Air Doctor is Efrat’s second startup, having previously founded the cleantech company Sun Effect. She began her career in industrial engineering at Intel, then leading supply chain management at BetterPlace, an electric vehicle network and services provider. In 2020, she was a top-five finalist and People’s Choice winner in Quesnay’s Female Founders in InsurTech competition in recognition of her work with Air Doctor. She’s currently the CRO at Air Doctor, and plays a crucial role in driving the company’s growth and expansion across various industries.

Greg Plifka is the Managing Director of Allianz Partners in Hong Kong, overseeing the consumer and personal lines business. With nearly two decades of experience in the insurance and assistance sectors across the Asia Pacific region, Greg has successfully developed and led innovative programs in collaboration with airlines, travel agents, banks, OEMs and dealers, eCommerce platforms, and various affinity partners. He sees a transition in this space is already underway as insurers like Allianz begin to evolve beyond traditional product offerings and are instead emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that integrates a diverse array of products, services, and platforms directly into the ecosystems of business partners.

Natalya Butakova is CEO of AP Companies Global Solutions, leading international independent third-party administrator (TPA), healthcare management, cost containment and emergency medical assistance company. Natalya has been with AP Companies since 2005, having previously worked in private hospitals. Within AP she has been involved in business development projects, client management, new office set-ups, sales and digitalisation processes. “Growing together with AP has been inspiring and exciting,” she says. “Work has never been routine and monotonous for me, but rather always challenging, developing and motivating. Helping people to live a better life and getting better healthcare by itself is a huge motivator.”

Romain Di Meglio serves as Regional Chief Executive Officer for APRIL International (APRIL) in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

APRIL focuses on delivering international healthcare solutions across eight Asian markets through a blended approach of digitalised user experiences and high-value human services.

Prior to this role, Romain led M&A activities first as a consultant and then for APRIL since 2011. In this role, he oversaw APRIL’s M&A activities and explored new avenues for business growth.

Dr. Yau, a distinguished emergency medical specialist, has led advancements in clinical care, hospital management, and healthcare consultancy. Trained at Queen Mary Hospital, he became an emergency specialist in 2005.

In 2008, he founded Union Emergency Centre, Hong Kong’s first private A&E facility, setting new standards in emergency care. As director of Health-1 Medical Consultant, he connects patients with top-tier specialists for comprehensive healthcare solutions.

Appointed by Union Hospital, Dr. Yau served as chief of Conch Hospital, a 1,000-bed facility in China. Under his leadership, the hospital achieved financial stability and JCI accreditation—an unprecedented milestone for a Hong Kong-led initiative in large-scale healthcare improvement.

Committed to patient care, hospital innovation, and strategic healthcare development, Dr. Yau continues to shape medical services across the region.

Cai specialises in cross-border medical care, ground and air medical transportation, complex case management and medical services innovations to meet the needs of domestic and international consumers of healthcare services.

Dr Konkiat is CEO of Group 3 and Group 6 at Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public (BDMS) and manages 14 hospitals in eastern and southern Thailand. He is a board member of BDMS. He is also on the board of The Healthcare Accreditation Institute (public organisation), Thailand; on the board of directors for the Faculty of Nursing at Chaing Mai University; and on the board of directors of the Faculty of Medicine at Naresuan University. He is a Clinical Instructor at Oregon Health Science University in the US, and is a founder of the Kalapatana School, Phuket, Thailand, and of Hospital OS. He is the Secretary General at the Sodsri-Saridwongsa foundation for educational reform.

In1995 Dr Kongkiat received an award for Outstanding Performance in the Internal Medicine Training Program; in 2003 he was granted the award of Excellence Research Project by the Thai Research Fund: Hospital Informatics System for small rural Hospitals; in 2007 he achieved the Hospital Management Award (private hospital sector) from the Thai Hospital Management Association. In 2008 this project was also recognised by the Foundation for Research in Information Technology. In 2009, Dr Kongkiat was elected to The Ashoka Fellowship as a Social Innovator, and in 2022, he received outstanding alumni awards from Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.

Louis is the Managing Director APAC of CoverGo, where he leads CoverGo’s business development functions in the Asia Pacific region. He is also leading the Generative AI solutions for CoverGo’s clients. Louis has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry across the region including Hong Kong, Singapore, South East Asia, Australia, and Japan, during which time he has held a number of senior roles with multinational insurance companies including Scor, FWD, Allianz, and Suncorp. He has been a Partner at Deloitte.

Louis specialises in digital transformation, and has implemented solutions for insurers on digital distribution, customer journey design, core system modernisations, Generative AI development, and product propositions. He has worked across all insurance sectors including life, health, and general insurance, and has also owned the P&L for a number of portfolios. He has extensive experience on individual and group medical portfolios, helping insurers in Asia Pacific in transforming their underwriting and claims operations, systems, and profitability.

Louis has been an active speaker and contributor in the insurance community, and has spoken on topics such as ‘Unlocking the value of generative AI’; ‘Next-gen: AI-enabled distribution’; and ‘Launching digital product with a customer lens’.

Lily Chen brings extensive expertise in healthcare services management and health insurance solutions. A graduate of the Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine, Lily began her career as the Marketing and Account Services Director for China’s first international clinic chain. After Parkway Health’s merger with World Link in 2009, she founded Essential Benefit Solutions, China’s first third-party administrator specializing in corporate wellness.

Under Lily’s leadership, Essential Benefit Solutions has delivered innovative corporate benefit solutions with a strong focus on health and wellness, helping organizations enhance employee well-being and engagement. In 2015, Lily became the Managing Director of JLT Insurance Brokers, overseeing its Employee Benefits (EB) business in China. Following JLT’s merger into Mercer in 2019, Lily reacquired the company and rebranded it under Essential.

Through the integration of advanced technology and a vast network of health service providers, Lily has elevated Essential into a premier corporate health solutions brand in China. Today, Essential is broadening its reach across Asia, delivering comprehensive health and wellness programs. The company collaborates closely with insurance providers, serving as both a broker and a health services platform provider.

Lester is the Owner and CEO of InBridge Advisors, a leading brokerage firm specialising in International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) in Hong Kong. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a major in Business Accounting.

Lester began his professional journey in auditing at Deloitte, where he gained valuable experience in the accounting field. He then transitioned to the insurance industry, working at Abacare for five years. In 2005, Lester became the founding General Manager of Jebsen Insurance Broker, where he played a pivotal role in establishing and growing the company.

In 2023, Lester founded InBridge Advisors, taking on the responsibility of overall strategic planning for the company. Today, InBridge Advisors has become one of the most active brokers for IPMI in Hong Kong.

Kim is a seasoned insurance business development leader with extensive experience across the Asia region. With a strong focus on partnerships, business development and sales strategies, she has successfully spearheaded numerous initiatives that have significantly enhanced market presence and revenue growth. Kim brings a wealth of knowledge and valuable insights to discussions on the future of insurance ecosystem in Asia.

As the Executive Director of Business Development at Matilda International Hospital, Lynne is responsible for developing strategic business direction as well as translating market trends and opportunities into new services to drive business growth.

Leading a professional team in developing key sections for growth including corporate and insurance development, digital media, health education as well as patient and doctor relations. As a healthcare professional with marketing expertise, Lynne is also instrumental in shaping the hospital’s brand image, protecting its reputation through crisis communication and oversees all marketing and public relations.

With a wealth of experience in healthcare and a large insurance and corporate network, she plays a pivotal role in introducing healthcare programmes, spearheading price transparency, advocating patient-centred care, developing new services and extending the hospital services into the community through a flagship medical centre.

Lynne is committed to supporting health promotion and actively gives back to the community through her role as Board Member of Matilda Children’s Foundation, which provides lifechanging surgery for children with no other means of assistance in the Asia region.

Mike Khan is the Mercer Marsh Benefits Leader for Hong Kong and Macau, bringing with him 12 years of experience with the firm in London, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Throughout his tenure, Mike has dedicated 10 years to Global employee benefits. In his current role, Mike is responsible for leading Mercer’s health business in Hong Kong and Macau. This entails overseeing a team of over 120 colleagues who deliver market-leading services across Mercers Broking, Consulting, and Digital solutions.

Prior to his current position, Mike served as the MMB Multinational Leader for Asia, Pacific, and IMEA. In this role, he led GBM and Darwin teams across these regions, leveraging his specialist knowledge in Captives and ESG to assist multinational businesses.

Outside of work, Mike is an avid Formula 1 fan and enjoys exploring history and traveling. He is currently based in Hong Kong, where he continues to help our clients to build the confidence to thrive.

Jo McCauley is the CEO of Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI), one of New Zealand’s most awarded and respected travel insurers.

SCTI first launched in New Zealand in 1982, before partnering with Australians in 2009, and continues to experience exceptional growth with Jo at the helm.

Since joining SCTI in 2017, Jo’s relentless customer focus has reshaped the business, developed new improved insurance products, and achieved record sales with glowing customer reviews in New Zealand and Australia.

This lift in business maturity ensures SCTI is on track to provide peace of mind for millions more New Zealanders and Australians as they travel around the world and at home.

Sarah is the Regional Director for Asia at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), bringing over 18 years experience across both public and private sectors. In this role, she serves as a key liaison for WTTC members and partners throughout Asia, leading strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and initiatives that support regional growth and collaboration.

A strong advocate for international cooperation and sustainable tourism development, Sarah is known for her ability to foster meaningful cross-cultural collaboration and high-impact partnerships. Prior to joining WTTC, she served at the UN Tourism headquarters in Madrid, where she coordinated research and development projects across the Asia-Pacific region.

Following her time at the UN, Sarah led the International Business Development team at the China National Convention Center, driving global marketing efforts. She also brings five years of entrepreneurial leadership as Partner and CEO of Venue Operations at Innolink Group.

Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree from Fudan University in Shanghai and Master’s degrees from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She also serves on the Advisory Committee at BNU-HKBU United International College, contributing to education-industry collaboration in tourism and hospitality.