Melissa Patsalides is the acting deputy assistant administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning. She is a seasoned international development professional with nearly 20 years of experience focused on program planning and effectiveness. She previously directed USAID’s Office of Learning, Evaluation, and Research.

Melissa Sassi is a volunteer lead for the IEEE Internet Initiative Digital Literacy Working Group. Melissa’s Ph.D. candidate research focuses on women and girls in Africa, and the impact of digital inclusion and economic empowerment. She is the global program manager of Microsoft’s Affordable Access Initiatives team.

Melissa Wright is a senior member of the environment team at Bloomberg Philanthropies, where she leads the Bloomberg Ocean Initiative. Previously, she served as the director of the City Energy Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Wright also served as a policy adviser in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration, driving urban environmental and climate initiatives.

Melissa Scudo Gasmi is currently the senior vice president of Chemonics’ Middle East and North Africa region. She joined Chemonics in 2007 and brings 20 years of experience managing complex international development programs both overseas and in Chemonics’ home office. Gasmi served as team leader and chief of party for Chemonics’ Tunisia Tax and Customs Reform Activity in Tunisia, chief of party for Chemonics’ Asia and the Middle East Economic Growth Best Practices project, and program manager and deputy program manager of the global financial sector knowledge sharing project.

Melody Song is the head of philanthropy with EIT Climate-KIC and specializes in international fundraising, prospect management, and nonprofit management. Melody's career spans over 15 years and several sectors including arts, education, health, animal welfare, and wildlife conservation. Melody is a former MBA faculty teaching member at the Berlin International University.

Melvine Anyango Otieno is an assistant lecturer at the University of Eldoret, School of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management. As the Planetary Health Alliance’s Next Generation fellow, she is working to inspire and convene the next generation of Planetary Health Campus ambassadors from around the world, as well as facilitate local and international collaborations through her leadership of the Planetary Health Eastern Africa Hub. She is also a member of Women Leaders for Planetary Health where she advocates for gender equality and sound environment and public health solutions.

The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University responds to the need for innovative solutions to the most pressing global health concerns by bringing together experts from the public health and legal fields. The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health creates and leads alliances and public-private partnerships that advance breakthrough biomedical discoveries and improve the quality of people’s lives. Contributing authors are: Kevin A. Klock, senior vice president, chief operating officer, and general counsel at the FNIH and a scholar at the O’Neill Institute; Lawrence O. Gostin, founding O’Neill Chair in Global Health Law at Georgetown University and faculty director at the O’Neill Institute; Alexandra Finch, associate at the O’Neill Institute; Sarah Wetter, associate at the O’Neill Institute; and Vanessa S. Perlman, assistant general counsel at the FNIH. Klock and Gostin lead the O’Neill Institute/FNIH project on an international instrument for pandemic prevention and preparedness. The FNIH provided funding to the O’Neill Institute for the project. Gostin is the director of the WHO Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. WHO is an intellectual nonfinancial partner to the FNIH-managed GeneConvene Global Collaborative.

The Pracademic Development Initiative is a voluntary effort promoting the distinct value as change agents of people, combining academic affiliations with practical social involvement. PDI co-convenes the Pracademic Affinity Group of the International Society for Third Sector Research and will host multiple events at the ISTR conference to be held in July 2024. Contributing authors are Alan Fowler, Wits Business School, South Africa; Angela Crack, University of Portsmouth; Faina Diola, University of the Philippines; Inés M. Pousadela, CIVICUS: Global Alliance for Citizen Participation/Universidad ORT Uruguay; and Willem Elbers, Radboud University.

Memory Kachambwa is executive director of the African Women’s Development and Communication Network, or FEMNET, and a leading advocate for women’s rights with over 20 years of experience. A Pan-African intersectional feminist, she champions gender equality, social justice, and human rights. She co-leads the Generation Equality Action Coalition and serves on influential boards, including SheDecides Guiding Group and the Feminist Foreign Policy Coordinating Group.

Mena El-Turky is the associate director for advocacy, focusing primarily on road safety and other public health issue areas at the Global Health Advocacy Incubator. She provides strategic guidance to build and support integrated campaigns advocating for policies that create healthier and safer societies. Prior to joining GHAI, she served as the program officer for the Middle East and South Asia at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.