2026 HBA Annual Conference Keynotes

Leadership is being redefined as workforce expectations shift, technology accelerates and disruption becomes the norm. Quita Highsmith, Vice President of the Population Health Center of Excellence at Genentech, and Giles Platford, President of Takeda’s International Business Unit, will share what they’ve learned leading transformation inside two global healthcare organizations—and the mindsets and decisions that keep teams focused on what matters most, even as everything around them changes. Moderated by Melissa Wilson of FOX 26 Houston, the panel will leave attendees with a fresh perspective on who they need to become to lead what’s coming.

Healthcare organizations are investing in AI to drive measurable value and better patient outcomes, yet many efforts fail to scale or show clear return. The interactive session brings cross sector leaders together to explore how strategy, executive, and everyday decisions turn ideas into lasting impact.