IFBA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Science Advisor With the Administration for Strategic Preparedness
Dana Perkins is a Senior Science Advisor with the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she provides subject matter expertise, inter-agency coordination, and senior level policy advice on the biodefense, biosafety, biosecurity, and public health aspects of national and international emergency preparedness and response. She is responsible for the data collection and reporting on Biological Weapons Convention Confidence Building Measures for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Perkins coordinates (with the U.S. Department of Agriculture) the International Working Group on Strengthening the Culture of Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Responsible Conduct in the Life Sciences.
She received her PhD in Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics in 2002 from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she specialized in Microbiology/Neurovirology. She also holds a M.Sc. degree in Biochemistry/Immunology from the University of Bucharest, Romania, where she worked on Influenza antivirals. She has work experience in clinical, research, and industrial microbiology, and published over 50 articles and book chapters. She previously served as a contractor supporting the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Biological Weapons Proliferation Prevention Program, U.S.-Russia Cooperative Biological Research Program, as an Export Control Officer with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and in a U.S. Government-seconded position as a member of the Group of Experts supporting the UN Security Council 1540 Committee (established pursuant to UN Security Council resolution 1540).
Job Titles:
- Communications & Project Officer
- the Communications and Project Officer
Dionysis Vourtsis is the Communications and Project Officer at the IFBA and serves as an approved proctor for the delivery of IFBA professional certification examinations worldwide. He is also a Board Member at Large with the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science, the European Regional Representative with the American Society for Clinical Pathology, and President of the Hellenic Medical Laboratories Technologists Association.
Mr. Vourtsis is responsible for the management and supervision of the clinical chemistry & haematology section of the Hellenic Primary Health Care System. His duties include acting as education coordinator, quality assurance, establishing service operation work flow charts, instrument maintenance, laboratory supply chain management and performing advanced procedures in the laboratory. Mr. Vourtsis is passionate about promoting global Biomedical Laboratory Science, investigating diagnostic problems and effective approaches in clinical chemistry, and effective diagnostic procedures through implementation of adequate quality assurance protocols. Over the past several years, he has also committed his time to promote biosafety, biosecurity and biorisk management within laboratories globally including professional certification, continuing education and professional development through lectures, publications, social media and e-learning programs. He is currently working towards the establishment of a new Greek Biosafety Association.
Dr. Hendrik (Henk) Visser has over 20 years of experience managing cooperative, international projects that deal with CBRN issues. During this period, he has managed over 50 projects for more than 60 million USD in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Caucuses, Central Asia, the Far East, and Central Africa.
Past and current projects cover technical areas, such as: bio-safety/bio-security, disease surveillance, toxicology, public health studies, drug development, diagnostics, cancer research, and agriculture, as well as, managed various physical upgrades to bio-laboratory facilities. Additionally, he has overseen projects and programs dealing with strategic trade control of dual use materials and equipment, nuclear safety and security, and various CBRN capacity building efforts.
Between 2002 and 2005 he was a visiting scientist in the Russian Federation as part of an US governmental sponsored visiting scientist program, to study the three-dimensional structure of membrane molecules of Yersinia Pestis using NMR spectroscopy. Before that he did a short post-doc at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory after he had completed his PhD in Biophysical Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley in 2001. He obtained his MSc degree in Molecular Sciences at the Wageningen Agricultural University (The Netherlands).
Dr. Miguel Martin Moreno, an esteemed figure in the field of lab biosafety, biosecurity and biorisk management, has made significant contributions to the promotion of biosecurity and biosafety practices in the Philippines and globally. With a wealth of 15 years' experienceand expertise, Dr. Moreno has held various leadership positions in prestigious internationally known organizations, such as the BioRisk Association of the Philippines 2015, Inc. (BRAP2015) as Founding President, the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) as Board Vice Chair, and the Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association (A-PBA) as EXCO Member.
Primarily recognizing the importance of ethical responsibility, Dr. Moreno emphasizes the need to protect the well-being of individuals, communities, and the environment. With his involvement in various committees and working groups, he actively strives to analyze, reduce, and monitor biological hazards in diagnostic, teaching, and research laboratories across the country.
In line with his dedication to promoting laboratory biosafety, biosecurity and biorisk management (BSSBRM), Dr. Moreno's current focus is on the Certified Biosafety Professional Expertise Training Course (CBPetc). This BRAP flagship program, funded by the U.S. Department of State Biosecurity Engagement Program and facilitated by CRDF Global in partnership with the IFBA, aims to produce certified biosafety professionals through an intensive 7-week training course spread over 10 months. The inaugural batch of graduates is set to mark a significant milestone in October 2023.
Dr. Moreno's exemplary leadership and commitment to compliance with regulations, global security, and ethical responsibility serve as an inspiration to the BSSBRM community. Through his ongoing efforts, he continues to create a safer and more secure environment for handling biological materials, ensuring the protection of individuals, enhancing global security, and upholding ethical standards.
Job Titles:
- Senior Lecturer of Biochemistry at the Technical
Dr. Patrick Okanya is a Senior Lecturer of Biochemistry at the Technical University of Kenya and the Secretary General of the Biorisk Management Association of Kenya (BMAK). He previously served as member of the IFBA Certification Body for two terms. Patrick holds a doctorate degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Saarlands, Germany and IFBA Professional Certifications in Biorisk Management, Biosecurity, Biological Waste Management and Cyberbiosecurity. He has research interests in the broader field of biotechnology and biosafety. Since 2016, Patrick has actively been involved in issues relating to biosafety and biosecurity within the country, regionally and internationally. He is an accomplished trainer in various topics in biosafety and biosecurity and has facilitated in many workshops. He has attracted funds to conduct the Biosafety and Biosecurity workshops from the Global affairs Canada through IFBA, The National Institute for Public Health and Environment of Netherlands (RIVM) and from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Besides facilitating biosafety trainings, Patrick has also participated as a stakeholder in several committees including the development of an MSc curriculum in Biorisk Management for the University of Nairobi, The Kenya Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity Curriculum and recently in the development of a BSc. curriculum in Biosafety and Biosecurity for the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST). Additionally, Patrick is also an IFBA Global Mentor for Biosafety and Bioseurity and together with other International Partners they have published their mentorship work in the One health Outlook.( https://doi.org/10.1186/s42522-021-00050-x). As a team player, he is committed to enhancing the knowledge and understanding of bio-safety and bio-security issues globally.
Job Titles:
- Senior Technical HSS Specialist
Dr.Nasir Ahmad Stanikzai is currently a Senior Technical HSS Specialist for (the Global Fund Coordination Unit GFCU - WHO Afghanistan) an Executive Board member of the Afghanistan Biorisk Association, and a Member IFBA Board of Directors, IFBA Biosafety Hero Award winner.
Dr. Stanikzai has been working in the field of public health for over 20 years, with particular experience in communicable disease prevention and control, country capacity-building for GLP, Biorisk management, and health system strengthening, particularly at the primary health care level, and managing emergencies and coordinating the humanitarian health response.
Erin Fahey is responsible for overseeing all the administrative functions and financial matters of the IFBA Secretariat.
Erin Fahey is the Administrative Manager at the International Federation of Biosafety Associations. She is a key member of the team managing the IFBA's administrative and financial policies and procedures. Erin is also responsible for actively engaging with our worldwide network of certified biosafety professionals. She has 26 years in Administration, a background as Business Coordinator at the Ottawa Hospital where she created and maintained the SARS and H1N1 quarantine quarters for Medical Staff. She is also Former Contract Staff Security Manager for the Ottawa Hospital, responsible for maintaining a safe and secure working environment for all staff and medical facilities. Erin is also a veteran with the Canadian Forces in Administration.
Job Titles:
- Advisor, Financial Sustainability & Business Continuity
- President of the Frontline Healthcare Workers Safety Foundation, Ltd
Mr. Cohen is currently President of the Frontline Healthcare Workers Safety Foundation, Ltd. (a global NGO.) He previously conducted biosafety training courses with Frontline Foundation, as a contractor for the National Biosafety and Biocontainment Training Program (NBBTP) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Before joining Frontline Foundation, he served as facility manager for the Maximum Containment Laboratory (BSL-4) at the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Mr. Cohen's biological safety instructional background includes curriculum design, instruction, management and evaluation on topics including BSL-4 suit training, bloodborne pathogens safety, Biosafety Level 3 and 4 training focusing on proper use of Personal Protective Equipment, Biological Safety Cabinets, and biohazardous facilities maintenance and operations. Mr. Cohen currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA). He is a member of the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). He is a lifetime member of the Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association (APBA). Mr. Cohen received his M.Sc. in Biohazardous Threat Agents and Emerging Infectious Diseases from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biology and Geography from the University of Texas at Austin.
Khalid R. Temsamani is Professor of Analytical chemistry at the University Abdelmalek Essa di, Morocco since 1989. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Free University of Brussels (Belgium) in 1988. In June 2005, he was appointed by the Moroccan Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research as National Coordinator in Materials Science and Representative of Morocco to the US NSF. In October 2010, he was appointed by the Moroccan Ministry of Environment as Director of the Regional Observatory for Environment and Sustainable Development, and Climate Change Advisor to the same Ministry. In 2018 he was elected Secretary General of the Mediterranean Climate House Foundation. Member of FAO's TWG on Agriculture, Food security and Land Use, and member of the African Group of Negotiator's Expert Support (AGNES). From 2018 to 2021, Temsamani acted as senior advisor in Water Adaptation to Climate Change with the UfM. In 2020, he was certified by the Adaptation Fund on "Direct Access - Unlocking Adaptation Funding", and in 2022 received a Certification by the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES) on Climate Governance, Diplomacy and Negotiations Leadership. Professor Temsamani is now International Expert in the fields of Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Biological Risk Management with several International Agencies. Khalid Temsamani is the Founding President of the Moroccan Biosafety Association (MOBSA) since October 2009. He is current Vice-Chair IFBA Board of Directors. He holds a IFBA Certification in Biorisk Management, and IFBA Certification in Biosecurity.
As Executive Director of the IFBA, Maureen Ellis is responsible for implementing the IFBA's mission "safe, secure and responsible work with biological materials" in collaboration with the IFBA' member biosafety associations and the international biosafety community.
In a public service and civil society career that spans more than three decades Ms. Ellis has worked across the globe to champion biosafety and biosecurity capacity building. Growing up in Tanzania, and through her work with the IFBA, she strongly believes that partnerships between civil society and government are critical in strengthening global health security. Formerly, Ms. Ellis was the Advisor to Canada's Global Partnership Program where she was responsible for delivering biosafety and biosecurity programs worldwide. She also served as Director to Canada's Public Health Agency Office of Biosafety, and, Director of the WHO's Collaborating Centre for Biosafety. She was awarded the Wedum Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contributions to biosafety and is the first Canadian to receive this award. M. Ellis is a Certified Professional in Biorisk Management, Certified Professional in Biocontainment Facilities, and holds a Masters Degree in Microbiology from University of Ottawa.
Job Titles:
- Program Officer
- Program Officer With the
Newton Martin is a Program Officer with the International Federation of Biosafety Associations branch in Canada. He obtained a Masters of Science in Neuroscience and a Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience and Biology from Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. His research involved using molecular biology and bioinformatics to analyze a pain-related receptor in the spinal cord. Throughout his early career, he has organized and facilitated several youth or adult social and educational events that engaged people from diverse backgrounds.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director, Global Health Security / Merrick & Company