KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
We are pleased to announce our first keynote speaker, Dr Jan Jaap Reiders, who will contribute to Subtheme 1: Ubuntu in Practice – Indigenous Knowledge and Collaborative Care.
In his keynote, Dr Reinders will explore how universal psychological mechanisms of interprofessional identity formation and activation operate across contexts, while recognising that cultural environments shape how these mechanisms are expressed in practice. Importantly, cultural contexts do not merely introduce variation, they also offer new perspectives and solutions that may not emerge within familiar systems.
This keynote invites us to reflect on how African philosophies such as Ubuntu can deepen our understanding of collaboration, identity, and practice within interprofessional teams, and how diverse contexts can strengthen the way we learn, work, and care together.
We are pleased to announce our second keynote speaker, Dr Vikki Park, who will contribute to Subtheme 2: Context Matters – Designing IPE for African Realities.
In her keynote, Intentional Inclusion: Celebrating Diversity through Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice, Dr Park will explore how interprofessional education and collaborative practice are most effective when intentionally designed to reflect the social, cultural, and systemic contexts in which health professionals learn and work. Her presentation highlights that context is not an added consideration, but a central driver of meaningful and impactful IPECP.
Guided by the philosophy of Ubuntu, her keynote positions intentional inclusion as both an educational commitment and an ethical imperative. By emphasising shared humanity and interconnectedness, this approach aligns with AfrIPEN’s vision of contextually grounded, culturally meaningful interprofessional learning that honours African values and lived experiences.
We are pleased to announce Prof Jose Frantz as one of our keynote speakers for the 5th AfrIPEN Conference, contributing to Subtheme 3: Reclaiming Power – Decolonial Pedagogies in IPE.
In her keynote, Prof Frantz will reflect on the importance of reimagining interprofessional education through approaches that centre African realities, lived experiences, and socially responsive pedagogies. Her presentation will explore how decolonial thinking challenges traditional hierarchies within health professions education and creates space for more inclusive, equitable, and contextually grounded forms of collaboration and learning.
This keynote speaks directly to the need for IPE that not only prepares students for collaborative practice, but also contributes to the transformation of health systems through justice, inclusion, and African-led innovation.