The panel discussion included:

Ruairí de Búrca, Director General, Irish Aid at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Ireland 

Marijke Wijnroks,  Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Director, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – Switzerlan

Saidy Brown, HIVictor – South Africa

Scroll down the page to view the biographies of the three panelists.

The panel discussion is featured on the video below:

• Ruairí de Búrca, Director General, Irish Aid at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Ireland 

Ruairí  has led the Division charged with managing the Irish Aid development cooperation programme since 2017.  In this capacity, he advises on the most effective and efficient policy options for the delivery of Ireland’s international development goals, including humanitarian aid.  He represents Irish positions on development matters in international fora, including the EU and UN. 

He leads the team responsible for the timely and prudential delivery of Ireland’s development cooperation.  He also leads on Ireland’s bilateral relationship with Africa, including political and economic relations with the countries of that continent

• Marijke Wijnroks,  Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Director, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – Switzerland

Marijke Wijnroks became Chief of Staff at the Global Fund in 2013. From June 2017 through February 2018, she served as Interim Executive Director. Her distinguished career includes more than 30 years of experience in global health and development, serving in government, at the United Nations and in civil society, and working in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Marijke Wijnroks,  Chief of Staff, Office of the Executive Director, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – Switzerland

• Saidy Brown, HIVictor – South Africa

Saidy is a 24 year-old young lady born with HIV. She has been a strong advocate for HIV and used her status to educate other people via social media. She works with various NGOs, such as Y+ South Africa and Network for Young People Living with HIV in South Africa.