
ITIC APAC Speakers
Selected by the ITIC Committee for their expertise and insight, our speakers bring the agenda to life. Discover the voices shaping industry discussion and sharing real-world knowledge at ITIC.
View the Agenda
Ben St. Germain

Ben St. Germain
Mr. St. Germain has over 20 years of experience in the air ambulance and private charter FAR 135 fixed-wing industry. In his current role, Ben is responsible for business development, client retention and managing key partnerships across our AirMed brand. Ben joined AirMed in 2018. Prior to joining the AirMed organization, Ben held a position with AMR Air Ambulance as the Flight Operations Manager in Denver, Colorado. In that role, Ben was responsible for day-to-day Sales and Operations of their air ambulance fleet conducting both long-range international and domestic missions. Additionally, Ben routinely attends industry related conferences and seminars around the US and abroad to promote and educate healthcare professionals and to maintain relations within the air ambulance and transport community.
Sessions
AIR AMBULANCE FORUM
Romain Di Meglio

Romain Di Meglio
Romain Di Meglio serves as Regional Chief Executive Officer for APRIL International (APRIL) in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
APRIL focuses on delivering international healthcare solutions across eight Asian markets through a blended approach of digitalised user experiences and high-value human services.
Prior to this role, Romain led M&A activities first as a consultant and then for APRIL since 2011. In this role, he oversaw APRIL’s M&A activities and explored new avenues for business growth.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Medical costs and quality in Southeast Asia
Alex Besson

Alex Besson
Alex is a seasoned expert in health and travel risk management with extensive experience throughout Southeast Asia, both as an insurance broker and assistance provider. Alex’s journey into travel assistance services began at International SOS Paris and has since led him to set up his own company, Feti’a assistance.
Feti’a is based in regions where access to quality medical care is a challenge, and its motto is ‘presence matters’. To facilitate seamless cross-border medical transfers and to promote local assistance providers who often work in the shadows, Alex also founded AWARE24, a regional network of local assistance experts across Asia.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Travel trends in APAC and their impact on assistance companies
Dr Toby Fogg

Dr Toby Fogg
Dr Toby Fogg joined CareFlight as a Registrar in 2008 during his last 6 months of training for the Fellowship with the Australian College of Emergency Medicine (FACEM). From 2009 he worked part time as a Retrieval Specialist on the New South Wales Ambulance Helicopter Service. In 2015, Toby was appointed to his current position as National Medical Director with CareFlight, providing clinical leadership and ensuring the highest levels of clinical governance across the organisation’s aeromedical and retrieval operations, whilst still working on the HEMS service.
With CareFlight, he has completed hundreds of high acuity, complex domestic and international retrievals, including ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation) and IABP (intra-aortic balloon pump) transfers. Additionally, whilst living in the UK some years ago, he conducted around 200 low acuity transfers on commercial airlines. Toby also works as an Emergency Physician at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, one of Australia’s leading trauma centres.
Sessions
AIR AMBULANCE FORUM
Camilo Saraiva

Camilo Saraiva
Dr. Camilo Saraiva is the Vice President of Medical and Assistance Services at Divers Alert Network (DAN), where he oversees global medical operations, emergency assistance, and claims coordination in support of diver safety worldwide. A physician executive with extensive experience in diving medicine, travel risk management, and complex medical evacuations, he works closely with international partners, insurers, and hyperbaric specialists to optimize medical response in remote and high-risk environments. Dr. Camilo is a frequent contributor to international conferences and professional education initiatives focused on operational medicine, risk mitigation, and emergency preparedness.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Travel trends in APAC and their impact on assistance companies
Risa Wong

Risa Wong
Risa Wong is a seasoned professional in the insurance and medical assistance industry, with extensive experience managing healthcare networks, medical coordination, and provider relations across the Asia‑Pacific region. Based in Singapore, she holds a key regional leadership role within Europ Assistance, where she oversees provider engagement, service workflows, and the delivery of medical assistance support to insured members requiring care both locally and internationally. With many years of experience working in leading insurance companies, Risa brings strong insights into assistance operations, service delivery expectations, and the challenges that arise when coordinating medical support across borders. Her combined background in insurance and assistance enables her to bridge operational gaps, anticipate potential pain points, and develop solutions that support all parties involved – patients, medical providers, and insurers.
Risa is highly regarded for her expertise in hospital relationship management, cost‑containment practices, medical case coordination, and ensuring clarity throughout the assistance process.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Navigating Singapore’s healthcare system as a traveller and expat
Kanika Puri

Kanika Puri
Kanika Puri is Chief Operating Officer and Responsible Manager at Fast Cover, with over 19 years of experience across financial services and insurance, including more than a decade building and leading global travel insurance businesses. In her current role, she holds accountability across strategy, performance, regulatory oversight and customer outcomes, leading a business built on the belief that travel insurance should genuinely work for the people who need it most.
Prior to Fast Cover, Kanika built and led operations at MAPFRE Assistance (InsureandGo & Tick) and TravelCard, where she drove sustainable growth through operational excellence, customer-focused innovation and strategic partnerships.
A recognised industry voice, Kanika regularly speaks at international forums on the evolution of travel insurance, shaping how the industry builds trust, supports travellers through complexity, and creates sustainable value for customers and partners alike.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Insurance market dynamics – the future of insurance in APAC
David Burns

David Burns
David is the CEO of First Assistance. Before joining the team in 2013 he led various Travel and Assistance companies across the Asia Pacific region. From his earlier work and study in agriculture, David uses common sense over conventional wisdom to simplify complex business problems.
He embraces change and innovation, employing digital technologies to enable people to focus on providing customer care. David is passionate about influencing organisational culture, challenging the status quo and promoting diversity and inclusiveness.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Medical costs and quality in Southeast Asia
Chris Garrett

Chris Garrett
Chris Garrett is the Director of Client Solutions & Growth for Southeast Asia at Healix International, helping drive the company’s expansion across the APAC region. With a career spanning medical and security assistance, occupational health, health technology, and insurance, he brings deep experience in managing complex global risks. Chris has supported major regional responses to terrorist incidents, natural disasters, public health emergencies, and the search for MH370. In his current role, he leads business development across Southeast Asia – focused on Kuala Lumpur and Singapore – while managing key client relationships.
Sessions
MEDICAL DIRECTORS AND ASSISTANCE FORUM led by Dr Winston Jong
Declan McDermott

Declan McDermott
Declan brings over a decade of experience across risk, healthcare and insurance, with strong expertise in global network management. He has worked extensively with international providers and partners, supporting organisations operating in complex and fast‑changing environments. His career has included leading operational and network development initiatives, strengthening access to care, and building resilient supply chains that support globally mobile workforces. In his current role, he oversees the expansion and enhancement of Healix’s worldwide provider network, ensuring reliable access, service consistency and responsiveness to the realities of today’s global landscape.
Sessions
MEDICAL DIRECTORS AND ASSISTANCE FORUM led by Dr Winston Jong
Jonathan Tang

Jonathan Tang
Jonathan Tang joined Heals’ founding team in 2019 to lead group strategy, corporate development and growth, having had experience across consulting x health insurance x insurtech. He was formerly Head of Strategy at AXA HK Health & Employee Benefits; and Partnerships Director at Coherent.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Digital technology in medical care and claims
Dr Peter Chow

Dr Peter Chow
Dr Peter Chow is currently CEO of IHH Healthcare Singapore and oversees the different businesses and facilities under the Mount Elizabeth, Gleneagles and Parkway brands. Prior to this he helmed Mt Elizabeth Novena Hospital, first as COO and as CEO between 2018 to 2023.
Before joining IHH, Peter had various roles in the Singapore public healthcare system, in Clinical Operations, Quality Management, Corporate Development, Manpower, Training & Development, and Corporate Communications, with his last position as COO of National Healthcare Group Polyclinics.
Peter graduated as a dental surgeon with the National University of Singapore. He has a Master of Science in Health Management from the University of Sydney.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Navigating Singapore’s healthcare system as a traveller and expat
Nir Kaminer

Nir Kaminer
Nir Kaminer is Co-founder and Director of MedRev International, a global network of medical specialists providing independent, evidence-based medical reviews. With extensive experience in healthcare management and consulting, he specialises in optimising claims operations for health insurers worldwide. His work has helped insurers address overutilisation while improving operational efficiency and reducing costs.
Nir is a strong advocate for the responsible use of AI to streamline healthcare processes without losing essential human judgement. He holds an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management and is based in Munich, Germany, with his wife and two daughters.
Sessions
SPEAKER SESSION: IPMI – What is driving increased utilisation of international health insurance?
Dr Terry Nash

Dr Terry Nash
Dr Nash is the medical director of Retrieval Medics International. Terry brings together a long history of supporting aeromedical retrievals while serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, with his senior staff specialist position in a tertiary urban emergency department to deliver evidence-informed care for people needing retrieval care. He has extensive experience in the care of older people, as he also leads clinical care for the most vulnerable in residential aged care and end-of-life care. He is conducting research on supported decision-making for people with dementia who need emergency care. He continues to advocate nationally and internationally for improved opportunities to include people with dementia in both health care and travel.
Sessions
MEDICAL DIRECTORS AND ASSISTANCE FORUM led by Dr Winston Jong
Julien Tardivat

Julien Tardivat
Julien Tardivat brings over 25 years of experience in the health insurance and international assistance industry. Throughout his career, he has held a wide range of roles across claims management, customer service, programme management, product development, sales, and medical network management. This diverse background gives him a comprehensive understanding of the operational and commercial dynamics of health insurance.
Known as a proactive problem solver, Julien has successfully built medical networks in remote areas across Asia, negotiated cost savings and provider discounts, launched innovative health insurance products, and implemented practical cost-containment initiatives.
His passion for working with people has enabled him to lead and motivate multicultural teams across the region, fostering strong collaboration and engagement.
Today, Julien supports corporations in addressing complex operational challenges. His work focuses on building and optimizing medical networks, identifying cost-saving opportunities, creating synergies between teams, launching new initiatives and products, and supporting organizations in scaling technology and operational strategies.
Sessions
PANEL SESSION: Insurance market dynamics – the future of insurance in APAC
Dr Alex Veldman

Dr Alex Veldman
Alex is a board-certified pediatrician, neonatologist, and pediatric cardiologist serving as Medical Director of Unicair. Previously, he worked in leadership positions in large University Hospitals and in the Pharmaceutical Industry. Alex has published more than 100 research papers in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals, many of those on aeromedical topics.
Sessions
MEDICAL DIRECTORS AND ASSISTANCE FORUM led by Dr Winston JongJoin our mailing list
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