HRC Speakers

PhD in Bioengineering from the UPC
With more than 20 years of professional experience in DeepTech and industry-academia partnerships (Industrial and Bioengineering R&D). Two areas of expertise, both Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Albert Pla Planas is a PhD in Artificial Intelligence specialized in the application of advanced machine learning to the life sciences and healthcare industry. His work focuses on developing AI-driven methods to extract insights from complex biomedical data, with particular emphasis on target detection, biomarker identification, and digital biomarkers. He has contributed to the design of end-to-end analytical pipelines for high-dimensional biological data, including spatial transcriptomics and multimodal datasets, enabling a more precise understanding of disease mechanisms.

With a strong publication record in bioinformatics and computational biology, his work demonstrates sustained engagement in translational AI, bridging methodological innovation with practical applications in clinical and pharmaceutical settings. He currently leads the Data for New Technologies team, focused on applying artificial intelligence to digital biomarkers and digital histopathology.

Alejandra es gestora pública en salud con más de 15 años de trayectoria, experta en gestión estratégica de personas e innovación pública. Como Jefa de Innovación y Apertura del Hospital Clínico Dra. Eloísa Díaz (Chile), ha liderado la consolidación de la institución como Organización Modelo en Innovación Pública. Impulsa la estrategia de "Hospital Abierto" fomentando la colaboración con ecosistemas que integran a la academia, la industria y la sociedad civil. Psicóloga, diseñadora de servicios y magíster en gestión de personas y organizaciones, se especializa en el rediseño de la experiencia usuaria mediante procesos de co-creación orientados a humanizar la atención de salud.

Alex Izquierdo és CEO d’AiMA Beyond AI, una startup de Barcelona especialitzada en solucions d’intel·ligència artificial aplicades a la salut i l’envelliment. El projecte AiMA desenvolupa un “humà digital” capaç de veure, escoltar, parlar, fer preguntes i acompanyar pacients o usuaris de manera contínua. La seva trajectòria està vinculada a la innovació, la salut digital, la silver economy i l’ús de la IA per combatre la soledat i millorar l’atenció a les persones.

Alejandro Tortosa is a senior professional working at Plug and Play Tech Center, bringing over 10 years of experience in innovation, open innovation, and startup investment. Operating across Europe, he leads corporate innovation initiatives, institutional partnerships, and venture client programs connecting global corporates with high-potential startups. At Plug and Play — the world's largest innovation platform with 600+ corporate partners, 2,000+ startups, and 35+ unicorns in its portfolio — Alejandro drives strategic collaborations at the intersection of AI, corporates, and emerging technologies. He is a recognized voice on how open innovation accelerates corporate transformation in the AI era.

Alex is the Business Development Manager at DyCare. He holds a degree in Physiotherapy and Health Sciences and has over 15 years of experience in Sales and Marketing teams within the Hospital, Pharmaceutical, and EdTech sectors. Throughout his career, he has not only founded several companies but has also complemented his education with an MBA from UPC, strengthening his strategic and entrepreneurial profile. His extensive experience enables him to provide a comprehensive perspective on business development within the healthcare industry.

Dr. McGee is a doctor and healthtech leader with deep experience in clinical medicine, product development, and research. She is Senior Medical Advisor in AI at Flo Health Inc., Founder of Mara Health, and Chair at NXGN, where she champions the next generation of innovators in healthtech and biotech.

Her career spans the full healthtech ecosystem, from early-stage startups to Europe’s first femtech unicorn, positioning her as one of the most influential leaders driving meaningful, user-centered, and AI-enabled healthcare innovation.

Aline Noizet is a connector at heart! Passionate about innovation and new technologies applied to health, she is very people-centric and has a natural talent for connecting people and building ecosystems around digital health. Aline has a strong international network and a solid experience working with startups, helping them grow and connect with corporate companies, hospitals and investors. Today, Aline is fully dedicated to Digital Health Connector, her company, supporting and connecting the different actors of the digital health ecosystem and is part of nina capital team, a pan European venture capital firm investing in healthtech.

Ana Madalina Chiratcu és responsable de màrqueting i comunicació a Group Saltó, empresa tecnològica especialitzada en solucions de teleassistència avançada, intel·ligència artificial, IoT i robòtica social. La seva trajectòria està vinculada al màrqueting estratègic, la comunicació corporativa i la promoció de projectes d’innovació social i salut digital, especialment orientats a millorar l’atenció a les persones grans i donar suport als professionals sociosanitaris.

Dr. Ana Tost is Head of Data Science in Healthcare within the Digital Health Department at Eurecat. She specializes in the development and validation of digital health technologies across areas such as mental health, oncology, and rehabilitation. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with hospitals, research institutions, and industry partners across Spain and Europe in multidisciplinary innovation projects involving medical imaging, clinical data analysis, remote monitoring, and digital therapeutics. Her work focuses on translating advanced technologies into practical healthcare solutions that improve patient outcomes, support clinical decision-making, and accelerate the adoption of innovation in healthcare systems.

Andra Stefanov leads marketing and business development at Doole Health, a Spanish digital health company redefining how patients are cared for beyond the clinic. Over the past year and a half, she has focused on building LINA — the company's AI division — from the ground up, covering brand identity, positioning, content strategy, and go-to-market. She holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a Master's in Digital Marketing.

Andrea Barbiero is a digital health strategist and consultant with more than 25 years of experience in healthcare transformation across Europe and Latin America. She is the founder of Co-Salud, where she works on collaborative innovation, service design, and participatory approaches to digital health.

Her work focuses on the intersection of technology, public policy, and citizen engagement, supporting health systems, insurers, and research institutions in designing person-centred and socially sustainable models of care. Based in Barcelona, she is particularly interested in patient and citizen participation, governance of digital health, and responsible innovation.

Andrea Lopes is a healthcare professional specialized in clinical training, surgical environments, and innovative medical technologies, with a focus on minimally invasive and robotic surgery. She has experience supporting surgeons and multidisciplinary teams through structured training programs, clinical studies, and market initiatives. Andrea works at the intersection of technology and clinical practice, helping drive the safe adoption of new surgical solutions. Known for her collaborative approach and adaptability, she is passionate about advancing surgical education and improving patient outcomes through innovation.

I am a researcher and institutional leader with extensive experience in biomedical research management, innovation, and clinical translation across hospital and academic settings.
I am currently a researcher at ISCIII. I have held senior leadership positions as Corporate Scientific Director at Vithas, Managing Director of Fundación Vithas, and Scientific Director of Fundación HM Hospitales, where I led scientific strategy, research governance, and the development of initiatives with real clinical impact.
Throughout my career, I have combined basic and translational research with scientific leadership, university teaching, and the management of complex healthcare research structures.

Physician (MD), MSc in Epidemiology, and MSc in Malariology and Environmental Sanitation. Senior Researcher at the School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, with over 20 years of experience in applied research, social program evaluation, and health and food security policy design across Peru and 16 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has served as Peru’s Minister of Health, Head of the National Institute of Health, and Public Policy Advisor for the United Nations World Food Programme. His current work focuses on resilient health systems and digital health transformation in LAC.

With expertise in city innovation, smart cities, economic development in strategic sectors, and public-private collaboration, Anna is an industrial engineer with experience in strategic consulting and change management at Accenture, experience promoting entrepreneurship at the UPC University, and used to international collaborations with institutions such as the World Bank and the European Commission. She joined Barcelona City Council with the 22@Barcelona urban transformation project and she led the Smart City Strategy. She is currently Director of Strategic Sectors and Innovation at Barcelona Activa where she leads economic development strategies to strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation, and implement them to generate economic and social impact.

Among others, one of the sectors she is fostering from Barcelona Activa is the Care Sector related with demographic challenges.

Anna Manchón Sanchez is a results-driven leader with over 9 years of experience in the medical device industry, specializing in strategic partnerships and market expansion. Currently at Mediktor, she spearheads growth across Europe and APAC, notably leading the introduction of Mediktor’s technology into the Spanish public sector, with a specific focus on Catalonia. With a background in Biomedical Engineering, Anna excels at bridging the gap between clinical innovation and commercial viability. Previously, she spent over seven years at Neuroelectrics, where she rose to Customer Success Director, optimizing global operations and ensuring rigorous regulatory compliance.

Anna Muñoz Farré is Co-Founder and CEO of Punto Health, an AI-driven platform transforming cognitive and dementia care. Based in London, she is an AI scientist and biomedical engineer with research experience at MIT and UPC-Barcelona Tech, and prior roles at Elvie and BenevolentAI. She leads the development of clinically validated digital solutions deployed with healthcare partners across the UK and Spain, focused on enabling continuous, personalised care. Anna was awarded Upcoming Woman in STEM (DonaTIC) 2022 by the Catalan Government.

Anna Seriola, PhD, MBA, is a scientist and a serial entrepreneur trained at Cornell University and UZ Brussels, passionate about translating research into real clinical impact. She is the co-CEO and Co‑founder of Lumiris Spectral Solutions, a Barcelona‑based medtech company, spin-off of IBEC, developing non‑invasive optical technologies to advance assisted reproduction and reproductive health. Her career has been recognized for successfully bridging basic cell biology and genetics with translational innovation, resulting in patented and licensed technologies.She combines academic engagement, with leadership in regulatory, clinical, and business strategy. She has also contributed to institutional discussions on science, leadership, and work-life balance and supports collaboration between academia, industry, and patient-centered medical innovation worldwide across disciplines globally.

Antoni Llobet Mercadé és un professional manresà vinculat al món educatiu i universitari. Llicenciat en Filologia Catalana, ha treballat com a professor de secundària i també ha estat director d’institut. Al llarg de la seva trajectòria ha ocupat diversos càrrecs de responsabilitat en l’àmbit públic, com delegat territorial d’Ensenyament a Barcelona, regidor d’Ensenyament i Universitats i portaveu del govern a l’Ajuntament de Manresa, director general de Centres Públics i secretari de Polítiques Educatives del Departament d’Ensenyament. Actualment és el director general de la Fundació Universitària del Bages, FUB-UManresa, càrrec que va assumir el setembre de 2023.

Antonio Artés is Professor of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. He is the founder of the Signal Processing Group and has led a wide range of research, innovation, and technology transfer initiatives in AI, signal processing, and digital health. In 2017, he founded Evidence-Based Behavior (eB2), a company focused on AI-driven and mHealth solutions for mental health and wellbeing. He is also affiliated with IiSGM and CIBERSAM, and serves as co-director of the ELLIS Unit Madrid.