Facilitators

Dr Petra Dickmann MA, MBBS, MD, PhD is a senior health security specialist working for international organisations (WHO, IFRC, UNICEF) and governments on biosafety, biosecurity, health security and resilience. Her main areas of interests are risk communication governance and the social interface of health and security; she has been pioneering novel approaches of social laboratory workshop designs and conducting ‘incubator’ workshops at global level. Petra holds a PhD on health security (ETH Zurich / HU Berlin) and did her MD on CRBN threats (Kings College London/Frankfurt University). Her post-PhD degree (Habilitation) is in Public Health that she teaches as senior lecturer at Jena University Hospital. 

Medical doctor, MPH, PhD in Public Health
Irina is a Senior Advisor, leading complex Programme in the area of Health systems strengthening; Design curriculums and coordinate training modules, including for virtual (e-) learning within Master program and short courses, Provide training, facilitation and individual counselling to students.
Furthermore, she is a Coordinator of a training program for the Dutch military doctors GOLAMA. The GOLAMA focuses on planning and implementation of humanitarian and medical aid as part of an international military operation. It covers outbreak detection and control, setting and management of a refugee camp, cooperation with local authorities and NGO's, intercultural communication.

Myrte Wassenaar is a medical doctor and quantitative researcher from the Netherlands with a particular interest in global health and infectious diseases. She is currently working as an advisor in health systems strengthening at KIT Royal Tropical Institute.

Franklin Apfel is a medical doctor and managing director (and founding partner) of World Health Communication Associates Ltd (www.whcaonline.org). Current work focuses on communication and design work for WHO HQ readiness division and the TECHNE network, mentoring, meeting facilitation and autobiographical writing. Previously Dr Apfel has worked as Head of Communications for the WHO Regional Office for Europe (Copenhagen), Primary Health Care Fellow of the King’s Fund (London), Regional Director for Central and Eastern Europe Project HOPE (Bratislava), a Family Practitioner, CEO of California Health Leadership Inc. (Ukiah, California) and Medical Director of the Pedro Albizu Campo, Lolita Lebron, Malcolm X People’s Detoxification Center (Bronx, N.Y.).

Lydia Asoniti is a public health specialist with experience in training development and implementation, risk communication, and community engagement for humanitarian emergencies and health outbreaks. She has worked with international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), supporting countries in strengthening emergency preparedness and response capacities. She has also contributed to the COVID-19 response and refugee and migrant health programs in Greece. Her expertise includes facilitating and implementing capacity-building programs, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, and enhancing preparedness efforts for complex public health threats.