Dr. Graeme Ladds has been involved in Drug Safety for the last 35 years holding senior positions in a number of top ten Pharma. As CEO of PharSafer Graeme has established a global Company looking after the safety of many different client product types and has overseen over 100 Regulatory Inspections globally, and understands intimately the requirements for operating a compliant safety system in order to protect patients properly and quickly satisfying the regulations.

Abdelhamid Shalaby is the Global Patient Safety Director for the MENA Region at AstraZeneca, bringing extensive experience in pharmacovigilance, regulatory compliance, and patient safety across diverse markets. Based in the United Arab Emirates, he has held senior roles focused on ensuring the effective implementation of safety processes, oversight of adverse event reporting, and alignment of safety systems with evolving regional and global regulatory expectations.

With a strong foundation in medical and patient safety management spanning the Gulf, Pakistan, and broader MENA territories, Abdelhamid combines strategic leadership with practical insights into safety governance and risk minimization. His work emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, robust safety data analysis, and proactive responses to emerging safety signals.

Abdelhamid’s regional expertise equips him to navigate the complexities of local regulatory frameworks while advancing patient safety initiatives that align with global best practices.

Mohamed Abdel Hady is Director, Affiliate Head of Patient Safety at Gilead Sciences, where he leads pharmacovigilance strategy, inspection readiness, and CAPA excellence across complex regulatory landscapes. He oversees RMP/PSUR programs and risk‑minimization measures and drives cross‑functional collaboration with affiliates and regulators across countries within Eurasia and Middle East.

In addition, Mohamed currently serves as Lead of the PHAME Group (Pharmacovigilance Association for Middle East), a regional industry forum. PHAME spans GCC, Levant, and North Africa, fostering regulatory intelligence sharing and collaborative problem‑solving.

Dr. Muhammad Ashar Naeem is a distinguished leader and expert in the field of pharmacovigilance and pharmaceutical compliance. He currently serves as the Global Director of Pharmacovigilance, Medical Affairs & Compliance at Jamjoom Pharma in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In this pivotal role, Dr. Naeem is responsible for steering the company’s global drug safety strategies, ensuring stringent adherence to regulatory guidelines imposed by international and local health authorities, including the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).

An acclaimed international speaker, Dr. Naeem is a recognized authority on navigating the complexities of pharmacovigilance systems within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. He frequently shares his expertise at global industry conferences, such as the World Drug Safety Congress Europe, where he contributes to critical discussions on adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting and maintaining comprehensive compliance across diverse markets.

With a strong educational foundation from institutions like Hamdard University, Dr. Naeem’s career is dedicated to enhancing patient safety through robust monitoring systems and effective medical affairs leadership. His leadership is crucial in fostering a culture of regulatory excellence and patient-centric drug safety within Jamjoom Pharma’s operations. His work ensures that the company remains at the forefront of ethical pharmaceutical practice and regulatory compliance on a global scale.

Mina Masrour Gergis, Pharmacovigilance Manager and QPPV at Vieco Pharmaceuticals FZCO, and a recognized expert in establishing robust, compliant Pharmacovigilance systems for emerging markets.

With over seven years of progressive pharmacovigilance expertise, he is recognized for pioneering the establishment of the entire PV function from the ground up at Vieco Pharmaceuticals FZCO, including the comprehensive PV system and the Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF). This foundational work ensures strategic safety oversight across the Middle East with a clear roadmap for future global markets.

During his tenure at Novo Nordisk Egypt, he served as the Egypt QPPV, accountable for the strategic oversight and operational integrity of the PV system. He achieved outstanding GVP compliance results in global audits and successfully navigated an official inspection by the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) for both global and local systems with excellent results. His performance, which drove significant GVP compliance and process excellence, was formally recognized with the prestigious Novo Nordisk Grow Award in 2023.

He holds a Diploma of Pharmacovigilance from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, where he has also been an invited expert speaker for the “Pharma Compass” seminar, guiding students on Pharmacovigilance career pathways.

Pav Rishiraj is a globally recognised healthcare leader in Pharmacovigilance and Patient Safety with over 25 years of experience.  Currently, Director of Pharmacovigilance & UK QPPV at Ipsen Biopharma. Additionally, he serves as Chair of the UK ABPI Pharmacovigilance Expert Network, leading industry-wide collaboration and innovation in patient safety. 

Pav is also an active member of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP), contributing to the advancement of global PV practice. Recognised as a key thought leader, he is widely respected for his ability to translate complex regulatory science into impactful, engaging insights. Through key chairing roles, international forums, and close collaboration with health authorities, Pav continues to shape global pharmacovigilance policy and plays a pivotal role in influencing the UK PV landscape post-Brexit. Known for his compelling keynote delivery and empowering leadership style, Pav inspires audiences to focus on what truly matters within the discipline.

Dr. Israa Gamal Abdel Nasser is a pharmacist, MBA holder, and experienced regulatory professional with deep expertise across national medicines regulation, pharmacovigilance, and international cooperation. A graduate of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, she is also a Francophone professional, enabling effective engagement across regional and global regulatory platforms.

Dr. Israa has held multiple senior technical and advisory roles within the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Populationand the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA). Her experience spans key regulatory functions including pharmacovigilance operations, vaccine safety (EPI ICSR management), medical inserts and scientific references, promotional materials oversight, and pharmaceutical practice governance.

She has served as a member of the Chairman’s Technical Office at the Egyptian Drug Authority, supporting portfolios related to pharmaceutical products, foreign affairs, international cooperation, and regulatory communications. Currently, she is a senior member of the Technical Office of the Central Administration of Pharmaceutical Care, with responsibility for pharmacovigilance-related matters and follow-up of the national pharmacovigilance committee.

In addition, Dr. Israa contributes to global regulatory collaboration as a member of the EDA internal taskforce for the ICMRA Working Group on Rare Diseases. Her profile reflects a strong blend of regulatory strategy, PV execution, and cross-border collaboration, making her a valuable voice in regional and international drug safety discussions.

Dr. Zakaria holds a Doctoral degree in pharmacy from Algeria and a Pharmacovigilance certificate from France.
He started his career in Pharmacovigilance at Roche Pharmaceutical, where he has also served in different roles in Medical Affairs and Products Quality.

Dr. Zakaria joined Boehringer Ingelheim 2019 as Pharmacovigilance Manager for the North-West Africa Region, in 2021, he moved to Dubai as regional Pharmacovigilance Lead for the IMETA region (India, Middle East, Turkey, and Africa) based in Dubai-UAE. In August 2025, Zakaria has been appointed as the interim Head of Patient Safety & Pharmacovigilance IMETA.

Dr. Ritu Pahuja is a seasoned pharmaceutical leader with over 16 years of experience across Pharmacovigilance (PV), Regulatory Affairs (RA), and regulatory compliance in the EU, MENA, and Asian regions. She currently serves as the Regional QPPV for Accord UK Products, where she oversees all PV operational activities and acts as the Regional QPPV for Accord Healthcare products, ensuring strong safety governance and regulatory excellence across all MENA markets.

A PhD holder and postgraduate from AIIMS, New Delhi, India’s premier medical institution, and an MBA holder from Middlesex University, Dr. Pahuja has contributed to complex therapeutic portfolios including oncology, biosimilars, and medical devices. Her career spans several leading multinational companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Astellas, Covidien, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Aspen Healthcare, and others, where she strengthened PV systems, regulatory frameworks, and compliance operations. She has also collaborated directly with the EMA on the EudraVigilance project, contributing to global safety surveillance standards.

In addition to her PV leadership, she is responsible for setting regulatory strategy, registering pharmaceuticals, and leading product launches across MENA, ensuring timely access to high quality medicines. She brings proven expertise in building and executing PV QMS, establishing regional and affiliate governance models, and leading audits, inspections, and CAPA implementation. Known for her strong performance and ability to build high performing teams, she consistently delivers operational and compliance excellence.

Dr. Pahuja is deeply passionate about drug safety, a commitment that has shaped her career since her early academic years. Alongside her industry roles, she has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Dubai Pharmacy College, where she taught Pharmacovigilance to postgraduate students for nearly seven years. Her academic contributions reflect her dedication to nurturing the next generation of safety and regulatory professionals and advancing PV education in the region.

Beyond her technical and academic leadership, she is a certified Mental Health First Aider, committed to fostering psychological safety, compassionate leadership, and well being within the healthcare community.

Her work embodies a holistic approach to patient safety- strengthening systems, empowering people, and elevating healthcare standards across the MENA region and beyond.

Vasanthi is an accomplished professional with nearly 27 years of experience, bringing extensive expertise in Medical Safety projects, delivery management, client engagement, and people management. Successfully trained over 800 professionals in handling safety data for clinical trials and marketed products, including pharmaceuticals, nutrition, cosmetics, medical devices, clinical data management, and toxicology. Highly skilled in managing adverse event (AE) and serious adverse event (SAE) case reports across multiple clinical trials and post-marketing studies, ensuring timely submission to global regulatory authorities. Vasanthi has proven ability to identify and resolve pain points related to drug and device ICSR case processing within stipulated timelines. She has led various leadership roles during her tenure at different multinational contract research organizations and Pharma companies.