HIV treatment at a crossroads: Community power in the age of austerity and algorithms - The Next Frontier – Technology, Power and the Future of HIV Activism

Wame Jallow is a global advocate for health, rights and environmental justice, with over 25 years of experience in driving transformative change across diverse communities. She has been a fierce champion for the rights of women and girls, working to ensure equitable access to quality health services and essential medicines for all. She has played a pivotal role in strengthening community and health systems, bringing expertise in community-led monitoring and research, costing and policy analysis, advocacy, social behaviour change and impact, and community mobilization. Wame is the Executive Director of Shuga Global (formerly – MTV Staying Alive Foundation), which leads innovative entertainment-education initiatives that harness the power of storytelling and popular culture to challenge stigma, shift social norms and inspire collective action globally. Its flagship series, MTV Shuga, is a cultural touchstone and movement tackling critical issues that shape the lives and futures of young people.

Micheal Ighodaro is Executive Director of Global Black Gay Men Connect (GBGMC), leading global advocacy and programs to expand access to HIV prevention and health equity for Black gay men and other underserved communities.

Dr. Dino Rech is CEO of Audere and CEO/Founder of Audere Africa. A South African ER physician, published researcher, and health-systems delivery expert, he has led work at CHAPS, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Aurum Institute—bringing deep experience across public and private programs.

Izukanji Sikazwe is a Zambian infectious disease physician, HIV programme implementation leader and clinical researcher. A graduate of the University of Zambia School of Medicine, she further specialized through an internal medicine residency at Good Samaritan Hospital and an infectious disease fellowship at the University of Maryland. She holds a Master of Public Health from Michigan State University and is an alumna of the Africa CDC Kofi Annan Global Public Health Leadership Program. As a principal investigator for PEPFAR-funded HIV prevention, care and treatment programmes in Zambia, Izukanji spearheaded the scale up of life-saving interventions across public health facilities, transitioning direct service delivery to the Ministry of Health. Her research focuses on improving health outcomes for people living with HIV, with contributions to retention strategies, differentiated service delivery models and person-centred care that have informed global HIV guidelines. Izukanji is currently the Head of HIV at the Global Fund.

Medical physician with a research interest in HIV access-to-medicines, with a focus on antiretroviral pricing, patents, and improving equitable access to treatment and prevention in LMICs.

Ms. Rambau is Project Coordinator at Ritshidze, leading day to day implementation of one of the largest community-led monitoring projects in the world. She holds a Masters degree from the University of Witwatersrand and is an expert in data-driven advocacy.

Denis Godlevskiy is a treatment access activist and public health specialist with more than 20 years of professional experience. Born and having started his career in Russia, he has been living in Germany since 2023.

He serves as Regional Coordinator at ITPC EECA, where his work focuses on monitoring access to HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis treatment, community-led monitoring (CLM), policy advocacy and strengthening the participation of affected communities in healthcare decision-making.

In Germany, Denis works as Marketing and Communications Manager at Aidshilfe Schleswig-Holstein e.V. His work includes public health communications, HIV and STI awareness campaigns, the promotion and organization of low-threshold testing services, and outreach activities aimed at increasing access to HIV, hepatitis and STI testing.

He is also a co-founder and board member of the Health Advocacy Coalition, a board member of the TB Europe Coalition and, since 2024, a member of the Communities Delegation to the Global Fund Board.