MEET THE
SPEAKERS
DR SAFA ALI
Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, Sudan
Dr. Safa Ali is a Sudanese physician and a dedicated advocate for maternal and child health care. She has been at
the forefront of improving access to healthcare services for displaced populations in Khartoum, Sudan, focusing
particularly on vulnerable women and children. Her work emphasizes ensuring quality healthcare, addressing
systemic barriers to access, and promoting equitable health services in the region.
During her tenure as the manager of Saudi Hospital in Omdurman, Dr. Ali spearheaded numerous initiatives to
enhance healthcare delivery in underserved areas. She implemented programs aimed at improving maternal
health outcomes, increasing vaccination rates for children, and providing essential care to displaced families. Her
leadership and vision have made the hospital a cornerstone for maternal and child health care services, serving
both locals and displaced populations with compassion and excellence. In addition to her managerial role, Dr. Ali has played an active part in research initiatives focused on identifying the social determinants impacting healthcare access. Her work has informed targeted interventions aimed at alleviating healthcare inequities, with an emphasis on sustainable and community-driven solutions. She has collaborated with researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to bridge gaps in service delivery and advocate for inclusive policies.
Dr. Safa Ali’s remarkable contributions to healthcare and her commitment to empowering communities have
earned her global recognition. In 2024, she was honoured as one of the BBC 100 Most Influential Women,
highlighting her impact on maternal and child health care and her role as a changemaker in Sudan. Her dedication extends to mentoring young healthcare professionals and fostering a culture of innovation, empathy, and accountability in the medical field. Through her tireless efforts, she continues to inspire transformative changes within Sudan’s healthcare system, paving the way for a future where every mother and child has access to high-quality and equitable health care.
PROFESSOR EMMANUEL MAKASA
Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon & Global Health Diplomat, Zambia
Professor Emmanuel Malabo Makasa is a Global Health/Global Surgery Consultant, an Academician, a Researcher and an experienced Clinician. He is the founding Executive Director of the Southern Africa Development Community’s University of Witwatersrand based regional-hub and collaboration Centre for Surgical Healthcare Improvement (WITSSURG) and its spoke, the Centre for Surgical Healthcare Research (CSHR) in the Republic of Zambia. He chairs SADC’s Technical Experts Working Group on surgical healthcare, the Partnerships Subcommittee of the Pan-African Surgical Health Forum (PASHeF) and he is the current Secretary General of the International Federation of Surgical Colleges (IFSC). Professor Makasa is a member of the Medical Education and Research Board of the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA MERB), he is a committee member of the Zambia Orthopaedics and Trauma Association (ZOTA) and he also on the board of Trustee for The Lusaka Orthopaedics Research and Education Trust (LORET), Community Without Borders - Zambian Chapter and Africa Directions (AD).
Professor Emmanuel M Makasa has extensive experience in global health diplomacy, in regional and national surgical (peri-operative) health policy formulation and implementation and he has worked as a senior health systems manager, as honorary lecturer and as a specialist clinician in orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery. He is passionate about improving surgical healthcare in LMIC and has a track record of mobilising and coordinating multiple state and none-state actor stakeholders and partners within the United Nations Systems, in the Global Health/Global Surgery community, health professional groups and within clinical care around surgical systems and service delivery improvement. He has presented on and he has published on safe, timely, equitable, appropriate and affordable universal access to surgical (peri-operative) healthcare in Africa and beyond.
PROFESSOR BRUCE BICCARD
Nuffield Professor of Anaesthetic Science, University of Oxford
Bruce Biccard is the Nuffield Professor of Anaesthetic Science at the University of Oxford. His research interests
include perioperative medicine, perioperative outcomes and global surgery. He is a proponent of international
collaborative research. He collaborates with the African Perioperative Research Group (APORG) which has
delivered the African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS), the ASOS-2 Trial, the African Covid-19 Critical Care
Outcomes Study (ACCCOS), the African Surgical Outcomes Study in Paediatric patients (ASOS-Paeds), and the
African Critical Illness Outcomes Study (ACIOS). He is the co-Lead for the NIHR Global Health Group on
Perioperative and Critical Care. He is a National Research Foundation (NRF) A-Rated Scientist. Bruce has
published a book titled ‘Safer surgery for Africa: Challenges and Solutions’.
MISS MHAIRI COLLIE OBE
Colorectal Surgeon, UK
Miss Mhairi Collie OBE is a Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, with expertise spanning colorectal cancer, functional bowel disorders, hernia repair and faecal incontinence, including sacral nerve stimulation. Since 2001, she has combined her NHS practice with regular surgical missions in sub-Saharan Africa, specialising in the treatment of childbirth-related injuries. She co-founded the Uganda Childbirth Injury Fund, supporting surgical care and training in low-resource settings. In 2021, she was awarded an OBE for services to global surgery. She is also the author of The Bright Fabric of Life, a novel inspired by her surgical experiences.
MR MIKE MCKIRDY
General Surgeon, UK, Chair of the NHS Scotland Global Citizenship Advisory Board
Mike McKirdy graduated from the Glasgow University Medical School in 1985 and after surgical training in the west of Scotland, London and Manchester, was appointed a consultant general surgeon, with a special interest in breast disease, at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley in 1997. From then he led and developed breast cancer services in the Clyde area of the West of Scotland, amalgamating three hospital based services into a single unit, introducing oncoplastic surgery, screening surgery and a programme of rehabilitation after treatment. Mike was Scottish Clinical lead for Breast services from 2019 to 2021, and retired from clinical practice in 2024.
He developed an interest in global surgery and worked for Scottish Government as a professional adviser to the NHS Scotland Global Citizenship Programme 2018-2021. From 2018-2024 he was a Trustee of THET, the UK based global health partnership charity, and was Chair of the Association of Breast Surgery International Forum 2022-2024.
Mike served on the Council of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow from 2005 to 2024. He was Vice President of the College responsible for surgical education from 2013-2016, College Director for Global Health 2016-2021, President Elect in 2021, and served as President 2021-2024.
Mike now is chair of the board at ACCORD Hospice, Paisley and Chair of the NHS Scotland Global Citizenship Advisory Board.
DR PATRICK SEIGNE
Consultant Anaesthetist, Ireland
Dr Patrick Seigne qualified in Medicine from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland in 1989. He completed Anaesthesiology training in both Ireland and America (1990-1998), followed by a Fellowship in Critical Care Medicine in The Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Harvard Medical School, Boston in 1999. He became a Critical Care/Anaesthesiology Attending in BWH for 1 year and subsequently joined Cork University Hospital (CUH) as Consultant in Anaesthesiology/Intensive Care since 2001. He has held roles in CUH as Director of ICU (2003-8), Chair of Department (2009-12) and Clinical Director (2016-19). He was also previously the President of the Intensive Care Society of Ireland (2009-14).
Dr Seigne spent a sabbatical year as an Intensive Care Consultant in Christchurch, New Zealand in 2012/13 and has worked with the voluntary organisation Facing Africa in Ethiopia since 2007 making 2-week trips to Addis Abba most years. He serves as Faculty on the CAI HOT course in Malawi since 2022. At present, he is council member of the College of Anaesthesiology of Ireland since 2022, Honorary Secretary and Global Health Lead since 2025.
DR STEPHEN OKELO
Consultant Anaesthetist, Kenya
Dr Stephen Okelo completed anaesthesiology training in both Kenya and Egypt, with subsequent specialisation in simulation and medical education. He is a Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Critical Care Physician in Kisumu, Kenya, and as a Faculty Member at Maseno University School of Medicine. He has held numerous leadership positions within academic and anaesthesia communities. Dr Okelo currently serves as President of the College of Anaesthesiologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (CANECSA), and previously served as President of the Kenya Society of Anaesthesiologists. He is actively engaged in workforce development, education initiatives, and perioperative systems strengthening throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
MR NOEL ARUPARAYIL
General Surgeon, UK
Mr Noel Aruparayil is post CCT fellow in HPB surgery at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He is the past president of GASOC and now supports on the board of directors. He has over 10 years of involvement in Global Surgery and currently leads Innovations in Global Surgery organisation. He was the past NIHR Clinical Fellow with Global Health Research Group - Surgical Technologies and PhD candidate at University of Leeds.
DR NG JUN JIE
Vascular Surgeon, Singapore
Dr Ng Jun Jie is a consultant in vascular and endovascular surgery at the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS). He is also an Associate Professor at the Department of Surgery in the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. Dr Ng graduated from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore in 2010 and started his general surgery residency in the same year. During his general surgery residency, he developed a great interest in the field of vascular surgery. He completed his general surgery residency and obtained his fellowship with the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) in 2018. He was awarded the highest scorer in his fellowship examinations. Dr Ng has recently completed a fellowship in complex aortic surgery at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London. He is extremely committed to providing the best care to his patients and won the Outstanding Junior Doctor award when he was rotated to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) in 2018. Besides excelling in clinical care, Dr Ng is also an avid educator. As a testament to his dedication to teaching, Dr Ng has won multiple teaching awards, including the Junior Doctor Teaching Award and the Special Recognition Award (2019).
Dr Ng has been involved in multiple surgical humanitarian trips around Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Myanmar. He will be joining our trainee panel discussion.
DR REEMA PATEL
Specialty Registrar in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia, Scotland
Dr Reema Patel is a dual Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia trainee in South East Scotland. She is past Anaesthesia Representative (2018-2020) and past President (2021-2022) of GASOC and is the current International Fellow at the Association of Anaesthetists. She has completed observerships in Cambodia and a Global Health Fellowship in Ethiopia along with teaching SAFE (Safer Anaesthesia from Education) courses in Ghana. Reema has an interest in medical education and is currently the trainee education representative of the Scottish Intensive Care Society. Reema will be joining our trainee panel discussion.
Outside of work, Reema is being kept busy on maternity leave. She is a functional fitness fanatic and enjoys spending time with her family including her Golden Retriever, Logan.
DR HANNAH RAVAL
Speciality Registrar in Obstetrics-Gynaecology, The Grange University Hospital
Dr Hannah Raval is an ST4 trainee in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with a strong interest in global women’s health. Alongside her clinical training, she has undertaken a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and PG Cert in Global Health and Leadership. She has volunteered as a doctor in rural South Africa and has completed an NHS Improving Global Health Fellowship in Zambia.
She has experience in global health education, running the Introduction to Global Health course for Cardiff University medical students for the past four years, where she holds an Honorary Clinical Lectureship. Recently, she delivered advanced obstetrics and gynaecology teaching in Sierra Leone and continues to engage in international projects.
She has served as the O&G representative for GASOC and now sits on the RCOG Global Health Trainees Committee, helping to develop a Global Health Curriculum for O&G trainees. Passionate about widening access to global health opportunities, her long-term goal is to combine her clinical and educational interests to inspire and support future trainees in this field. Hannah will be joining our trainee panel discussion.
Dr Ng has been involved in multiple surgical humanitarian trips around Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, and Myanmar. He will be joining our trainee panel discussion.
DR MATTHEW TANG
Specialty Registrar in Anaesthesia, London
Dr Matthew Tang is currently an ST4 anaesthetic trainee at St George's Hospital in South London deanery. During his career break between CT3 and ST4, he undertook a six-month global health fellowship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he worked on a postgraduate educational project in delivering weekly simulation training to Ethiopian anaesthesia residents. He has a clinical interest is in paediatric anaesthesia and hopes to be able to contribute to more clinical and educational work in this area overseas in the future.
Matthew will be joining our trainee panel discussion.
PURCHASE
YOUR TICKET
Join us in Glasgow, UK or online, for the GASOC International Conference 2025 and take part in a global celebration of collaboration and progress in global surgery.
Your ticket gives you access to talks, workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities with colleagues and leaders from around the world.
We look forward to welcoming you to this milestone event.
We thank our sponsors:
