I-DAIR Governance Advisory Task Force Meets; appoints Dr Christoph Benn as inaugural Board Chair

The Governance Advisory Task Force of the International Digital Health & AI Research Collaborative (I-DAIR) met today under the chairmanship of Dr Steve Davis and approved the composition of I-DAIR’s inaugural Board. 

The Board will bring together leading voices from the digital and health fields with representation across scientific institutions, global foundations, international organisations as well as high-income and low-middle income countries. It will reflect a set of interlocking disciplinary areas of expertise such as health, digital technology, ethics, community mobilisation and diplomacy. Gender and geographical diversity were among the critical considerations in the decision of the Task Force. 

Dr Christoph Benn, Director of Global Health Diplomacy at the Joep Lange Institute and former Director of External Relations at the Global Fund, will assume the role of inaugural Board Chair and lead the process for establishing the inaugural Board, and preparing its first meeting in September 2022. 

Dr Christoph Benn thanked the task force for the appointment and outlined the challenges ahead: “I am honored by this appointment and look forward to serving I-DAIR through this important launch phase. Digital technologies, data and Artificial Intelligence are going to be crucial to achieve the vision of Universal Health Coverage in all countries and I am very excited about the role I-DAIR can play to facilitate these developments.” 

The Task Force was briefed by outgoing CEO, Dr Amandeep Singh Gill, who will assume his duties as UN Secretary-General’s Tech Envoy from 15 July 2022. Dr Mehdi Snène will take over from Dr Gill as interim CEO. 

“The setting up of the inaugural Board is a crucial step on the path to I-DAIR’s establishment as an international initiative under Swiss law”, Dr Gill said. “I congratulate Dr Benn on his appointment and thank Dr Steve Davis and the members of the Advisory Task Force for their guidance. It has been a great privilege to serve as founding CEO and Project Director for I-DAIR and work with an innovative and passionate team. I am proud of what we have achieved in collaboration with our hubs and partners and am confident that the momentum would continue under the new leadership.”