6th NRN Global Health Conference 2026 "Reverse Migration" with Global Collaboration

Professor Eunice Simmons is Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Chester in the northwest of the UK. She has broad sector experience having previously worked at five diverse institutions: the University of London's Wye and Imperial Colleges, UCLan Lancashire as head of the National School of Forestry, the University of Cumbria and Nottingham Trent University where she was Deputy Vice Chancellor. An environmentalist by academic background, Prof Simmons has degrees in biology, soil conservation and forest ecology and has contributed to education and sustainability initiatives in Europe, Japan, Malaysia, China and the Caribbean. She has focused on the twin priorities of education and the environment throughout her career, particularly in large-scale knowledge transfer and implementation projects. As a founding member of Defra's Expert Committee on Forest Science and first Chair of the national charity TASO: Transforming Access & Student Outcomes, she has supported research implementation. Eunice was recognised for sector leadership in education for sustainable development by the Environmental Association of Universities & Colleges and is proud to be the current Chair of Mersey Forest Partnership. This outstanding community forest leads on a UK government 'Trees for Climate' project and works with regional partners to improve the lives of 2.5 million people.

Prof. Dr. Sujan Babu Marahatta is the Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University, Nepal, where he provides strategic leadership in advancing academic excellence, research, innovation and societal impact. With a strong background in public health and medical education, he has been actively engaged in strengthening higher education, health research and capacity development in Nepal. His leadership emphasises multidisciplinary collaboration, technology-enabled learning and the translation of knowledge into solutions for society. He is committed to developing centres of excellence, strengthening research and innovation, and preparing future generations of professionals to contribute to Nepal's development and address emerging global challenges.

Professor Paul Bissell is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Professor of Public Health at the University of Chester. His research spans public health, health inequalities, medical sociology, behavioural health and health services research. He has led and contributed to a wide range of externally funded research projects and has published extensively on public health policy, social determinants of health and healthcare systems. Professor Bissell has supervised numerous doctoral researchers and has held senior leadership positions at the Universities of Chester, Huddersfield and Sheffield. His work is recognised internationally for its contribution to applied public health research and evidence-informed policy development.

Professor Padam Simkhada is an internationally recognised global health academic, researcher and research leader with extensive experience in public health, health systems strengthening, migration and migrant health, maternal and child health, global health policy and international development. As Dean of Global Impact and Research at the University of Chester, he leads the University's research, innovation and international impact agenda. He has worked extensively across Asia, Africa and Europe, developing international partnerships and leading collaborative research programmes that have informed policy and practice. His work focuses on addressing health inequalities, strengthening healthcare systems, NCDs prevention, building research capacity and promoting evidence-informed policymaking to improve population health outcomes globally.

Dr Kirstie Simpson is Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise at the University of Chester, providing strategic leadership across the Chester Business School, School of Natural Sciences, and School of Computer and Engineering Sciences. As a member of the University's Senior Leadership Team, she plays a key role in advancing academic excellence, student success, research, innovation, internationalisation and external engagement. She has extensive experience in higher education leadership, curriculum development, business and enterprise education, and fostering partnerships with industry and professional bodies. Her work focuses on preparing graduates for a rapidly changing global environment while promoting innovation, sustainability and enterprise-led solutions to contemporary challenges.

Professor Julie Balen is an internationally recognised global health researcher specialising in health systems strengthening, health policy, implementation science and health equity. With more than two decades of experience across Asia, Africa and Europe, her work focuses on improving health outcomes through evidence-based policy and sustainable health-system development. She has led and collaborated on major projects funded by organisations including the NIHR and WHO, and has established long-standing partnerships in Nepal, Bangladesh, Ghana, Nigeria and The Gambia. Her research combines interdisciplinary and participatory approaches to address complex public health challenges and strengthen health services in low-resource settings.

Professor Edwin van Teijlingen is a leading public health and medical sociology scholar with international expertise in reproductive health, maternal health, health systems research and mixed-methods research. He has published extensively on public health, social sciences and healthcare organisation, with a particularly strong research engagement in Nepal and South Asia. His work has contributed significantly to strengthening research capacity, evidence-informed practice, maternal and reproductive health services, and public health education. Professor van Teijlingen has collaborated with universities, NGOs and policymakers across multiple countries and is widely recognised for his contribution to global health research and training.

Professor Sara Parker is an internationally recognised researcher whose work focuses on collaborative action research, gender, social justice, education and community empowerment. She has worked in Nepal for more than three decades and has led influential international projects addressing menstrual health, social inclusion and community participation. Her research approach combines academic excellence with practical engagement, ensuring that evidence contributes directly to policy and social change. Professor Parker is widely known for her work on menstrual stigma and women's empowerment in Nepal and has built strong partnerships with local communities, researchers, activists and policymakers throughout South Asia.

BSc, MBBS, MRCGP, FRCGP, PGC Public Health (Manchester), DLM (Diploma in Legal Medicine)

Dr Ansar Hayat is a senior GP partner, GP Trainer and clinical director in Wakefield, with over 20 years of service to the NHS and the local community. He leads a multidisciplinary primary care team and is a GP trainer and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Leeds, helping to develop the next generation of doctors. He represents local GPs through the BMA and the Wakefield Local Medical Committee, and is a trustee of the Maybush Health Foundation, which supports medical and educational initiatives. As a councillor and Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Social Care at Wakefield District Council, he works to improve health and care services for residents of Wakefield.

Dr. Paras K. Pokharel is a distinguished physician, academic leader, and public health advocate with over 25 years of experiences in health professional education, community medicine, and health systems development. He served 2008 to 2024 as a professor and chief of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Nepal, one of the country’s leading institutions, known for its extensive outreach across primary health care centres, district hospitals, and zonal hospitals in eastern Nepal.

Dr. Pokharel holds dual MD degrees in general medicine and community medicine. He has played a pivotal role in shaping public health education and practice in South Asia. As the founding architect of the School of Public Health & Community Medicine at BPKIHS, he also established the Department of Occupational Health within the school. He is a strong advocate for universal access to basic occupational health services for workers across all sectors in Nepal.

Beyond academia, his leadership extends into national and regional health policy. As a chair of GARP Nepal, he actively promotes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship, working closely with both provincial and federal health ministries. At present Dr Pokharel associated with senior advisory role in the Oxford Clinical Research Unit Nepal—a nonprofit organization supported by the Welcome Trust. He is adjunct professor of Indian Institute Public Health, New Delhi and serves on the academic committee of the Indian Institute of Public Health under the Public Health Foundation of India.

Dr. Pokharel is a member of the senate, the highest governing council of BPKIHS, and has contributed to several academic, curriculum, and infection control committees. His commitment to regional collaboration is reflected in his role as regional technical advisor to the WHO South-East Asia Advisory Committee on Health Research 2015-2018, (SEA-ACHR). Present

Earlier in his career, he contributed to the foundational phase of the Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences 2004-2006, where he served as chair of the Department of Community Medicine and Family Practice. He is actively involved in academic publishing and serves on the editorial boards or as an associate editor for several national and international health science journals. His affiliations include the Journal of Migration and Health, Elsevier, BMJ Public Health and others.

Dr. Binod P. Shah, MD is recognized by Continental Who’s Who as Top Doctor for his professional excellence in the field of Spinal Pain Rehab and Medicine. With a humble beginning in a remote village of Nepal, Dr. Shah has led an exemplary career full of service and leadership for over 20 years. He proudly serves his patients with Spinal Pain Rehab and Medicine PC in Yonkers, New York, and at two other locations. In his current capacity, he utilizes his extensive medical training and expertise in Pain Medicine, Physical Medicine, and Rehabilitation to provide the best possible care.

Dr. Shah’s distinguished career began after earning his medical degree at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research. He completed a residency at Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, followed by fellowships at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital and Westchester Medical Center. Since then, he has remained an active member of the American Medical Association.

In his spare time, Dr. Shah is deeply involved in the Nepalese American community as past president of the America-Nepal Friendship Society, founder member and General Secretary of the Association of Nepali Physicians in America (ANPA), board member of America Nepal Medical Foundation, and elected executive member of the NRNA ICC representing the USA.

Mr Vijay Savant, FRCOphth, FRCS, MS, DOMS, MBBS, is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at University Hospitals of Leicester, United Kingdom, where he serves as Clinical Lead for Cornea and External Eye Disease. He is also an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at the University of Leicester and the Medical Director of Stoneygate Eye Hospital in Leicester, UK.

His areas of expertise include cataract and refractive surgery, toric and multifocal intraocular lens implants, laser refractive surgery, femtosecond LASIK, LASEK, EPI-LASEK, presbyopia treatment, and clear lens extraction with multifocal intraocular lens implantation. He also specializes in corneal transplantation, including penetrating, lamellar, and endothelial keratoplasty, as well as corneal collagen cross-linking, allergic eye diseases, and infective keratitis, including herpetic and Acanthamoeba infections.

In addition to his clinical practice, Mr Savant is actively involved in teaching and training, contributing significantly to the education, research, and development of ophthalmic professionals globally.

Dr. Mishra earned his PhD from the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy at the Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Copenhagen, Denmark and has over 20 years of teaching and research experience in Medical Pharmacology.

Dr. Mishra has held numerous faculty positions at universities across the world, including Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Manipal College of Medical Sciences in Pokhara, Nepal. During his faculty position in Nepal, Dr. Mishra has been involved in teaching Pharmacology in problem-oriented, integrated curriculum of Kathmandu University. He also served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Saba University and, prior to accepting his current position at RUSM, he served as Associate Dean for Student Affairs at American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.

Dr. Mishra was also actively involved with clinical research in different departments at Manipal Teaching Hospital, a 700-bedded tertiary care hospital. He has been credited with over 100 publications in several national and international, peer-reviewed journals. His areas of research interests are drug adherence in tuberculosis treatment, rational drug therapy, medication counseling, prescription auditing (drug utilization and drug policy), pharmacovigilance, drug interactions, medical education, diabetes and quality of life. Dr. Mishra has supervised PhD students, as a co-supervisor of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Dr Mishra is a pioneer in establishing the Drug Information and Pharmacovigilance Center at Manipal Teaching Hospital, in collaboration with United States Pharmacopeia Drug Quality and Information (USPDQI) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID). He has also been actively involved in founding the Medication Counseling Center at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, and has worked as Editor-in-Chief of the Drug Information and Pharmacovigilance (Vigil) Bulletin published quarterly from the Drug Information Center, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal.

Professor Sara Eastburn is a qualified physiotherapist and experienced academic leader. Prof. Eastburn has more than 28 years of experience in higher education, with expertise in healthcare education, curriculum development, assessment, feedback, and workforce development in local, national and international contexts. Her research interests include qualitative research methods, phenomenology, communities of practice, and health professional education. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Chartered Manager, and actively contributes to governance roles within both the University and local NHS and education sectors. She is passionate about teaching, learning and assessment, and continues to support the development of future health professionals through her leadership, research, and educational practice.

Professor Philip Brown is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in psychology. Prof. Brown has an established reputation for research that informs policy development and implementation across housing, migration, homelessness, community wellbeing, and social inclusion. As Academic Lead of the University’s Healthy Housing Initiative, his work focuses on addressing housing and neighbourhood inequalities experienced by marginalised communities and translating evidence into practical policy and service improvements. He has secured funding from major national and international agencies and regularly provides expert advice to governments, parliaments, local authorities, and international organisations. Through his research and advisory roles, he has contributed to shaping policy responses on housing, migration, equality, and community development.

Dr Bibha Simkhada is Reader in Nursing and Deputy Director of Graduate Education at the University of Huddersfield, UK. A prolific global health researcher, her work centers on maternal health, nursing leadership, global health workforce dynamics, and health systems in developing nations.

Trained as a medical doctor, Dr Rajeeb Kumar Sah is an interdisciplinary public health researcher whose work focuses on global health equity, mental health and wellbeing, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, and health inequalities among marginalised populations. He employs qualitative, participatory, and co-production approaches to understand lived experiences and generate evidence that informs equitable and culturally responsive public health policy and practice. His research spans the UK and low- and middle-income countries, with a particular focus on community engagement, inclusive research, and evidence-informed decision-making. Through international collaborations, he works to address systemic health disparities and improve population health outcomes.

Professor Abhay M. Gaidhane is an eminent academician, medical researcher, and public health leader serving as Professor of Community Medicine at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) and Director of the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research (DMIHER). His research spans the Global Burden of Disease, maternal and child health, tuberculosis control, rural healthcare systems, and health professional education. A prolific scholar and international collaborator, he has contributed extensively to epidemiological surveillance, evidence-informed public health policy, and community health interventions across India.

Professor Syed Zahiruddin Quazi is a distinguished public health researcher and innovation leader with expertise spanning health technology, maternal and child health, nutrition, early childhood development, clinical translational research, and complex health interventions. His work increasingly focuses on biomedical engineering, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, leading pioneering studies on customised implants, bone scaffolds, and cranial grafts. Through collaborations with leading institutions including IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, and VNIT Nagpur, he has secured substantial national and international research funding. With more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and recognition among the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists, he has made significant contributions to evidence-informed policymaking, innovation, capacity building, and the translation of research into practice and societal impact.

Dr Devendra Raj Singh is a public health researcher, educator, and international development practitioner with extensive experience in health research, teaching, and community engagement. He holds a PhD from the University of Huddersfield, where he currently serves as a Senior Skills Educator in Health and Social Care. His research focuses on global public health, health inequalities, maternal and child health, homelessness, mental health, and health service improvement. Through collaborations across the UK and low- and middle-income countries, he supports evidence-informed policy and practice aimed at improving outcomes for underserved populations. He is also actively involved in academic publishing, international research partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives.

Jay Nishaant is an accomplished international development leader, democracy and governance practitioner, policy strategist, and academic with over 20 years of professional experience. He has held senior leadership positions at premier international organizations including National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). He has extensive experience in diplomacy, international relations, economic cooperation, and regional geopolitics. As a Distinguished Fellow at the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) and Policy Advisor to the Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), he has advanced strategic dialogue, trade, and investment cooperation. A Stanford University Draper Hills Fellow, he also holds an Executive MBA and has taught International Business to postgraduate students for over two decades. He is also a prominent political commentator, former television anchor, author, and advocate of democratic governance and Nepal’s international engagement.

Mobasher Hussain is an accomplished and mission-driven development leader with over 35 years of progressive experience in strategic program leadership, partnership management, and policy advocacy across Bangladesh’s development sector. He brings proven expertise in managing large-scale projects focusing on child rights, WASH, public health, anti-trafficking, women’s empowerment, and humanitarian response, having successfully overseen and delivered over $100M in grant-funded interventions. Through Smile Train, he has expanded free, high-quality cleft care nationwide, strengthening surgical capacity and community health systems, and has led impactful humanitarian programs for Rohingya refugees addressing nutrition, WASH, and mental health.

Renu Mehta brings extensive experience in the healthcare and social development sectors. Prior to joining Smile Train, she worked as a Program Manager with Christian Blind Mission (CBM) at their South Asia Regional Office (North), where she was responsible for addressing development sector needs through strategic design, partner cultivation, financial planning, training delivery, program monitoring, and co-funding initiatives with agencies including LIONS/BMZ. Renu has been working for close to a decade to expand the reach, quality, and clinical depth of Smile Train India’s comprehensive cleft care and health equity programs.