Download the Detailed Conference Agenda here – View the Conference Speakers and Moderators here

Monday, January 20th
8:30am Workshop Registration
9:00am Workshop Commencement
10:30am Networking Tea Break (30min)
1:00pm Lunch Break (60min)
2:00pm Workshop Cont’d
3:30pm Networking Tea Break (30min)
5:00pm Workshop Completion

Workshop Room A
9:00am-5:00pm Cyberbiosecurity
Workshop Room B
9:00am-5:00pm Biological Risk Assessment

Tuesday, January 21st
8:30am Workshop Registration
9:00am Workshop Commencement
10:30am Networking Tea Break (30min)
1:00pm Lunch Break (60min)
2:00pm Workshop Cont’d
3:30pm Networking Tea Break (30min)
5:00pm Workshop Completion

Workshop Room A
9:00am-5:00pm Cyberbiosecurity Cont’d
Workshop Room B
9:00am-1:00pm Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Biosafety & Biosecurity
2:00pm-5:00pm Dual Use Research, Bioethics & DNA Synthesis Screening

Wednesday, January 22nd
Global Voices Conference
Conference Centre / Tembo Room 8:00am – 5:00pm
8:00am Conference Registration (Conference Centre)
9:00am Opening Ceremony (Conference Centre)

  • Master of Ceremonies, Jacob Lusekelo, Ministry of Health, Tanzania
  • Arrival Guest of Honor
     Hon. William Vangimembe Lukuvi (MP), Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, and Coordination), Tanzania
  • National Anthem, East Africa Anthem
  • Welcoming Remarks
     Global Affairs Canada
     Zachariah Ephraim Makondo, President, TaBSA
     Miguel Martin N. Moreno II, Chair, IFBA Board of Directors
  • Broadcast of “Global Voices: Diversity is Strength” Video

10:15am Guest of Honor Opening Speech
10:45am Official Photo & Networking Tea Break
12:00pm Keynote Address (Conference Centre)

  • Professor Gerald Misinzo, SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania

12:30pm ASEAN Leaders Declaration on Biosafety & Biosecurity
1:00pm Lunch Break (60min)
2:00pm Parallel Breakout Sessions
Stream 1 – Diverse Perspectives in Biosafety & Biosecurity
CONFERENCE CENTRE
Moderator, Nataly Spears, Global Affairs Canada

  • Ireen Kiwelu, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, “Establishment of the KCMC Centre of Excellence in Tanzania”
  • Sana Masmoudi, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, “Intersection Between Biosecurity and Equity”
  • Rachel Gamble, Director Science & Technology, Pond & Company, “Collaborative Biological Risk Assessment: A Diversified and Inclusive Team-Based Approach to Risk Mitigation”
  • Catarina Santos, “Biosafety and Biosecurity in Lusophone Countries”

Stream 2 – IFBA Member Association Highlightes
TEMBO ROOM
Moderator, Khalid Temsamani, Moroccan Biosafety Association

  • Olivier Manigart, IFBA Board of Directors, West African Biorisk Management Network “WABNET – West Africa’s Voices for Biorisk Management”
  • Geoff Jagero, President, Biorisk Management Association of Kenya, “Biorisk Associations, Business Unusual”
  • Shawn Kirk, Chairman, Caribbean Society for Biosafety & Biosecurity, “Braving the Waters: Navigating Biosafety and Biosecurity across the Caribbean”
  • Maureen Ellis, Executive Director, “IFBA 5-year Strategic Plan “Vision of Tomorrow”: Where are we Now & Where are we Going?”

3:30pm Networking Tea Break (30min)
4:00pm Parallel Breakout Sessions cont’d

Stream 1 – Diverse Perspectives in Biosafety & Biosecurity
CONFERENCE CENTRE
Moderator, James Sakwa, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

  • Paula Sotto-Mayor, Angola, “Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries: FELINO Exercise”
  • Vorathep Sachdev, University of Edinburgh, “A Critical Perspective on Laboratory Biosafety & Biosecurity Governance in Thailand”
  • Gábor Kemenesi, National Laboratory of Virology, University of Pécs, Hungary “HCL Research and Training Center in Hungary: Cutting-edge Research, Biosafety training and International Collaboration opportunities at the National Laboratory of Virology”
  • P.T. Nhean, Dominique Anne S. Aluquin, Jo Yi Chow, NTI Next Generation for Biosecurity, “Advancing Gender Equity in ASEAN Agriculture for Resilient Biosecurity”

Stream 2 – IFBA Member Association Business Meeting (By Invitation Only)
TEMBO ROOM

  • IFBA Member Associations Business Meeting

5:00pm End Conference Day 1

Thursday, January 23rd
Global Voices Conference
Conference Centre / Tembo Room 8:00am – 5:00pm

8:00am Morning Meet & Greet (Conference Centre)
   • IFBA and TaBSA Conference Hosts, Conference Sponsors

9:00am Plenary Session (Conference Centre)
Moderator, Jeremiah Seni, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania

  • Paul Okwalinga, President Biosafety Biosecurity Association Uganda, “Strengthening Uganda’s Health Security Resilience: Implementing RiskBased Biosafety and Biosecurity Standards Across Human, Animal, Water, and Environment Sectors”
  • Ben Fontes, Senior Associate Director/Biosafety Officer, Yale University “Advancing and Sustaining Biorisk Principles Through Partnership and Shared Projects”
  • Emile Muhindo-Milonde, National Institute Biomedical Research, Goma DRC, “Biosecurity in the Context of Epidemic Management at the Rodolphe Mérieux Laboratory”
  • Jeff Serle, Germfree, “Containerized BSL 2 Laboratory with Worldwide Localizations: From Ghana to Hawaii”

10:30am Networking Tea Break (30min)
11:00am Plenary Session cont’d (Conference Centre)
Moderator, Sacha Wallace-Sankarsingh, International Federation of Biosafety Associations

  • Jacob Lusekelo, Tanzania Ministry Health, “Eastern Africa Regional Centre of Excellence for Biosafety & Biosecurity”
  • Claudio Mafra, Brazilian Biosafety & Biosecurity Society, Chair IFBA Certification Body, “Upholding Professional Competency & the Future of our Global Network”
  • Lela Bakanidze, Vice-President BACAC, “Biosafety Association for Central Asia & Caucasus: Building Regional Bridges”

1:00pm Lunch Break (60min)
2:00pm Parallel Breakout Sessions
Stream 3 – Youth Leaders for A Vision of Tomorrow
CONFERENCE CENTRE
Moderator, Stephanie Norlock, International Federation of Biosafety Associations

  • Elvis Mambo, Brian Nabuyia, MMUST, “BSc. Biosafety & Biosecurity Video “
  • Trizzer Ochieng, Fides Mukuri, Susan Tuvei, MMUST “In our Own Words: Defining a Next Generation of Women Biosafety & Biosecurity Champions”
  • Janet Hankins, University of British Columbia, “Bridging Borders: Perspectives on International Co-Teaching MMUST BSc Biosafety and Biosecurity”
  • Leonard Makanga & Aggrey Barasa, MMUST “Biosafety Career Pathways: The Role of Biosafety Officers in an Industrial Context”
  • Luis Ochoa Carrera, Pandemic Tech, “Pandemic Tech Virtual Journal Club”

Stream 4 – Emerging Biosecurity Challenges
TEMBO ROOM
Moderator, John Kuot Kuany Diing, Biosafety & Biosecurity Association South Sudan

  • Nyambura Moremi, Director Tanzania National Public Health Lab, “Marburg Outbreak: Tanzania’s Laboratory Response”
  • Peter Babigumira Ahabwe, National Institute of Public Health, Uganda, “Enhancing Regional Capacities for Detecting and Managing Deliberate Biological
    Threats in Africa”
  • Ronaldo Puno, Biorisk Association of Philippines, “Biosecurity Impact of Emerging Biotechnologies: The Southeast Asian Perspective”
  • Tarja Sironen, University of Helsinki, Finland “One Health Approach to Preparedness for Emerging Infectious Diseases”

3:30pm Networking Tea Break (30min)
4:00pm Parallel Breakout Sessions cont’d
Stream 3 – Youth Leaders: A Vision of Tomorrow
CONFERENCE CENTRE

  • Kelly Elimian, Biosecurity Game Changers “The Next Generation of Biosecurity Leaders”
  • Jud Rasmussen, One Marketing “Communication Across Generations and Cultures”
  • Judith Okolo, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Nigeria, “Biosafety Biosecurity Handbook for Students in Nigeria”
  • All Session Participants, “Envisioning Tomorrow: A Round-Table Discussion on Biosafety and Biosecurity’s Next Generation”

Stream 5 – Implementation Strategies for ISO 35001 Biorisk Management
TEMBO ROOM

  • Joris Sprokholt, RVIM, Netherlands, “Community-Based Approach to ISO35001 Implementation in East & Central Africa”
  • Stefan Wagener, Biorisk International, Malta, “International Accreditation System for Certification Bodies of ISO 35001:2019”
  • Panelists
     Christine Namulindwa, National Health Lab & Diagnostic Services, Uganda
     Tafesse Koran Wodaj, Animal Health Institute, Ethiopia
     Musonda Mandona, Ministry of Health, Zambia

5:00pm End Conference Day 2

7:00pm Gala BBQ Dinner (Mount Meru Hotel Garden)

Friday, January 24th
Global Voices Conference
Conference Centre / Tembo Room 8:00am – 3:30pm

8:00am Morning Meet & Greet (Conference Centre)
   • Global Biosafety & Biosecurity Human Library
9:00am Health Security Partners Special Session, “Global Biosecurity Success Stories: Diverse Perspectives on Implementing Effective Programs” (Conference Centre)
Moderator, Taylor Sturman, Health Security Partners

  • Judith Okolo, Nigeria, “Promoting Sustainable Biosecurity Practices in Nigeria through Capacity Building”
  • Plebeian Medina, Philippines, “Building a Culture of Sustainable Biosafety and Biosecurity Training in the Philippines”
  • Amanda Morais, Brazil, “Navigating Cyberbiosecurity Challenges: Bridging Laboratories and Society”
  • Aysen Gargili, Turkey, “Development of a Select Agent List in Türkiye to Improve Biosafety and Biosecurity Oversight”
  • Ali Ahmad Sheikh, Pakistan, “Implementing Biorisk Management Standard: Pakistan’s Journey towards ISO 35001 Conformance and Capacity Building”

10:30am Networking Tea Break (30min)
11:00am Parallel Breakout Sessions
Stream 6 – Africa Women’s Network Meeting
TEMBO ROOM
Moderator, Dr. Ndekya Oriyo, Tanzania

  • Nataly Spears, Canada, “Opening Remarks on Behalf of the Global Partnership”
  • Stephanie Norlock, Canada, “The Role of Women’s Networks in Cultivating Sustainable Futures in Health Security: Where Are We Now?”
  • Chinelo Ebruke, Nigeria; Mariam Laatifi, Morocco, “GP Women’s Network Terms of Reference Overview & Update on Membership”
  • Nyambura Moremi, Tanzania, “Update on African Women Leaders Network Course”
  • Judith Okolo, Nigeria; James Marcomic Maragia, Kenya, “GP Women’s Network Update on Activities”

Stream 7 – One Health Approach to Biosafety & Biosecurity
CONFERENCE CENTRE
Moderator, Rachel Gamble, Pond & Company

  • Ian Peter Busuulwa, Biological Threat Reduction, World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), “Advancing Biosafety and Biosecurity in Animal Health in Africa”
  • Angélique Angot, Animal Production & Health Division, Food & Agriculture Organization, “FAO Global Support on Biosafety/Biosecurity in Veterinary Laboratories”
  • Ray Kayaga, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science & Technology, Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency “Protecting Researchers in the Field Against Infectious Zoonotic Rodent Diseases”
  • Gabriel Mkilema Shirima, Public Health Re-emerging & Emerging Infectious Zoonoses, Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science & Technology, “Assessment of Biosecurity Practices in Poultry Flock in Northern Tanzania”

1:00pm Lunch Break (60min)
2:00pm Parallel Breakout Sessions cont’d

Stream 6 – Africa Women’s Network Meeting
TEMBO ROOM

  • Mah-Séré Keita, Mali; Geraldine Pretorius, South Africa, “Strategic Partnerships for the GP Women’s Network”
  • Stephanie Norlock, Canada, “Next Steps for the GP Women’s Network, Similar Networks in ASEAN and LAC Regions, and the IFBA DEI Implementation Tool”

Viewing Scientific Posters & Exhibits
CONFERENCE CENTRE

3:00pm Closing Ceremony

  • Best Poster Award
  • Closing Remarks
     Global Affairs Canada
     Tanzania Biological Safety Association
     International Federation of Biosafety Associations

3:30pm End Conference