The ISPEP Advisory Board
Principal, Patient Strategy
and Services at ZS
Sharon Suchotliff is a Principal on ZS’s Patient Strategy and Services team, where she leads ZS’s work inpatient centricity and patient engagement. She is a recognized expert in developing and executing strategiesto meaningfully integrate the patient voice into business decisions across the product lifecycle for global lifesciences companies.
Sharon is also the co-author of the book,Reinventing Patient Centricity.
Her experience focuses on practical solutions that drive outcomes for patients and impact the business. Shehas developed and implemented patient engagement programs at the corporate level, as well as therapeuticarea-specific strategies. Previously, she led the engagement strategy practice at Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness,overseeing marketing and customer engagement for healthcare clients.
Founder & CEO
of SciVoc Consulting Inc.
MD. Najeeb Ashraf is a seasoned medical communications strategist and CEO of SciVoc ConsultingInc., bringing over 18 years of international Medicalcommunications/Medical Affairs experienceacross pharma, agencies, and consulting. With over 60 acknowledged publications and counting, hehas led several thousand scientific and medical writing projects spanning publications, real-worldevidence, HEOR, and patient-centered research. As the current Founder & CEO of SciVoc ConsultingInc., a boutique medical writing consultancy, and President of the non-profit diabetes communityUDAAN, he champions ethical, patient-focused medical communication and meaningful patientengagement in research and policy. As a patient with type 1 diabetes spanning over 4 decades, heoffers practical, real-world insights that add value to research, medical strategy, andcommunication formats. Najeeb also serves as an Editorial Board member of three journals,contributing as a peer reviewer and actively contributing as a speaker, mentor, and thought leaderin global medical communications and patient-centered research.
Chief Patient Experience Officer, Pharma and Diagnostic Divisions at Roche Canada
Lisa Petermann brings over 15 years of experience in the health sector, drivingsystem and process improvements across Canada and internationally. As ChiefPatient Experience Officer for both the Pharma and Diagnostic branches of RocheCanada, Lisa hasled the development of the Patient Inclusivity Strategy, advancingRoche’s commitment to meaningful collaboration with patients. She works closelywith patients, caregivers, advocacy groups, and partners to co-create innovativesolutions that address unmetneeds. Under her leadership, colleagues engagepatients at every stage, living Roche’s philosophy: everything we do for patients, wedo with patients as partners every step of the way.
Global Patient Engagement Lead at Grünenthal GmbH
BiographyDr. Gudula Petersen, Global Patient Engagement Lead(in the active working phase of earlyretirement)Grünenthal GmbH, 52078 Aachen Germany
Dr. Gudula Petersen is apassionateleader in patient engagement with extensive experienceinpatient-centric healthcare. As Global Patient Engagement Lead at Grünenthalsince 2021,sheis leadinginitiatives to identify patient needs and embed patient insights throughoutdevelopment and commercializationof painmedicines. Previously, as DirectorGovernmentalAffairs & Patient Centricity, she strengthenedGrünenthal ́spatient advocacyapproach inpain managementin close collaboration with various stakeholders. Her earlier role as ChiefCompliance Officer for Europe, Australia&US further supported patient-focused work byestablishing transparent and ethical processesforhealthcare interactions.Before joining Grünenthal, Dr. Petersen spent nearly two decades at Wyeth Pharmaceuticalsand later Pfizer, working across clinical research, medicalaffairs, vaccinesbusiness, andcompliance.She studied nutritional sciencesat the University inGiessen and earned her doctorate inMünsterinartherosclerosisresearch. As afounding member of ISPEP, she is dedicated toadvancing patient engagement globally.
Chairperson, Botswana Organisation for Rare Diseases (BORDIS)
Eda Selebatso is a mother offour children, two of whom haverare conditions.A son with anundiagnosed kidney condition and a daughter with Morquio A (MPS IVA).EdafoundedBotswana organisation for Rare Diseases (BORDIS)andis the current Chairperson. She holdsan EMBA,PgD Project Management and BScBiology and Chemistry.Eda’s passion is human development. Hercareer spansovertwo decadesin the health,conservation, education and mining sectors. She hassupported organisations achieve theirbusiness goals. Edahas led and contributed to severalflagshipinnovations in her country.Sheresignedfrom her job in 2014tosupporther childrenthrough their health challenges.She continues to apply her skillsas a pioneer in rare diseases inBotswana and globally. Sheserves in different global rare diseases organisations likeRare Diseases International,International Gaucher Alliance, International MPS NetworkandInternational Rare DiseasesResearch Consortium.She believes a person with a rare conditionisequallyworthy of lifeasany human being, andhaspotential to contribute to society.Eda is currently working ondifferent programsto addresshealth inequitiesand social injusticesthat rare disease patientsand their familiesare faced with daily.
Senior Director, Global Oncology Policy and Advocacy at AstraZeneca
David currently serves asSeniorDirector, GlobalOncologyPolicy and Advocacyat AstraZenecawith aprimary focus on lung cancer. In this role, Davidis responsible for ensuring that the patient voice isrepresented in all aspects of AstraZeneca’s work,from trial designthroughpatient support,with anemphasis on patient involvement in access advocacy.Prior to joining AstraZeneca, David spent 20 years working in the non-profit sector, mainly as a seniorexecutive,most recently serving asthe Chief Strategy Officer for the GO2 Foundationwhere he built outthe Lung Cancer Registry, the Community Hospital Centers of Excellence program, andclinical studiesthrough the Addario Lung Cancer Medical Institute.Davidis based in Gaithersburg, Maryland and studied Non-Profit Management at the University ofIllinoisChicago.
Executive Director at Ketotic Hypoglycemia International (KHI)
Danielle Drachmann is a subject matter expert in patient engagement, citizen science in health, andpatient-driven research. As the Executive Director of Ketotic HypoglycemiaInternational (KHI), she hasled numerous patient-driven research projects, emphasizing the importance of patient engagement andco-creation in health research. Danielle's advocacy has significantly impacted the rare diseasecommunity, promoting better clinical trials, gene therapy access, and comprehensive patient care. Shehas represented the rare disease community at the European Parliament, influencing policy and raisingawareness. In her role as Senior Patient Partnering Manager at Evidera, PPD, Danielle integrates patientperspectives into drug development, ensuring that research and development processes are patient-centered. Through her advocacy and research work, she has established herorganization as a globalpatient-led NGO, making substantial strides in rare diseases and patient advocacy.
Global Patient Engagement and Strategy Lead
Beth Brooks
Global Patient Engagement and Strategy Lead
55 Corporate Dr
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Mobile: 908.297.7141
CONTACT INFORMATION
Beth Brooksisthe Global Patient Engagement and Strategy Leadwithin thePatient-Informed Development and Health Value Translationteamat Sanofi.In this role, she isresponsible for supporting theimplementation of Sanofi’s Integrated Patient Engagementmodel.Bethjoined Sanofi in 2007as a Technical Editorandworked her way up toR&D SeniorAnalyst.In 2017,shebecamea PatientEngagement Lead, working with patients to gatherinsights to inform the design Sanofi’s studies.In 2023, Beth became Head of the PatientInsights and Behavioral Sciences team; she started her current role in November 2025.BethisaLean Six Sigma BlackBeltand has anundergraduate degreeinCommunications fromRensselaer. Shecompleted a Master’sofPublic HealthinApplied InformaticsatEmoryUniversity in 2022.
Head of Patient Engagement in Research at SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital
Begonya Nafria(Spain). Head of Patient Engagement in Research at SJD Barcelona Children'sHospital.Founder and Steering Committee member of eYPAGnet (European Young PatientsAdvisory Group Network www.eypagnet.eu). Coordinator of Kids Barcelona. Co-chair of theChildren’s Medicines Working Party at EFPGCP. Chair of the working the working group ofbross-border access to clinical trialsat EmprEMA.
Senior Strategy Director, Patient and Site Centric Solutions at IQVIA
Dr Ana Marija Gjurovic, MD, MScis an accomplished executive with over 25 years ofleadership in the pharmaceutical industry across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Herexpertise spans Clinical Research, Medical Affairs, and Patient Engagement, with a provenrecord in building high-performing teams and managing complex projects.As Senior Strategy Director, Patient and Site Centric Solutions at IQVIA, Ana Marija drivespatient experience strategy in clinical development. Previously, as Global Head of PatientEngagement at AstraZeneca, she leddevelopment of patient engagement COE andenterprise-wide initiatives integrating behavioral science and patient empowerment.Ana Marija is dedicated to transforming healthcare by driving patient-centric clinicalresearch and practice change,incorporating patient perspectives from development tocommercialization.Shechampionspatient self-management and empowerment, fosteringpatient partnership and working toward a more compassionate healthcare experience andimproved health outcomes.Ana Marija is a frequent industry speaker, and active member ofnumber ofprofessionalorganizations includingISPEP,PEPS and MAPS.
The ISPEP Advisory Board is a diverse group of leaders appointed to help guide ISPEP’s strategic direction and strengthen its mission to advance the professionalisation and impact of patient engagement worldwide.
It exists to provide independent guidance and thought leadership and strengthen ISPEP through collaboration. It brings together perspectives from lived experience, patient advocacy, clinical research, health systems, regulatory bodies, and the biopharma industry.
Purpose
The Chair of the Advisory Board, Zoë Healey PhD, was appointed by ISPEP’s CEO and Chief Patient Officer based on her experience serving on Global member organisation Boards, facilitating Advisory Boards, and measuring the impact of patient engagement.
Zoë advised the ISPEP executives on the formation of the Advisory Board, following a rigorous pre-defined process to put together a diverse group of leaders with a representative mix of relevant expertise and experience to advise ISPEP.
Applications were publicly invited and applicants screened across a range of criteria relevant to the strategic priorities of ISPEP, including ethics and social responsibility, and mapped across geographies and sectors to ensure diverse perspectives.
Formed using a structured and
pre-defined process
The Advisory Board operates in an advisory capacity and does not participate in ISPEP’s financial or legal governance decisions, which are under the authority of the Executive Leadership Team.
The Advisory Board convenes quarterly to provide strategic guidance and sector insights, advising on ISPEP’s priorities and providing input into the Annual Impact report.
Members serve over a term of at least one but no more than three consecutive years, participate in a voluntary capacity, agree to uphold the values of ISPEP and conform to the Conflict-of-Interest policy.
Members support the development of global initiatives and champion the vital role of patient engagement professionals and ethical, professional and inclusive patient engagement practices across health and research ecosystems.