Presenters' biography
| Speaker 1 - Dr. Ana Rita Rebelo (Technical University of Denmark) | ||
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 | Dr. Ana Rita Rebelo is a microbiologist with a PhD in infectious diseases and WGS, and with a background in pharmaceutical sciences (MSc). Her expertise in AMR includes phenotypic and molecular methods for clinical microbiology diagnostics and surveillance of infectious diseases, with extensive knowledge of genetic mechanisms of AMR, genomic epidemiology and detection of clusters and outbreaks. Her experience includes capacity building activities such as providing scientific advisory and bespoke consultancy to reference and local laboratories in Europe, conducting site-visits, and preparing guidelines, reports and protocols. She has contributed to several multidisciplinary and international projects and networks including EURGen-RefLabCap, FWD AMR-RefLabCap, EU-JAMRAI 2, EARS-Net EQAs, and the recently established EURL-PH-AMR. | |
| Speaker 2 - Niamh Lacy-Roberts (Technical University of Denmark) | ||
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 | I hold a BSc in Biomedical Science from Edinburgh Napier University and an MSc in Bioinformatics from the University of Copenhagen. I am passionate about combining my laboratory experience and bioinformatics skills to support antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and strengthen whole-genome sequencing (WGS) capacity. I specialize in Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing, with hands-on experience in both laboratory work and data analysis. As a research assistant in the Global Capacity Building Group at the Technical University of Denmark, I work on the Fleming Fund Regional Grant project, SEQAFRICA. My role involves developing ONT sequencing protocols and delivering bioinformatics training as part of the SEQAFRICA initiative. | |
| Speaker 3 - Dr. Dafni Katerina Paspaliari (Technical University of Denmark) | ||
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| Dr Dafni Katerina Paspaliari is a public health microbiologist at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), specializing in laboratory capacity-building, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection and AMR surveillance. In addition, she contributes to the work of the WHO Collaborating Centre, the EU Reference Laboratory (EURL), and the FAO Reference Laboratory for AMR, which are hosted at the National Food Institute of DTU. Dafni is a graduate of the ECDC EUPHEM fellowship programme, and has, among others, worked at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the World Health Organization (WHO), focusing on infectious disease surveillance, laboratory testing, and response to public health emergencies. | |
| Speaker 4 - Dr. Jette Sejer Kjelgaard (Technical University of Denmarkl) | ||
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 | Dr Jette Kjeldgaard is a microbiologist with background in food safety and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), supporting multidisciplinary disease and AMR surveillance and capacity building in a One Health context. At DTU, she actively contributes to the EU Reference Laboratory (EURL), the WHO Collaborating Centre, and the FAO Reference Laboratory for AMR, advising partners on integrated AMR monitoring strategies, methodologies and applied research in the field. She also supports the development of training programs in applied microbiology, AMR and genomics in relation to outbreak management and AMR surveillance. She performs simulated exercises and proficiency tests to enhance outbreak management, food safety and AMR surveillance capacity worldwide. | |
| Speaker 5 - Natasia Rebekka Thornval (Technical University of Denmark) | ||
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 | Natasia Rebekka Thornval is a PhD candidate in the Global Capacity Building group at the Technical University of Denmark. She has expertise in molecular microbiology, sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, and food safety. She has worked on food safety and surveillance of foodborne outbreaks in collaboration with industry and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Research areas include surveillance of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and outbreak investigations. She works for the Fleming Fund regional grant SeqAfrica focusing on genomic surveillance of AMR in Sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on capacity building, and consults Fleming Fund regional grant EQAsia on sequencing activities. She has participated in international projects as European Union Reference Laboratory for AMR (EURL-AR) in Food, Feed, and Animal Health, activities in the FAO Reference Laboratory for AMR, and in the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) - Secretary-General's Mechanism (UNSGM). | |