Nicholas is the founder of The Synergist and Executive Director of Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD). He is an economist by training and was previously Chief Executive Officer of an award-winning digital consultancy providing a cutting-edge digital strategy to global corporations across multiple sectors.

His deep understanding of how digital can accelerate collective action and societal ecosystem drove him to see the potential for an independent organisation that could enable partnerships and drive them to solve jointly societal challenges, The Synergist.

Helena Harnik, MBA, is currently the Program Executive Director at The Synergist, where she oversees the day to day operations and delivery of all the Synergist programmes. Helena has worked with The Synergist since its founding. Helena has previously worked at several companies including Sanofi Pasteur and Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), successfully showing how to solve societal issues by connecting diverse people together. Helena has an International MBA from EM Lyon in France, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature (cum laude) from Williams College in the United States. Based in France, Helena is American – Japanese and has lived in Japan, the UK, USA and France.

Quentin is an economist and took the role of Chief Operations Officer in April 2020 at The Synergist. He spent 15 years at Nestlé and was a member of the Management Committee.

Throughout his career in big organizations, Quentin has been responsible of large transformation programs. He developed a passion for stakeholder management by leveraging peaceful common ground to reach sustainable results and co-created impact in the society.

Amanda is a recognized thought leader by the healthcare community. She has worked in international patient advocacy in the area of rare bleeding disorders since 2009, first at global level and then at European level, where she was CEO of the European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC) for over a decade.
Her professional path was deeply informed by her early career start in international humanitarian diplomacy working with the EU institutions, the Red Cross movement, and the United Nations system – as well as by her personal journey growing up on three continents.
Amanda is a system thinker driven to work through collaboration, co-creation, and collective action. She holds a Master of Science in Environment and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), and a Bachelor of Arts in English and International Relations from Austin College (US). She is part of the senior management team.

Derick’s background combines patient advocacy, translational research and multi-stakeholder collaboration at the National, EU- and Global levels.
He spent a decade (2015-2024) as the Chief Executive of IPPOSI – the Irish Platform for Patients’ Organisations, Science and Industry where he spearheaded a number of collaborative partnerships between patients, government, industry and academic science aimed at putting patients at the heart of health policy and innovation.
Derick believes in the power of united, collective patient voices and the central role of patients and their representative organisations in healthcare and research. He has represented patients on a number of Committees and Boards at multiple levels. Under Derick’s inclusive leadership IPPOSI became the largest patient network in Ireland.
Derick is an Adjunct Professor in Clinical Research at Trinity College Dublin, holds a PhD in Molecular Medicine from University College Dublin and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology from the University of Galway.

Elizabeth is a recent MBA graduate from EM Lyon Business School and is based in Lyon, France. She has joined the Synergist in January 2021 as a Program Director and has program management and financial analysis expertise across the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Elizabeth has a passion for global health cultivated over many years working with safe-surgery and disaster-relief focused non-governmental organizations.

Emilie Luciani brings over fifteen years of experience leading large-scale humanitarian operations in conflict zones. Driven by a deep commitment to creating positive impact, Emilie is a seasoned expert in program management, strategic design, financial oversight, fundraising, advocacy, risk and security management, and leading diverse, multicultural teams. Throughout her career, she has built strong bridges between a wide range of stakeholders, fostering collaboration and co-creating solutions that lead to meaningful change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the Political Studies Institute of Aix-en-Provence and speaks English, French, Italian, and Arabic.

Hayley joined The Synergist team as Senior Program Director in January 2021. Based in Canada, Hayley has a Masters in Health Science from the University of Toronto.

With management roles in Marketing and Community Engagement, she has worked in the healthcare sector for over 20 years focusing on the strategic development and evaluation of partnerships between biopharma companies and patient organizations. Hayley actively contributes to several Patient Advisory Boards sharing her caregiver perspective following her child’s cancer diagnosis.

Lidewij Vat is a Program Director at the Synergist. She is passionate about transforming (health) systems to achieve greater impact. In her work, she builds partnerships with diverse stakeholders to address complex societal challenges.

She has worked in the healthcare sector for over 10 years in various roles (consultant, researcher, lecturer, trainer, project leader). She was a Training and Capacity Lead/Patient Engagement Lead for the SPOR initiative (Canada) where she contributed to the development of a patient-centred research infrastructure. She has been involved in various multi-stakeholder projects, such as IMI-PARADIGM.

She holds a PhD (2021) from the VU University in Amsterdam. The title of her thesis is: “Transforming the health research system. Embedding patient engagement in decision-making”. She completed a Master in Management, Policy analysis and Entrepreneurship in Health and Life Sciences (2010, cum laude) and holds a Bachelor in Health Sciences (2008).

She is Dutch, was raised by healthcare professionals, and is based in Amsterdam.

Nersey Rastan is overseeing major initiatives such as Synapse platforms, Clinical Trials Distribution Network (CTDN) initiative and co-leading the Digital Platform Work Package on the HI-READI program.
Recently Nersey worked as an advisor to VPK Group ICT. Prior to that he spent several years at Deloitte, where he oversaw several internal programs involving IT and Change Management. He formerly worked at Etex, KONE and OTIS. Nersey relocated 7 times across the globe on 1-3 year assignments. He is well-known for his commitment to empowering others, and has been requested to serve as an ambassador or board member for several organizations he supports, including Clusity the #womenintech community and the Tod’Aérs Global Network [TGN].
He is passionate about mentorship and sponsorship, particularly for women in tech, young migrant talent and emerging founders at Clusity, DUO for a JOB, and at imec.istart respectively. In all these activities, he strives to drive meaningful change aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Shweta is an impact-driven communications professional who believes that we are working with an engaged workforce and living amongst everyday activists.
She has held diverse roles in strategic communications, public affairs, media relations, marketing communications, leadership communications, and employee engagement across various industries.
She holds a certificate in Justice & Equity in Technology Policy from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and a master’s degree in communication & information studies from Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

20-year track record in policy, advocacy, and campaigns, with strong fundraising experience. Highly skilled in building and inspiring teams, creating meaningful partnerships with stakeholders, and representing organisations at the highest levels to advance equity and inclusion in the fields of health, disability, development and ageing. Summary: • Extensive fundraising experience both public and private • Leadership in private, NGO, public and institutional settings, in governance, and in creating and managing Boards • Proven success in innovative and workable policy development at European and international level • Extensive experience in organisational development, strategic planning, human resources, risk and performance management, and evaluation • Experienced public speaker and chair • Budget management and financial planning

Thierry brings over 30 years of experience as a Chief Financial Officer and financial advisor, specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business valuation, financial and organizational restructuring, and crisis management across diverse industries.
A graduate of the Solvay Business School of Economics and Management in Brussels, Thierry combines a strong academic foundation with extensive practical expertise.

Determined to grow professionally while having a positive impact, Aurora holds a Master in Diplomacy and International Organizations with a specialization in the EU. She has previous experience in international development and capacity building, which has led to a strong social commitment and a great interest in program management.

Bernadette is a MD specialised in vaccinology with over 30 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry amongst which 20 years in vaccinology. Her responsibilities were mainly Regulatory and Pharmacovigilance. She joined The Synergist in 2015 as a Senior Advisor focusing on PFMD and Break Dengue.

With a multicultural background and a commitment to driving change, she believes in making a meaningful impact by being part of an ecosystem. She lives by the motto: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Previously, Clémentine worked at Sanofi in European Public Affairs and Patient Engagement. She began her career at the European External Action Service in the Political, Press, and Information section of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan.
She holds a certificate in Public Policy Analysis from the London School of Economics, a master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from SOAS University of London, and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from ILERI Institute, Paris.

Danielle has been writing on a wide range of health and medical topics since 2006. An experienced journalist and editor, her primary degree is in pharmacology and she also has an MSc in science communication. She is editor-in-chief of PFMD and PARADIGM, as well as MCIP.

Eleonora is a young Italian professional with a strong passion for fostering positive impact by connecting the dots.
Graduating from the University of Bologna with a degree in Political, Social, and International Sciences, Eleonora’s academic journey ignited her interest in understanding complex societal dynamics. Her professional path began in the world’s largest global youth-run non-profit organization, where she held various national and international roles. These experiences allowed her to build expertise in international relations, operations, external relations, partnership management, fundraising, organizational strategy, and governance. This rich and diverse journey shaped Eleonora’s cross-functional profile and connected her with exceptional individuals, some of whom she now collaborates with at The Synergist.
Following her leadership role at the organization’s Italian branch, Eleonora transitioned to UCB Pharma, where she joined the Transversal Patient Experience team. There, she worked on projects ranging from digital user experience and customer journey design to measurements and operational optimization, all centered on delivering patient value globally.
Now a Program Manager at The Synergist, Eleonora thrives in dynamic and diverse environments, embracing challenges with enthusiasm and focusing on people first. Driven by her unwavering belief in the power of connection, she is dedicated to contributing to meaningful and positive change.

Fabian graduated in accounting from EPHEC in Brussels and has 20 years of experience in several finance roles, including general accountant, financial controller, financial planner, and finance manager.
He has worked for Lhoist, Dow Corning, and Match, as well as firms focused on sustainability (Stantec, a subcontractor for the European Commission on environmental projects, and Eurostar, a high-speed train service that uses green energy).

Fabienne is a consultant and a trainer in the health sector. She obtained her PhD in analytical chemistry at the University of Leuven in 1992. Fabienne spent close to 30 years in the Pharmaceutical industry within the Research and Development organisation. She occupied a variety of functions in both Clinical Operations and Regulatory Sciences. After a few years managing global clinical trials, she created and headed an unit in charge of centrally prepare the Clinical Trial Application dossiers for all countries around the global. In that endeavour, she had been deeply involved through EU Trade association in the development and the implementation of the EU Clinical Trial Regulation (CTR). Fabienne then became Global Regulatory Policy Lead where she bridged regulatory policies and development strategy in the areas such as Real World Evidence (RWE), Complex Clinical Trials and Digital Health. Fabienne was also an EU Oncology Regulatory Strategy liaison.

Fabienne has always been passionate about efficiencies, transfer knowledge and people development.

France Donnay, Consultant Women’s Health Global Policies, Programs, and Practices. With a public health career spanning 30 years, with UNICEF, UNFPA, Doctors Without Borders and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, France worked with a large number of health organisations in many countries, from basic science to technology development and program design and implementation.

Prior to that, she practiced obstetrics and gynecology in Brussels for 15 years, including in clinics attended by migrant families. France will be active in CONCEPTION, on behalf of The Synergist.

Gary is an experienced journalist, editor and author, specialising in health and science. He has a degree in science (physiology) and an MSc in science communication. Gary is Editor of the Break Dengue website and contributes to the editorial work of PFMD and PARADIGM.

Griet joins the Synergist as Senior Program Director. She holds a Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences from KU Leuven.
With over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry, her career began as a Regulatory Affairs assistant in the Pharmaceutical industry. Thereafter, during her tenure at an international Clinical Research Organisation she spanned various leadership roles across clinical operations, global regulatory affairs, clinical supply, and trial start-up teams.
Most recently, she served as Head of Clinical Development at a start-up biotech company, where she was part of the management team and oversaw clinical operations and regulatory affairs activities.
Griet was born in Belgium and lived in the US at a young age.
Her career is marked by establishing strong cross-functional networks, transformative project planning, and a deep commitment to improving health outcomes for patients in need. She is driven by her passion for improving healthcare opportunities for patients.

Gulwish joined The Synergist in June 2018 as a member of the communications team. She has previously worked in the field of marketing, communications, business development, and community management. She provides support to The Synergist projects by building and implementing communication strategies.

A Pakistani national, Gulwish holds a degree in Political Science, she is fluent in English and Urdu.

Dr Sargeant was a distinguished Scientific Medical Writer with 19 years of experience, including 6 years in health and science public relations. She held a DPhil in Molecular Genetics and a BSc in Biochemistry and Applied Molecular Genetics, showcasing her dedication to advancing scientific understanding. 
Ify, for many of us at The Synergist, provided expert scientific editorial strategy and writing support, primarily for PFMD, while contributing across initiatives. Her passion for communicating robust methodologies to diverse audiences remains an inspiration. 
We are deeply grateful for Ify’s remarkable contributions, which left an enduring impact on our mission. Her legacy continues to guide and motivate us every day.

Ionut is a former youth-run non-profit director and leader in the world’s largest global youth-run non-profit organization. He is a passionate advocate for societal change and community empowerment. With over 7 years of experience in leadership, human resources, event management and organizational development, he is deeply committed to creating meaningful impact in any community he engages with.
He firmly believes that fostering a strong organizational culture, built on trust, inclusivity, and shared values, is essential for driving sustainable change. His leadership approach emphasizes collaboration, recognizing that collective effort and unity are the cornerstones of long-term progress. By empowering individuals and teams to work together toward a common goal, he seeks to create environments where innovation and positive transformation thrive.
The word ‘together’ best encompasses his vision of a better world—one where unity prevails over division and where the common good takes precedence over individual interests. He envisions a society in which people, organizations, and institutions collaborate to address challenges, create opportunities, and build a future that is fair, inclusive, and sustainable for all.

She previously worked as the national director of an international youth-run non-profit in Brussels and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Her passion for sustainability led her to volunteer for the UN SDGs in Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Switzerland.

Isha believes that leadership and collaboration are essential to solving societal challenges and seeks to create a positive impact through The Synergist.

Jeremy joined the Synergist in October 2019 as an IT Architect and leader of the IT team. He has co-created, six years ago, a web agency specialized in B2B and B2C called Hellomoon. Under that company, he had the opportunity to develop and manage various B2B/B2C projects using different technologies. He is responsible to plan, design and lead the execution and development of the digital tools dedicated to various Synergist programs.

Lise has been part of The Synergist’s team for several years. She has previously worked for an e-communications agency providing guidance to clients on digital marketing and market research.

Lise now supports The Synergist’s communication team across all projects. Born in Brussels she holds a degree in Political Science.

Maddalena joined the Synergist in July 2021 as Program Manager. Passionate about social impact and international cooperation, she was working for an international youth-run organization as a Financial and Legal national responsible. She is close to obtaining a Master degree in Law at the University of Bologna, Italy

Maria Marano is an Associate Program Director based in Ontario, Canada. Previously she worked for a national patient organization where she focused on research communications and programming for patients and their families. She completed her graduate studies in neuroscience at the University of Toronto. Maria is interested in facilitating knowledge sharing among stakeholders to inform effective strategic planning and project development.

Matt joined the Synergist in March 2020 as Executive assistant helping run the Synergist from an administrative, office management and logistics point of view. As a former employee of Disneyland Paris and euromic-the power of local knowledge, he has longterm experience in the fileds of communication, marketing, meetings & events and international tourism. Polish national, he holds a Master in Business Communication Design from Tilgurg University. Fluent in four European languages: English, Polish, French and Dutch.

Maximiliane joined the Synergist in October 2019 as Program Manager. Prior to joining, she was working for an NGO in the Middle East as well as other organisations in Germany. She holds an M.Sc. in International Development from the University of Edinburgh.

Maëliss, a passionate global health advocate, has worked with Sanofi in France, the United States, and Brazil, with a focus on sustainable financing mechanisms and improving access to innovation.
She has developed a strong interest in raising her voice for health policies. She is convinced that complex public health challenges are better solved by stakeholders working together.
Based in Brussels, she holds a Master in European Public Affairs from Sciences Po Bordeaux. She speaks fluent French, English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Roxana is a marketing and communication specialist, with more than 7 years of experience in the field – most of which spent in healthcare environments.

Roxana joined The Synergist in 2016, working across all projects and initiatives. She is passionate about digital innovation, creative stakeholder engagement strategies and various societal issues.

Silvia joined The Synergist in July 2020 as Program Manager. She previously interned for different NGOs in the US and Kenya, and for the United Nations at the Headquarters in New York City. She holds a M.Sc. in Peace and Development Work from Linneaus University (Sweden), as well as a Bachelor in International Development from the University of Turin (Italy).

Sophie joined The Synergist as Programme Manager in May 2025.

Sophie brings over a decade of experience in event planning and project coordination within international professional associations.
With a strong focus on structure and collaboration, Sophie has consistently built projects that not only deliver results but also meaningfully engage stakeholders. She’s passionate about turning ideas into action—connecting people, navigating complexity, and finding practical ways to move initiatives forward.
Half French, half Danish, Sophie holds a Master’s in International Management and thrives in multicultural, mission-driven environments like The Synergist.

Vincent holds a BA and MA in International Relations and Security Studies with a specialisation in intersection of political economy, environment, and health.

He has worked in different international environments and is passionate about achieving milestones in business development, audience engagement, interdisciplinary debate, and event management.

Pursuing the Program Coordinator role at The Synergist, Vincent aims at having an impact on both, the global and individual dimensions of health.