Dr Bernie Croal is the current President of the Royal College of Pathologists. He is a Consultant Chemical Pathologist working in Aberdeen, specialising in intravenous nutritional support. He has spent a long career in various leadership roles within NHS Scotland, including clinical director and regional lead for pathology, NHS Scotland demand optimisation lead and chair of the Scottish Clinical Biochemistry Network. He is also a past President of the Association for Laboratory Medicine (known as LabMed) and is a fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Physicians of Edinburgh and Ireland, Academy of Healthcare Science and the Institute of Biomedical Science.

Jim Campbell is the Director, Health Workforce at the WHO. He oversees the development and implementation of evidence and tools to support countries in the education, employment and retention of the health and care workforce. He oversees collaborative networks and partnerships with academia, civil society, government institutions, professional associations, and unions, with particular focus on data exchange, digital technologies/AI and equality for women and youth. Jim is graduate of the University of Bristol and the University of Leeds, and an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

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Professor Johnston is a Consultant Histopathologist (NHS Grampian) whose diagnostic work is general histopathology, haematopathology and cytopathology.  He is Vice-President for Workforce and Corporate Engagement at the Royal College of Pathologists and is a member of College Council and Trustee Board.  An Aberdeen graduate, he is committed to medical education and workforce development, holding many roles in the undergraduate and postgraduate sectors.  His research is in medical careers decision making, clinical learning environments, educational culture, and doctors’ wellbeing in and beyond COVID-19.  Human factors in educational and clinical settings is an area of interest.

Dr Roman Bülow serves as Junior Professor for Digital Pathology at the Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, under the leadership of Department Head Professor Dr D Jonigk FRCPath. His research centres on advancing high-throughput histomorphometry (pathomics) through the application deep-learning-based methodologies. His work primarily investigates kidney and liver specimens, leveraging AI to extract meaningful patterns and insights from complex histological data to derive clinically actionable insights. A key focus involves the multimodal integration of pathomics data with complementary data modalities, with particular emphasis on highly multiplexed immunofluorescence techniques. This integrative approach aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms by combining multiple layers of biological information.

Dr Hlaing is the Country Director for Myanmar and is also a Consultant Chemical Pathologist at Royal Surrey County hospital, she graduated from the University of Medicine 1, Yangon. She underwent the core medical training in Wales followed by the specialist training in Chemical Pathology & Metabolic Medicine at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Dr Hlaing worked as a Consultant Chemical Pathologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Trust until 2016. She returned to Myanmar during the midst of the country’s landmark democratic transition to be a part of this significant change. Dr Hlaing continued to practise as a Chemical Pathologist as well as working for the Global Health Partnership (previously known as THET) as a country Director since 2017. Together with colleagues, she has led in setting up the trauma and pathology health partnership work between Cambridge University Hospital and partners in Myanmar since 2012.

Dr Hlaing co-founded the diaspora led UK-based charity Brighter Future Foundation in 2008.

Dr Sayed is Associate Professor in Anatomical Pathology, current Chair and Laboratory Director of Pathology at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr Sayed graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree. She holds a Master of Medicine in General Pathology from the University of Nairobi and a PhD in Anatomical Pathology from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, UK and Secretary General of the College of Pathologists of East Central and Southern Africa.

She is a Commissioner with the Lancet Commission on Diagnostics and the Lancet Oncology Commission for Sub-Saharan Africa. She is passionate about training the next generation of pathologists and researchers in Sub –Saharan Africa.

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Computational pathology is moving beyond single-modality analysis toward multimodal and conversational AI systems. By integrating histology with clinical and molecular data, and enabling natural language interaction with complex cases, these approaches not only promise more personalised and accessible decision support, but also greater efficiency – an essential factor in addressing the worldwide shortage of pathology expertise. This talk will highlight key innovations and emphasise the vital role of pathologists in guiding their safe and effective adoption.

Amy is a former healthcare professional now in a leadership role, combining frontline experience with project management skills to strengthen workforce planning at the College and support the delivery of the Workforce Strategy.

Professor Marta Cohen chairs the Post Mortem and Forensic Microbiology Group of ESCMID and is an ISPID Board member. Previous international commitments included: President of the International Paediatric Pathology Association and Course Director of IPPA Advanced Course; council member of ESP and ICCR board of directors; board member of ISA; member of the editorial board of PDP. She co-edited 7 books, and co-authored 35 chapters and 173 publications in journals.

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Elisabetta Zanon has been Chief Executive Officer of the European Cancer Organisation since February 2025. She is a senior professional with more than 20 years of experience in European affairs, much of it as a dynamic champion for better healthcare. This includes working for EU associations and representing public sector organisations. She has a successful track record of influencing EU policy, as well as designing and implementing extensive EU communication campaigns.

Her most recent leadership roles include serving as Director of EU Public Affairs & Advocacy at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine and as Director of Advocacy for the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), where she spearheaded ESC participation in EU-funded research projects and launched and managed the ESC Patient Forum. Prior to that, Elisabetta established the NHS European Office in Brussels in 2007 and served as Director of that office for 10 years.

Priyani Amarathunga is a Histopathologist and a Professor in Pathology with 24 years of experience, currently serving as the Head, Department of Pathology and Director of the Centre for Diagnosis and Research in Cancer at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. She has special interest in renal and perinatal pathology. She also has significantly contributed to MBBS curriculum development and quality assurance, laboratory quality assurance and postgraduate training, mentoring numerous successful histopathologists. She has authored 20 peer-reviewed articles and presented over 100 papers. She is the President of the College of Pathologists of Sri Lanka for 2025.
 

Russell is an experienced international researcher and consultant, specialising in diagnostic systems, and policy and regulation development and implementation in developing countries. He specialises in the diagnostic aspects of antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical disease control, and capacity building of laboratory organisations. Russell has worked in this area in numerous countries across Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia.

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Xavier Matias-Guiu MD, PhD is Professor of Pathology at the Universities of Barcelona and Lleida. He is Chairman of Pathology at University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova and Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. He undertook pathology training and was a faculty member in Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona. He was also Research Pathology Postdoctoral Fellow at Tufts Medical Center at Tufts University, Boston, USA. He was President of the Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica, the European Society of Pathology and the International Society of Gynecologic Pathologists. Guidelines panel member: WHO 2014, 2020, 2024, ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO 2016, ISGYP 2019, ESGO/ESTRO/ESP 2020, 2024, ICCR 2022, ESMO 2000, 2022, FIGO Staging Subcommittee.

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