Elena Moya - World Patients Alliance

Elena Moya holds a degree in French Philology and a Master’s in School Leadership. After nearly twenty years in education, the sudden death of a student from meningitis led her to dedicate her career to patient advocacy. She spent ten years as Development Director at the Irene Megías Foundation Against Meningitis and later co-founded the Spanish Meningitis Association (AEM). She also survived meningitis at the age of four. 

Since 2008, Elena has been the European Coordinator of CoMO, supporting patient organisations across more than twenty countries. She also serves on the boards of the Spanish Patient Forum (FEP), the Boston Scientific Foundation Europe, and the European Patients’ Forum (EPF). Through these roles, she has gained a deep understanding of the challenges faced by people living with chronic illness and the crucial yet overlooked role of caregivers, particularly women who disproportionately assume caregiving responsibilities. Her work has given her a global vision of meningitis, reinforcing her commitment to equity in access to prevention, care, and health systems. She is especially concerned that health outcomes can still depend on something as arbitrary as a postal code. 

Elena travels extensively across Europe, enjoys languages, music, and especially African dance. She is the mother of three children and always remembers Sofía, her daughter who passed away in infancy. Her priority is her family, and she is determined to help make meningitis a disease of the past.