheeseman, Deputy Chief Executive, Action on Smoking and Health (UK) Parallel session 5 This session will explore the theme of health services’ response related to alcohol and tobacco cessation – it will also explore the health services response related to conditions created by unhealthy food and drinks (liver disease, cancers, obesity, NCDs, cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes etc.). With this session, we aim to answer to the following questions:
Led by EASL Martina Blake, National Lead Health Service Tobacco Free Ireland Programme at the Irish Health Service – Health & Wellbeing Strategy & Research Frank Murray, Policy and Public Health Committee Member, EASL Laura Plešnar, Board Member, Youth Health Organization Moderator: Francisca Pulido Valente, medical doctor, CATR Portugal |
| 12:00–12:30 | Coffee Break Exhibition Booth on Alcohol Health Warnings by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe |
| 12:30–13:40 | Plenary Panel Discussion 5 This session will explore the theme of partnership, looking into the future, speaking with one voice and working together.
Led by Eurocare
Moderator: Samuele Tonello, Research Coordinator, EuroHealthNet |
| 13:40–14:00 | Closing remarks Led by Eurocare
|
| 14:00 | Lunch Exhibition Booth on Alcohol Health Warnings by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe |
Note. The program is subject to change.
This conference is part of the FILTERED Project – From Siloes to Synergies to Prevent NCDs, co-funded by the European Union (Action Grant, EU4Health Programme). Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Side event on Sustainability of Joint Action PreventNCD
*accessible to all attendees of the FILTERED conference (no additional registration needed)
| Time | Session |
| 18:00–19:00 | 1. Sustainable Development in Policies: Transition from JA Best-ReMaP to JA PreventNCD (Monika Brovč, Petra Ožbolt) 2. Multi-Stakeholder Engagement within Sustainable Planning in Relation to the Accountability Cycle (Monika Robnik Levart, Nina Scagnetti) 3. Lobbying, Advocacy and Accountability in Public Health (Jernej Trebežnik) 4. Social Participation in Health: Building Trust and Transparency in Decision-Making (Urška Erklavec) |
Speaker information
Sara Cerdas is a medical doctor from Portugal who has been, since July 2019, a Member of the European Parliament. From competitive swimming in Madeira to representing Portugal in the European Parliament, her journey is one of dedication to public health. With a Master’s in Medicine and Public Health, she champions policies in healthcare, food safety, and environmental health. Awarded MEP of the Year in Health and recognized as one of the most influential MEPs in health policy, Sara leads initiatives on cancer prevention and COVID-19 response. Her work shapes the future of European health policies.
Rüdiger Krech, a public health expert from Germany, holds the position of Director of Health Promotion at the World Health Organization (WHO). He leads WHO’s work on tobacco and alcohol control, physical activity and enhanced well-being; and the programs on public health law and fiscal policies for health. Passionate about universal health coverage, social determinants of health, and Health in All Policies, he advocates for social protection initiatives. His distinguished career is guided by his vision for the role of global health in societal development.
Knut-Inge Klepp is the Executive Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway, and has served as the CO-CREATE Project Coordinator. He is also the scientific coordinator for Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases, focusing on reducing Europe’s cancer and NCD burden through coordinated strategies on health determinants. His expertise lies in adolescent health and developing policies to restrict marketing to children.
Evan Blecher, an economist with expertise in academia, public health, and policy, holds a PhD in economics from the University of Cape Town. He has published extensively, advising international agencies and contributing to global policy discussions. Currently, he works as an Economist in the Global Tax Program at the World Bank, focusing on the impact of tax policies on health behaviors.
Karine Gallopel-Morvan, PhD, is a Professor at EHESP School of Public Health and a researcher at EA 7348 MOS. She also holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Stirling. Specializing in social marketing for tobacco and alcohol control, she has published extensively and serves on expert committees for organizations like WHO and the European Union.
Marleen Kestens is the manager responsible for cardiovascular disease prevention policies in the European Heart Network. She develops position papers, organises advocacy and information campaigns, and informs EHN member organisations about the developments in the field of cardiovascular disease prevention. Her main fields of interest are food and nutrition policies, tobacco control, air pollution, physical activity policies and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. She holds a Master’s degree in international politics from the Louvain la Neuve University in Belgium.
Hazel Cheeseman is the incoming Chief Executive of ASH (UK) and has worked at the organisation for the last 10 years. Hazel has led much of the organisation’s policy work to address the health inequalities caused by smoking, including in mental health and maternity settings. Over the last two years, she has led a collaborative programme with the UK’s Obesity Health Alliance and Alcohol Health Alliance identifying how to secure greater progress in addressing the countries’ three biggest killers.
Urška Erklavec, a pharmacist by background, is the Head of the newly established Service for NGOs at the National Institute of Public Health in Slovenia and a Board member of the International Youth Health Organization. Prior to this, she worked at the Slovenian Ministry of Health, focusing on various health initiatives during Slovenia’s Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2021, and later shifting her focus to child and youth health at the Public Health Directorate. Previously, she served as President of the Slovenian NCD Alliance and President of No Excuse Slovenia.
Laura Plešnar is a dermatology resident from Croatia and a graduate of the University of Zagreb School of Medicine. She is currently active as a Board member at the International Youth Health Organization and has previously served as the Regional Director for Europe in IFMSA, where she coordinated international initiatives. Her main areas of expertise are mental health, disaster medicine, and public health projects such as “Lov na Tihog Ubojicu” for which she received the Rectors Award.
Stig Erik Sørheim is the Head of the International Department of Actis (Norwegian Policy Network on Alcohol and Drugs). He monitors international alcohol and drug policy at the European and global levels. Additionally, he held the position of vice-chair at the European Civil Society Forum on Drugs. Prior to this, he served as a senior advisor at the Norwegian Directorate of Health, specializing in alcohol and drug matters alongside public health concerns.
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh and Balance
Ailsa originally trained as a nurse in London and has worked in public health since 1998. She has developed specialist knowledge and expertise in tobacco control starting in Australia and in 2005 working with others launched Fresh- Making Smoking History – the UK’s first regional tobacco control programme- and has been its Director ever since. She has also been closely involved in the running of Balance since it launched in 2009, the UKs only regional alcohol harms programme in the North East and in April 2021 she became Director of Fresh and Balance. This takes a multi-strand approach to reduce the negative impact of tobacco and alcohol on the region including advocating for evidence based national measures. She was awarded the WHO World No Tobacco Day award in 2014 and was awarded an OBE for services to tobacco control in the Queen’s Honours in 2017.
Eloïse Delforge is a nurse with a Master’s degree in Public Health. She currently serves as an International Relations Attaché at the Federal Public Service for Public Health, Food Chain Safety, and Environment in Belgium. Eloïse focuses on the prevention of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy diets.
In her role, Eloïse contributes to international treaty negotiations, notably within the framework of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. She played a significant role in preparing for the Belgian Presidency and coordinating events related to healthy populations, such as implementing Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
Before her current position, Eloïse worked with a non-profit organization in Belgium, specializing in tobacco control and management. Her commitment to public health and her expertise in international relations make her a valuable asset in promoting healthy environments and safeguarding public health on a global scale.
Dr. Francisca Pulido Valente is a medical doctor completing her residency in public health at the Local Health Unit of Amadora/Sintra in Lisbon and assisting in national alcohol policy research at a Portuguese non-profit organization, the Center for Advocacy, Treatment and Recovery (CATR). She is currently involved in the WHO/Europe Evidence into Action Alcohol Project (EVID-ACTION).
Inês Costa Louro is a medical intern from Lisbon, Portugal currently serving as the Vice-President for External Affairs at the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA). There, she represents medical students’ values globally. She is also one of the Portuguese Representatives at the EVID-ACTION Youth Network at the WHO Regional Office for Europe and a member of the Youth Group that provides consultancy in a peer-to-peer substance use prevention program of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. She has a degree in Medicine from the University of Lisbon and has been actively involved in public health projects. Her advocacy work spans various crucial health issues, including mental health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, substance use prevention, and environmental health.
Martina Blake, HSE National Lead for the Tobacco Free Ireland Programme
Ms Blake has a background in general nursing and has worked in the area of Health Promotion and Public Health since 1999. She has worked in Tobacco Control leadership roles since 2008; initially drafting the first five year strategic plan for Tobacco Control for the Irish Health Service (HSE). She currently holds the role of ‘National lead for the Tobacco Free Ireland Programme’ in the Irish health service. She has implemented standardised programmes and processes within stop smoking services, introduced robust and systematic analysis of performance data, developed performance indicators and minimum operating standards as well as overseeing successive award winning mass media campaigns. Evaluation and research is an underpinning principle in all of the work of the Tobacco Free Ireland programme and Ms Blake and her staff commission research, complete it in house and publish their work routinely. She has successfully negotiated increased funding to strengthen tobacco control and increase the investment in the delivery of stop smoking services in Ireland. During her tenure to date, funding has been secured, which has helped to triple the number of staff working in stop smoking service delivery as well as securing an additional circa 2 million euros to implement free stop smoking medication to all who require access to it through the quit service.
Martina holds a higher diploma in Social Personal and Health Education from South East technological University Waterford, a certificate in Health Care Management from the University of Limerick and an MSc in Health Promotion/Public Health from the University of Ulster Jordanstown. She is a busy mum of two teenagers and one pre-teen child, a scout leader and in her spare time, she likes to read, bake and go for long walks.
2023 publications
The TFIP published two research papers in academic journals in 2023.
Myriam Savy is the Director of Communication, Advocacy, and Community Engagement at Association Addictions France. With over seven years of experience at Association Addictions France, including three years in her current role, she leads strategic initiatives, oversees governance, and directs advocacy efforts. She has extensive experience in public health communication and advocacy, previously working at Transparency International France, mainly on integrity and lobbying issues. She also held the position of vice-chair at Eurocare. She holds a Master’s in International Affairs from Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux
Dr Nikhil Gokani is Lecturer in Consumer Protection and Public Health Law at the University of Essex, where he convenes the Health and Medical Humanities Hub. He works on tackling NCD risk factors through law. Nikhil’s primary expertise is in regulating alcohol and food nutrition labelling and warnings. He is Chair of Eurocare Alcohol Labelling and Health Warning International Expert Group; member of WHO Technical Advisory Group on Alcohol Labelling; Vice President of EUPHA Law Section, Fellow of Royal Society for Public Health, and is and has been on national committees on health including at National Institute for Health Research.
Paula Leonard is CEO of Alcohol Forum Ireland (AFI), an independent charity which provides a range of supports to those impacted by alcohol harm while working at the wider policy and advocacy levels to change Ireland’s problematic relationship with alcohol. She was a founder member of the Irish Community Action on Alcohol Network (ICAAN) and has been instrumental in developing and supporting a social movement approach to building communities free from alcohol industry influence through the i-Mark initiative. The Building SAFER Communities project is AFI and ICAAN’s newest project which will standardise, test and evaluate the implementation of the WHO’s SAFER package of high impact alcohol policy measures in 12 implementation sites in Ireland over the next three years. She is a passionate believer in the power and potential of communities to effect positive social change.
Peter Rice is the President of Eurocare and Chair of the Institute of Alcohol Studies. He chaired the Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) from 2012- 20, having co-founded the organization in 2006. He has held various prominent roles in alcohol policy. He worked as a Psychiatrist in National Health Service in Scotland for 3 decades. He developed his interest in early intervention and prevention. Dr Rice was involved in the introduction of Minimum Unit Price and the national Screening and Brief Intervention programme in Scotland. He graduated from Glasgow University and completed his postgraduate training in Glasgow, Perth, and Dundee.
Sheila Gilheany is the CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland, where for more than five years she has lead advocacy and policy efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm in Ireland. Previously, she served as a Policy Advisor and National Manager at the Institute of Physics for over 14 years, influencing education and research policies. Previously, Sheila Gilheany directed the Irish Centre for Talented Youth, expanding its programs significantly. Additionally, she chairs Specialisterne Ireland, and is also part of the board of Eurocare and of Mental Health Reform. She holds a BSc and PhD in Physics and Astrophysics from Queen’s University Belfast.
Sylviane Ratte is the Director of Vital Strategies’ Europe office and Global Road Safety Program, focusing on strategic partnerships and implementing road safety policies in low- and middle-income countries. With 25 years of international public health experience, particularly in tobacco control, she has worked with organizations like the Health Education Authority, National Public Health Institute of Finland, and French National Cancer Institute. She co-founded the Smoke-Free Partnership in Europe and joined Vital Strategies in 2015.
Fiona Godfrey is an expert in EU public health and non-communicable disease prevention policy, with over 20 years of experience. Formerly a litigation lawyer in the UK, she transitioned to a career in EU and global public health policy. Her extensive policy portfolio encompasses tobacco control, clean air, food and alcohol, access to medicines, and EU research and trade policy. Notably, she served as a Consultant in EU health policy and health and climate policy, contributing significantly to vital initiatives such as the EU Cancer Mission Board and Brexit-related advocacy efforts. She has been a relentless advocate for citizens’ and migrants’ rights, earning her an OBE in 2021 for her services to British nationals living in the European Union. Additionally, she was honored with the World No Tobacco Day Individual Achievement Award in 2011 for her contributions to tobacco control policies.
Maria Neufeld currently serves as a Technical Officer in the Alcohol, Illicit Drugs & Prison Health Programme at the WHO Regional Office for Europe. She supports the 53 Member States in developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies to reduce substance use, particularly alcohol. Previously, she held roles at the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and was a Research Fellow at CAMH. She holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Technische Universität Dresden.
Nijole Gostautaite Midttun is the president of the Lithuanian Tobacco and Alcohol Control Coalition. She has background in medicine, psychiatry and health psychology, has worked in variety of mental health services in Lithuania and Norway. For over a decade she has been actively involved in mental health advocacy, with a strong focus on alcohol and tobacco control policy. She is board member in European Centre for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing (EUCAM), Nordic alcohol and drug policy network (Nordan) and Eurocare (European Alcohol Policy Alliance). Some of the recent projects involve WHO Quality rights implementation in Lithuania, development of the brief smoking cessation intervention for schools, contributing to the development of the National substance control program, implementing a training program for addiction counsellor services in Lithuania. Her research interests are in the field of mental health, alcohol control policy, subjective health, and quality of life.
Olesіa Kozlova is a Project Manager at NGO Advocacy Center Life in Ukraine. Since 2022 she has led information campaigns to raise public awareness about tobacco control and evaluated their effectiveness. Olesіa also manages other public health projects, collaborating with the Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
Florence Berteletti has over 20 years of international policy and advocacy experience in diverse fields including fiscal policies for health, tobacco control, alcohol related harm and culture policy. Florence Berteletti was appointed Secretary General of Eurocare in August 2021. Prior to that, Florence worked for the World Heart Federation (WHF) where she was responsible for leading WHF’s global policy and advocacy. Before WHF, Florence was Director of the Smoke Free Partnership (SFP), an alliance of 52 civil society organisations dedicated to the implementation of the WH Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Under Florence’s leadership, SFP received the WHO World No Tobacco Day award in 2011 and the International Luther L. Terry Award in 2015. Florence has served as a Board member of several EU and International Advisory Boards, including the CRUK/Bupa Foundation Cancer Prevention Initiative chaired by Professor Sir Michael Marmot. She is a Board member of the European Public Health Alliance. At Eurocare, Florence is responsible for managing the organisation toward the strategic objectives approved by the constituency of the organisation. She is responsible for the drafting of the strategic plans for Eurocare and the planning and execution of annual work plans. She has an external representation role and she is the face of Eurocare towards all stakeholders. Florence also manages the Eurocare Secretariat and ensures the proper implementation of this proposal, including hiring of staff, smooth cooperation and communication between the Eurocare Board, the Eurocare staff, Eurocare members and partners as well as good working relationship with HADEA.
Florence is the contact person of Eurocare for WHO Europe, which recently selected her to be a special adviser to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Alcohol Labelling.
Arnfinn Helleve is Head of Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. His research interests are public health evaluation and youth involvement in public policy processes. He is leading the work package on regulation and taxation in Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases.
Professor Frank Murray has worked as a Clinical and Academic Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist for over 30 years.
He served as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), the largest medical postgraduate training body in Ireland 2014-2017. He represented RCPI at senior levels, nationally and internationally.
He initiated and chaired of the Alcohol Policy Group in Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), and led the alcohol advocacy programme in RCPI, contributing to the passage of the Public Health Alcohol Act, 2018.
He initiated and led the EQUALS initiative, which has evolved as a philanthropic joint venture between HSE and RCPI. This project delivers medical equipment biomedical engineering training in Zambia, and has partnered with the Zambian Government to help delivery of postgraduate medical training in Zambia.
He was Director, National Doctors Training and Planning, HSE, April 2018-November 2020.
He chaired European Association for Study of Liver (EASL) Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Group (2022-23).
Member EASL Public Health, Policy and Advocacy Committee, (2022-present).
Michal Stoklosa, Ph.D., is an Economist within the Fiscal Policies for Health unit at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, where he provides technical support to WHO Member States and contributes to WHO publications in the area of health taxes. Before joining WHO, Mr. Stoklosa worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, and the National Institute of Public Health in Poland. He received an MA in managerial economics from the University of Warsaw, an MA in economics from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Cape Town.
With over 25 years of senior management experience in Eastern Europe and Nordic countries, Dr Tsereteli has extensive expertise in public health. Currently, he is the Program Director for Corus International in Ukraine. Until 2023, he was a Senior Advisor at the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services. For more than 11 years, he has served as an International Technical Advisor for the Expert Group on Alcohol and Substance Use for the NDPHS. During that period, he was actively involved in the development of the Alcohol Policy documents and in the EU Joint Action on Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm (RARHA). Dr Tsereteli also led programs for HIV/AIDS and TB within the Barents Euro-Arctic Council. Previously, he was a Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor in Ukraine and Moldova for the UNODC, EU and EPI/Disease Control Office for UNICEF in Georgia. He holds a medical degree specializing in Epidemiology from Georgian State Medical University and a master’s in public health from Royal Tropical University, KIT, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Amalie Brokhattingen works as Research and Policy Officer at the European Alcohol Policy Alliance (Eurocare). She holds a MSc degree in Global Health from the University of Copenhagen, with a special focus on health policy, finance, and systems. Since then, she has worked in alcohol and non-communicable disease (NCD) research. At Eurocare, she is now particularly involved with advancing international standards for alcohol labelling and safeguarding public health interests at the Codex Alimentarius.
Hughes de la Motte is a Team Leader at the European Commission He is leading the team of experts from DG Taxud responsible for tobacco, alcohol, and other health taxes. He has extensive experience in various policy fields and regulatory affairs in different organisations. Today, he is notably in charge of revising the tobacco and alcohol tax directives, key deliverables of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. As a long-distance triathlete outside the office, he clearly has a penchant for long-term challenges.
Patti Rundall: Trained as an artist and teacher, Patti changed course in 1979 after being alerted to the infant deaths caused by corporations marketing baby feeding products. She has led international campaigns such as the Nestlé Boycott and campaigned for the adoption of the first global consumer protection tool of its kind: the WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. Since 1981 IBFAN’s on the ground monitoring has prompted 20 WHA Resolutions and decisions that have strengthened the original Code and kept pace with evolving marketing.
Patti has helped many governments, including the UK and EU adopt binding legislation that protects breastfeeding and the rights of ALL parents to support and protection from the misleading marketing of unnecessary ultra-processed baby feeding products. She has also helped strengthen Codex global trading standards.
Conflicts of Interest safeguards and the need to safeguard policy setting, research and health systems from commercial influence, has been a core theme of her work and led to the founding of the UK Baby Feeding Law Group, the Conflicts of Interest Coalition and the inclusion of COI and transparency safeguards in UN, EU and national policies.
A former Trustee of the 100-member Sustain, a founder of the Baby Feeding Law Group (the alliance of UK health professional and mother support organisations), a member of the Infant Feeding in Emergencies core group and a leader in company campaigns such the Nestle Boycott. She represented IBFAN on the European Commission’s Platform for Action on Diet and Physical Activity from 2007 until 2019. She has represented the concerns of the Civil Society and Indigenous Peoples Mechanism at the Committee on Food Security, and took part in the deliberations on the voluntary Guidelines on Food systems.
Mara van Dooremaal is a senior project manager and policy advisor in the healthy society team at the Dutch Heart Foundation. She holds a Master’s degree in prevention and public health. Since its inception in 2015 Mara has been involved in the movement ‘Towards a Smokefree Generation’, a joint initiative of the Dutch Heart Foundation, Cancer Society and Lung Fund. Mara’s involvement in the Smokefree Generation has been centered around the garnering of public support and activating civil society for smokefree environments, starting with, but not limited to, playgrounds and sports facilities, which has significantly contributed to a norm change when it comes to smoking. The movement fits within the broader strategy of the Dutch Heart Foundation, which focusses on collective prevention through the creation of a healthier living environment. At the moment she also leads the effort to increase the physical activity levels among children, using a similar approach.
Samuele Tonello joined EuroHealthNet in July 2021. He is focused on strengthening the capacity of EuroHealthNet research platform to enhance associate members’ knowledge related to EU policy processes and instruments, while also cooperating with the Policy platform to help ‘translate’ EU policies into researchable actions and to facilitate scientific excellence of EuroHealthNet’s outputs.
Samuele is currently focusing on two main topics, namely food system policies and physical activity. Concerning the former, he is working on the Joint Action Best-ReMaP and the Horizon project FEAST. In the Joint Action Best-ReMaP, he is supporting the WP4 in their goal of fostering sustainability and integration of core WPs results into national policies. In FEAST, he is part of the EuroHealthNet team leading the policy work package (WP7). For what concerns physical activity, he is working on the IceHearts project, where EuroHealthNet will be supporting the scaling up of the Ice Heart activities across other European countries. Samuele also works as part of the ERA4Health Strategic Advisory Board.
Before joining EuroHealthNet, Samuele worked as a Researcher in Political Science and as a Lecturer Assistant at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, where he focused on democratic theory, social and economic inequalities, and class conflict. He holds a B.A. and a M.Sc in Sociology from the University of Trento, Italy, and a PhD in Political Science at the Victoria University of Wellington.
Anamaria Suciu joined Eurocare as Advocacy and Project Coordinator in November 2023. In this role, she focuses on strengthening civil society through the Filtered project led by Eurocare, aiming to stimulate collaborative advocacy, health promotion, action, and accountability for the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Anamaria holds a degree in Sociology and Communications and Public Relations, and she earned her master’s degree in Policies, Gender, and Minorities from the National School for Political and Administrative Studies University in Bucharest. Prior to her current position, she advanced Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Europe, particularly Comprehensive Sexuality Education, and coordinated projects and events for the European Green Party.
Questions & answers
If this occurs no later than 6 June, the participant will receive a refund of the participation fee minus 100 euros for administrative costs. Alternatively, participation can be transferred to another individual free of charge at any time.
You will receive an info pack containing offers from pre-booked hotels and negotiated discounts at other hotels no later than 5 days after registration.
All participants will receive a questionnaire regarding specific needs well in advance of the conference.
Please inquire with the organizers for any specific accommodation.
The conference is confirmed and will proceed as planned, except in the case of unforeseen force majeure events.
The conference is fully accessible to those with mobility impairments.
This conference does not allocate space or time for such presentations, but there will be ample networking opportunities for participants to become acquainted with each other’s work.
The organizers do not provide this service, but in case of booking the official conference transportation with GoOpti, you will receive instructions on how to avail shuttle services from door to door.
