Natalya Butakova is Business Development Manager of AP Companies Global Solutions, the international leading health care management, cost containment and emergency medical assistance company. AP Companies has the largest direct medical provider network in185 countries. AP’s specialist Cost Containment team consistently achieves significant savings and carefully controls expenditures of AP’s Clients. . Natalya has been with AP Companies since 2005, having previously worked in private hospitals as a specialist working with international insurance and maritime companies.

Simon set up Charles Taylor's award winning Special Investigations Unit in 2008. Since then, he and his team have developed the unit into an end-to-end global claims validation service; working for over 20 high-profile clients and conducting fraud and factual investigations all over the world for travel, PHI, EL, PL, life and other insurance product lines.

During this time, Simon also took on the role of conference director for the Insurance Fraud Investigators Group (IFIG), for just over 2 years. In addition, he has been heavily involved in various different steering groups in the travel insurance industry, including being part of the IFB's travel insurance fraud strategic threat assessment working group.

Simon and his team have contributed to BBC 1's 'Claimed and Shamed' fraud programme for over 4 years; taking part in 8 different series to successfully educate the public about travel insurance fraud.

Andrea is a Product Analyst at BeyondMinds in London, UK. BeyondMinds is an AI research company focused on creating immense value through AI research and application, making it more available, useful and safe for the world. Andrea’s work and passion hold a focus on identifying how AI shapes the future of insurance and how it can improve the experience for both insurers and end-customers. He holds a Masters in Management from the Grande école ESCP Europe Business School in Paris and a Bachelor in Economics and Management.

Julie Anne Friend has worked in the field of international education for over 20 years. As the Director of the Office of Global Safety and Security at Northwestern University, she is charged with developing a comprehensive, university-wide approach to international risk management. In 2014, she was named Technical Analyst of the Year by the U.S. Department of State for her leadership in advancing the international safety and security interests of the academic community. In 2015, Michigan State University’s (MSU) College of Law featured her in an alumni profile. She writes regularly for NAFSA’s International Educator magazine about insurance and risk management. Her 2014 publication, “When A Student Dies Abroad: Preparing for the Ultimate Tragedy,” includes helpful planning and response checklists. Later that year, she served as a guest author for NAFSA’s “Hot Topics” blog to discuss the threat (or lack thereof) of Ebola to academia. Her last IE publication, “Health Forms 2.0: Developing an Ethical and Effective Health History Disclosure Process for Education Abroad,” outlines a student-centered process to encourage pre-departure medical management planning (printed in the Nov./Dec. 2016 issue). In 2017, she contributed three chapters to the recently published NAFSA text, Crisis Management for Education Abroad. Most recently, Ms. Friend collaborated with two colleagues to produce “Your guide to the new U.S. Department of State travel advisories,” but her ground-breaking essay, “How sexual misconduct threatens the security industry: real and reputational risk” has generated more discussion in the profession than any other work. Ms. Friend has traveled in over thirty countries and has lived in both France and Zambia. In addition to earning a Juris Doctor in Law and a Master of Arts in English from Michigan State University, Ms. Friend has a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications from Syracuse University. She is also a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan, and currently lives in Evanston, Illinois.

Dr Vanya Gant is Divisional Clinical Director for Infection and the United Kingdom’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases at University College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London. He oversees a very busy Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine In- and Out-patient service, and acts as a tertiary National and International Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, supported by the UK’s National Reference Parasitology and Malaria Laboratories. When not working he rides fast bikes and cars, flies paragliders and is a dance music DJ.

Dr. Gillingham is the Chief Medical Officer of Fairmount International, a consulting firm specializing in developing customized programs for travelers seeking medical care abroad. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, with post graduate training at the University of Southern California. He is a co-founder and former Chief Medical Officer of GeoBlue, a leading international health insurance company. During his twenty-two-year tenure at GeoBlue, he was responsible for the development of their medical policies and case management programs for global travelers. He also was instrumental in forging a partnership with Anthem Blue Cross.

Dr. Gillingham spent thirty years as an emergency room physician in Los Angeles as the emergency medicine chief of the Westlake Medical Center and Glendale Memorial Hospital. He was also an attending physician at the UCLA Medical Center, and a physician advisor for Anthem Blue Cross of California.

Gaby Hosea, is registered nurse with more than 20 years of patient care and global travel experience. As Founder and CEO of Rescue Nurse International, a worldwide commercial medical transport company, Gaby developed granular knowledge of international aeromedical and ground transport logistics, safety, case coordination and patient transport standards of care. In 2014, On Call International, a worldwide medical and travel risk Assistance Company, acquired Rescue Nurse International and Gaby took on her current role as Director of Clinical transport. She is now responsible for the development and oversight of the international network of aeromedical providers, standards of patient/crew care and safety, quality, medical/logistical coordination for repatriations, and rendezvous. Gaby also evaluates hospitals, assistance companies, and aeromedical service providers globally through detailed site visits to identify quality resources. Empowering her team to respond and do the “impossible” creates valuable partnerships with our customers and providers, resulting in the successful completion of 1000’s of patient transports throughout the years.

Rory O'Gara currently holds the position of Vice President, Medical Provider Management - North America with Allianz Partners. Rory now resides in Canada and is responsible for medical networks, network partnerships and cost containment strategies for the business extending to all Allianz members and clients travelling throughout North America requiring direct billing network solutions. Prior to this role, Rory had a variety of network management related responsibilities in Allianz Partners over 8 years including direct network contracting and management of Third Party Partnerships around the globe.

Emanuele Scansani is Director of Partnerships & Strategic Relations for Riskline, a leading travel risk intelligence company in operation since 2007 and based in Denmark.

Emanuele is a plurilingual expert in global security and travel safety issues, who holds an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics (LSE) as well as an MSc in International Relations and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Bologna, Italy.

Emanuele is currently based in Barcelona having lived in China for eight years following graduation.

Andy is a strategic leader with over 18 years’ experience in general insurance. He is a subject matter expert in a wide range of innovative and transformational technologies. Andy combines extensive knowledge of the insurance market with dynamic thinking and awareness of market solutions to develop propositions that tap into client business needs. Andy has detailed knowledge of data integration platforms, next generation underwriting and pricing and innovative new customer experience technology – including Voice CX – which is Andy’s current area of focus.

Dr. Sicard carries an extensive experience as a physician having begun his medical career as French Naval Flight Surgeon trained and certified by the US Navy and a scientist (PhD in Physiology in Extreme Environment). His passion for science and risk management inspired him to develop innovative design and medical solutions for new built Hospital Ships and Cruise ships. He had held the positions of acting Medical Director for Ponant Cruise Company and Chief Medical Officer for Allianz Global Assistance North America. MedSSIS® Consultant for the Cruise and Yachting industry, and working clinically (ELSAN Hospital, France; flight physician for Latitude Air Ambulance, Canada), he joined Eurami as an auditor in 2019.