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2026 HBA Annual Conference Keynotes

Monday, 16 November

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Houston

Welcome & Keynote

Quita Highsmith, MBA headshot
VP, Population Health Center of Excellence
Genentech
Giles Platford headshot
President, International
Takeda

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. Attendees will leave with fresh perspective on who they need to become to lead what's coming

Tuesday, 17 November

12:15 PM - 1:45 PM Houston

Mid Conference Keynote

Rick Winningham headshot
CEO
Theravance
Dr. Aradhana Sarin headshot
CFO & Executive Director
AstraZeneca
Freda Lewis-Hall, MD, DFAPA, MFPM headshot
Life Sciences Leader, Former Chief Patient Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Former HBA WOTY

Tuesday, 17 November

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Houston

Keynote: Innovation Only Lasts When It Delivers

Shweta Maniar - headshot
Global Director, Healthcare & Life Sciences
Google Cloud
Tom Koulopoulos headshot
Chairman
Delphi Group

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.

Wednesday, 18 November

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM Houston

Closing Keynote

Michael C. Bush headshot
CEO
Great Place To Work