Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is the former president of Tanzania, serving from 2005 to 2015. Before his presidency, he held key ministerial positions, including minister of foreign affairs; minister of finance; and minister of water, energy, and minerals from 1994 to 2005.

Dr. James Kananura Tibenderana, a Ugandan, trained as a medical doctor at Makerere University, Kampala, and as an epidemiologist at the Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is a malaria and public health expert, with over 20 years of experience in the fields of epidemiology, infectious and tropical diseases, and health system strengthening. James joined Malaria Consortium in 2005. Prior to becoming technical director, he has been both development director and Africa technical director for the organization.

Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng is Uganda’s minister of health and a pediatrician by training. She is also a member of the board of directors of the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University, Uganda. Previously, she was the director of general health services, where she promoted community health.

Dr. Jean Baptiste Kamate serves as the chief field operations officer at World Vision International, where he oversees humanitarian and development programs in 83 countries worldwide. With over 25 years of experience in managing development and relief efforts, he has led operations throughout Africa and contributed to programs for the U.S. Embassy in Mali. He serves on the VisionFund International Board and is deeply committed to addressing poverty and injustice.

Dr. Jeni Miller is the executive director of the Global Climate and Health Alliance, where she coordinates the joint efforts of national, regional, and international health organizations addressing climate change. The alliance works to minimize the health impacts of climate change and to maximize the health benefits of climate solutions through leadership, advocacy, policy, research, and engagement.

Dr. Jeremiah Chakaya is a founding member of the Respiratory Society of Kenya, orReSoK, and serves on the executive committee of the Pan African Thoracic Society. He is a professor of global respiratory health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and a technical expert for the Kenyan national TB program. He has held several key international roles, including vice chair of the Stop TB Partnership coordinating board, chair of WHO's STAG-TB, and president of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. He also holds an honorary teaching position at Kenyatta University.

Dr. Jessica Smith is the research and policy manager at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. She completed her PhD at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University.

Dr. Joanne Liu is a Canadian practicing pediatric emergency physician and professor at McGill University’s School of Population & Global Health where she focuses on pandemic and health emergencies. Prior to joining McGill, she was the international president of Médecins Sans Frontières for over six years from 2013 to 2019.

John Murton is Standard Chartered Bank’s senior sustainability adviser and leads its work on the development of blended finance programs, including the Vietnam and Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnerships. Previously he spent three years as the U.K. government’s COP 26 envoy, where he led negotiations for the international community on the South African and Vietnamese JETPs. He previously served as the U.K.s ambassador to six African nations and headed the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s East Asia and Pacific department. He has also been the U.K.’s permanent representative to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Dr. John Nkengasong, born in Douala, Cameroon, serves as the first director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. He is a leading virologist with nearly 30 years of work experience in public health. Prior to his appointment at Africa CDC, he was acting deputy principal director of the Center for Global Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He was recently included on Time's list of the most influential people of 2021.