Speaker Profiles

In order of appearance

HE Jens Stoltenberg Prime Minister, Norway

Jens Stoltenberg was elected Prime Minister of Norway in 2005, returning to the office he previously held in 2000-2001. Mr. Stoltenberg presides over a majority government representing the Labour Party, the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1993, and has held positions as Minister of Finance (1996-1997) and Minister of Trade and Energy (1993-1996). He has been leader of the Labour Party since 2002. Mr. Stoltenberg, 49, has been actively engaged in international development issues throughout his career, and has taken a particularly strong global leadership role in relation to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 & 5, where he has developed a Global Network of Leaders for MDGs 4 & 5 and last September, launched the Global Campaign for the Health MDGs in New York.

HE Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete President, United Republic of Tanzania

Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has been in public service for more than 30 years. As the fourth president of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Kikwete, 57, is one of the youngest leaders in east and southern Africa. Mr. Kikwete is a long-time member of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for 10 years, until elected President in December 2005. He was previously Minister of Finance and Minister of Water, Energy and Minerals, and has been a member of the CCM National Executive Committee since 1982.

Born in Bagamoyo District, Mr. Kikwete earned a degree in economics from the University of Dar es Salaam before joining the military. He served in the national defence forces for many years, becoming the chief political instructor of the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces in 1984.

1 Hon. Prof. David Homeli Mwakyusa Minister of Health and Social Welfare Government of Tanzania

Prof. Mwakyusa was appointed Minister of Health & Social Welfare in 2006, succeeding Anna M. Abdallah. He is a Professor of Medicine at Muhimbili College of Medicine of the University of Dar es Salaam, where he has been associated for many years. From 1992 to 2000, he was Director of Administration and Hospital Services at Muhimbili Medical Centre. He has been a Member of Parliament for the CCM party since 2000, and was a member of the Regional Council and National Committee of the CCM from 2000-2005. Prof. Mwakyusa is a former district medical officer, who has undertaken specialized training in gastroenterology at the Cleveland Clinic and the Medical College of Georgia in the USA and at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.

Dr. Francisco Songane Director The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health

Dr Songane heads the secretariat of The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, based in Geneva. He is a former Minister of Health of Mozambique (2000-2004) and an obstetrican/gynaecologist who has served as a district medical director and director of Mozambique’s second-largest hospital. Dr Songane holds an MPH from Boston University and an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London. He is a former Executive Committee Member and Board Member of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and a member of Task Force 4 of the UN Millennium Project (2002-2004).

Other invited guest bios here

Ms. Stara Thomas Recording Artist

Stara Thomas is one of Tanzania’s best-known musical artists, singing R&B, soul and zouk in Swahili language. Originally from Mwanza district, Ms. Thomas released her first song, “Children’s Right” as a teenager. However, she came into her own in 2000 when she started singing in Swahili, and soon had a string of hits on national radio, including “Sikia” (“Listen”) and “Mimi na Wewe” (“Me & You”). In 2003, Stara won the Kilimanjaro Music Award for Best Female Vocalist in Tanzania. Stara’s tribute to maternal, newborn and child health in Tanzania, “Play Your Part”, appears in the White Ribbon Alliance’s well-known advocacy film of the same title, which has now been screened to appreciative audiences around the world.

Ambassador Dr. Gertrude Mongella (MP) President Pan-African Parliament

Gertrude Mongella, born in Ukerewe, Tanzania, is one of the world’s best-known advocates for gender equality. From an early career as an educationalist in Dar es Salaam, Dr Mongella joined national politics as a CCM party member and became an MP, holding a series of ministerial positions during the 1980s. In the 1990s, Dr Mongella became increasingly involved in international affairs, acting as Tanzania’s High

2 Commissioner to India as well as Secretary General of the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing, held in 1995. Her leadership of the Beijing conference was followed by a number of prominent UN positions, including Under-Secretary and Special Envoy to the Secretary General of the UN on Women’s Issues and Development. In March 2004, Dr Mongella was named the first president of the Pan-African Parliament. She continues to be a high-profile supporter of women’s health issues, and since 2003, has been a WHO Goodwill Ambassador for the Africa Region.

Mr. Wilson Mukama Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Government of Tanzania Mr. Wilson Mukama was appointed as a Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in 2007. Prior to that, he was a deputy Permanent Secretary for Prime Ministers Office, Regional Administration and Local Government. He was a City Director for Dar es Salaam for 6 years from 2000-2006.He served as a Principal for the civil service training centre from 1995-1999 and has also served as a district commissioner for Arusha, Kinindoni and Dodoma districts. He is a Fulbright Scholar with a Masters of Public Administration.

MC for the Evening

Vicky Ntetema Bureau Chief, British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), Tanzania

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