Momentum brings together leaders and changemakers from across research, healthcare, policy, industry and patient advocacy — people who not only understand the challenges facing cancer research and innovation in Europe, but who are also in a position to drive change.
Our confirmed speakers reflect the collaborative and cross-sector nature of the conference. The list will continue to be updated as additional speakers are confirmed.
Joanna Drake Deputy Director-General - The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD
Joanna Drake is Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), where she contributes to the definition, coordination and implementation of EU research and innovation policy. She currently oversees areas including science for policy, climate, energy and health, and serves as Mission Manager for the EU Cancer Mission.
Before joining DG RTD, Joanna Drake held several senior leadership roles within the European Commission, including Deputy Director-General at the Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) and Director for SMEs and Entrepreneurship at the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW).
With more than 40 years of experience working on European policy at both national and EU level, she has played a key role in shaping European strategies related to innovation, sustainability and cross-sector collaboration.
Cary Adams CEO - Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
Cary Adams has been Chief Executive Officer of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) since 2009. UICC represents more than 1,150 member organisations across over 170 countries and territories and works to reduce the global cancer burden through international collaboration and advocacy.
Before joining UICC, Cary Adams held senior leadership positions in the private sector, including at the International Hospital Federation and global strategy consultancy firms. He has extensive experience in international health policy, organisational leadership and stakeholder engagement.
Under his leadership, UICC has strengthened the global cancer movement through initiatives focused on prevention, access to care, equity and international cooperation.
Elisabete WeiderpassDirector - International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Elisabete Weiderpass, MD, MSc, PhD, is Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), the World Health Organization’s specialized cancer agency. She took office in January 2019 and, in May 2023, was elected for a second five-year term, commencing on 1 January 2024.
Dr Weiderpass is an expert in cancer epidemiology and cancer prevention, with a particular interest in cancer registration, the understanding of cancers and the implementation of effective prevention strategies. She has published more than 1,000 scientific papers in peer-reviewed international journals. She is a member of the EU Mission Board for Cancer, Chair of the Gustave Roussy Scientific Council, a member of the Governing Council of INSERM, a member of the Scientific Council of the Centre Léon Bérard, a member of the International Scientific Committee of DKFZ, a Steering Committee member of the WHO Academy and, since March 2025, a member of the French National Academy of Medicine (Académie Nationale de Médecine).
Prior to joining IARC, Dr Weiderpass served as Head, Department of Research at the Cancer Registry of Norway, and of the Genetic Epidemiology Group at the Folkhälsan Research Center in Finland. She was Professor of Medical Epidemiology at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, and Professor of Cancer Epidemiology at the Arctic University of Norway. She has held visiting professorship positions in cancer epidemiology in Brazil, China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Kuwait and is an honorary Adjunct Professor at the Yale School of Public Health in the USA.
Antonella Cardone CEO - Cancer Patients Europe (CPE)
Antonella Cardone is CEO of Cancer Patients Europe and has more than 25 years of experience working in non-profit organisations across the health, social and employment sectors.
She previously held senior leadership roles within European cancer patient advocacy, including at the European Cancer Patient Coalition, where she worked extensively on issues related to patient rights, access to care and health equity.
Throughout her career, Antonella Cardone has worked to strengthen the role of patients in shaping healthcare systems, research priorities and public policy across Europe.
Niklas BlombergExecutive Director - Innovative Health Initiative (IHI)
Dr Niklas Blomberg is Executive Director of the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), Europe’s largest public-private partnership for health research and innovation. The initiative brings together industry, academia, small companies and public organisations to accelerate healthcare innovation across Europe.
Before joining IHI, Niklas Blomberg served as Director of ELIXIR, the European life science data infrastructure, and previously held research leadership roles at AstraZeneca.
His work focuses on strengthening collaboration between science, technology, healthcare and industry to support innovation and improve patient outcomes.
Marianne PilgaardCEO - Trial Nation Denmark
Marianne Pilgaard is CEO of Trial Nation Denmark, a public-private partnership established to strengthen Denmark’s position within clinical research and clinical trials.
Before joining Trial Nation, she spent more than 20 years at Novo Nordisk in several national and international leadership positions within clinical development and medical affairs.
Marianne Pilgaard has extensive experience in clinical research, healthcare innovation and collaboration across industry, academia and healthcare systems.
Niklas HedbergChief Pharmacist - Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV)
Niklas Hedberg is Chief Pharmacist at the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV), and co-chair of the Member State Coordination Group on HTA (HTACG). He has also held other leadership roles within European collaborations on health technology assessment, including EUnetHTA.
He has extensive experience in health technology assessment, market access and pharmaceutical policy, both nationally and internationally.
Niklas Hedberg has played a central role in discussions related to access to innovative medicines and sustainable healthcare systems in Europe.
Ulrika Årehed KågströmSecretary-General - The Swedish Cancer Society and; President, UICC
Ulrika Årehed Kågström is Secretary General of the Swedish Cancer Society and President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She has led the Swedish Cancer Society since 2016.
Before joining the organisation, she held several senior leadership positions within public affairs, communications and organisational development. She has extensive experience in strategic leadership and advocacy, particularly within health and civil society.
Under her leadership, the Swedish Cancer Society has strengthened its work in cancer research funding, prevention and policy, while increasing its international engagement in cancer control and research collaboration.
Malin SundProfessor of Surgery - Helsinki University and Umeå University, and Chair of the The Swedish Cancer Society Research Board
Professor Malin Sund is Professor of Surgery at the University of Helsinki and Umeå University, and Chair of the Swedish Cancer Society’s Research Committee. She is a surgeon and cancer researcher with extensive experience in translational cancer research and clinical care.
Her research focuses on tumour biology, precision medicine and improving cancer treatment through closer integration of research and healthcare.
Alongside her academic and clinical work, Malin Sund has played an important role in research evaluation and strategic research funding within Sweden and internationally.
Patricia VandammePolicy Officer at Anticancer Fund
Patricia Vandamme (MPharmSc) is a Policy Officer at Anticancer Fund.
She plays an important role in connecting with peer organizations, researchers, policymakers and regulators to understand and tackle the barriers preventing innovative, non-commercial treatments find their way from research to standard care. She advocates for change, ensuring that rules and policies evolve with patient’s real needs (e.g. article 48 of the pharma regulation). She also coordinates Anticancer Fund’s activities in the REMEDi4ALL consortium.
Before joining ACF in 2022, she has been working more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, both in Belgian and international pharmacovigilance roles.
Jessica PolfjärdMember of the European Parliament
Jessica Polfjärd is a member of the European Parliament since 2019, representing the Swedish Moderate Party, part of the EPP group, the largest group in the European Parliament. She serves as vice-chair of the Committee on Fisheries and vice-coordinator for the EPP in the Committee on the Environment, and as the only Swedish member of the Committee on Public Health, as well as being a substitute in the Committee on Agriculture. In the Parliament, her work currently focuses on issues relating to biotechnology, innovation and climate policy, among other areas.
Wolfgang FeckeExecutive Director - Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL)
Wolfgang Fecke is Executive Director of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), a network of national and regional cancer leagues working to reduce the burden of cancer across Europe through prevention, advocacy and patient-centred policies.
Before joining ECL, he held senior leadership positions within the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, including international roles focused on access to new therapies and academic-industry collaborations. He has extensive experience working at the intersection of healthcare, industry and the development of new technologies.
Throughout his career, Wolfgang Fecke has worked to strengthen collaboration between policymakers, healthcare professionals, patient organisations and industry in support of more effective therapies and disease control across Europe.
Isabel RubioPresident - European Cancer Organisation (ECO)
Professor Isabel Rubio is a breast cancer surgeon and President of the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), one of Europe’s largest multidisciplinary cancer networks bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, patient organisations and policymakers.
Alongside her leadership role within ECO, she serves as Head of the Breast Surgery Unit at Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid. She is internationally recognised for her work in breast cancer surgery, multidisciplinary cancer care and improving the quality and accessibility of cancer treatment.
Throughout her career, Isabel Rubio has worked to strengthen collaboration across disciplines and sectors in order to improve cancer outcomes and ensure that innovation and best practices reach patients more effectively across Europe.
Monika FrenzelInternational Coordinator - French National Research Agency (ANR) and European Partnership for Personalised Medicine (EP PerMed)
As International Coordinator for the French National Research Agency, Dr Monika Frenzel represents ANR, in the European Partnership for Personalised Medicine, EP PerMed and the International Consortium for Personalised Medicine, ICPerMed. In the EP PerMed, she is coordinating the activities of WP2 on “Personalised Medicine Research-related Funding and Support”. She is also leading the international strategic working group of the ICPerMed. In the former ERA-Net ERA PerMed, Monika Frenzel has acted as chair of the funders consortium and manages Joint Translational Calls.Before moving into research policy and international collaboration, she completed a PhD in Physical Biochemistry and Radiation Biology and worked as a researcher in cytogenetics and cohort studies. Through her work, Monika Frenzel contributes to building European partnerships that accelerate research, innovation and the implementation of personalised medicine for the benefit of and with patients.
Mihaela van der Schaar, FRS
John Humphrey Plummer Professor of Machine Learning, AI, and Medicine Director, Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine University of Cambridge
