Global Medical Director for the diabetes portfolio at Merck KGaA Dr. Kerstin MG Brand is the Global Medical Director for the diabetes portfolio at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. She leads medical lifecycle management for metformin, the key ingredient in the original metformin brand, Glucophage®. With over 20 years of experience in cardiometabolic drug development, Dr. Brand has successfully spearheaded multiple lifecycle innovation projects for metformin and other cardiometabolic therapies at Merck. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biology from the University of Bonn and is passionate about the interconnected functions of the body, particularly the insulin signaling pathway, as well as value-based innovation, women’s health, and medical storytelling.

Dr. Jackie Maalouf is Vice President at the International Diabetes Federation IDFserving on a second term, board member at the NCD Alliance, and board member at the GMHA, she is the Founder and President of Dialeb- The National Diabetes Organization, a leading diabetes organization in Lebanon which she founded with her daughter Sylvie living with type 1 diabetes in 2010. As of January 2026 she was appointed on the international board of the Global Metabolic Health Alliance GMHA. She is a certified diabetes educator. She made it her mission in life to advocate for those living with diabetes and other NCDs, and delivers educational and motivational talks around these topics across the globe. She has over 15 years of experience in leading Dialeb’s awareness campaigns and activities across Lebanon., and has earned several awards and certifications related to diabetes, nutrition, sports, public health… She has participated as a speaker at many local, regional, and international diabetes conferences. She takes parts as member at 3 committees at the global board of IDF, and is leading the sustainability committee since 2022. With IDF- MENA she is a member of several committees and has led the youth committee since 2022.She is an expert consultant with the WHO and sits on the boards of several local regional and global organizations, She has participated in many research papers as a co-author or reviewer. Dr. Jackie Maalouf is a seasoned educator who has taught for many years at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and AUCE. A passionate diabetes advocate and a staunch believer in social innovation, she frequently delivers talks at various forums, championing impactful initiatives. Her dedication to driving social change has earned her multiple awards of appreciation from local, regional, and international institutions. Fluent in four languages and proficient in two others, Dr. Maalouf excels in fostering global communication and collaboration. Guided by the principle of “Being the Change” and leading by example, she finds immense fulfillment in empowering communities to strive for a better future and a better quality of life.