Andrew Clarke is a Senior Health Advisor for the NGO Save the Children and is a paediatric nurse and public health specialist by background. He supports clinical and public health programs for children and families in countries including Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia and Malawi. He also oversees a research portfolio to trial new approaches to long term challenges in child health and is an Honorary Clinical Researcher at Lancaster University. Andrew has worked in the field of child rights, health equity and quality of care for over twenty-five years, including the development and integration into practice of early models using child rights-based Standards. He also undertakes advisory roles on child rights and health for organisations such as the Council of Europe and the World Health Organisation.  

Professor Imelda Coyne is a leading authority in children’s nursing and healthcare research, with a distinguished career dedicated to enhancing the lives of children, young people, and families. She is Professor in Children's Nursing and Director of the Trinity Research in Childhood Centre at Trinity College Dublin. A highly respected scholar, she is a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and a Fellow of the European Academy of Nursing Science. She also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health.

Professor Coyne has made significant contributions to child health, family-centred care, and shared decision-making in paediatric healthcare. A strong advocate for participatory research, she has been instrumental in ensuring that children’s voices are heard and valued in healthcare decision-making. Her research highlights the importance of involving children in their own care, shaping policy and practice in paediatric healthcare and nursing at both national and international levels.

She has led numerous high-impact research initiatives, including key consultations with children and young people that have influenced government policy in Ireland. In 2017, she led a consultation with young children (aged 3–5) to inform the Irish Government’s First 5 Early Years Strategy (First 5: A National Consultation with Young Children on A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and Their Families). In 2011, she led a nationwide consultation with children and young people, shaping the Government’s Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures policy framework (Life as a Child and Young Person in Ireland).

A prolific author, Professor Coyne has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to key texts in paediatric nursing. She is an active member of international research collaborations and advisory groups, working to improve child health services globally. A sought-after keynote speaker, she shares her expertise at conferences worldwide, inspiring professionals and policymakers alike.
Her dedication to advancing child health and wellbeing is evident in her roles as a mentor, educator, and researcher, where she continues to shape the next generation of nursing professionals and healthcare leaders.

Lucy Bray has worked within acute children’s nursing for over twenty five years, specialising in children’s procedures and surgery. She works as a Professor in Child Health Literacy in the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Medicine at Edge Hill University in the UK. 

Her research interests include the education, information needs and preparation of children, young people and their parents for surgery, procedures and interventions with a particular focus on how we can reduce the use of holding and restraint within paediatric practice. She leads the international ISupport collaboration who have developed rights-based standards for children having tests, treatments, examinations and interventions. The majority of Lucy’s research is based on qualitative research approaches and uses innovative methods which aim to facilitate the involvement of children and young people. 

 Video: Listening to young peoples' voices about health care procedures.

Maria do Céu Machado is a MD, PhD, Paediatrician with a degree in Health Management, National Coordinator for Rare Diseases, and retired Full Professor of Pediatrics - Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon where she graduated, President of Astra-Zéneca Foundation and President of the Society of Medical Sciences (Portugal). 

She was President of the Disciplinary Board of  the College of Medicine (2020-2023), Member of the National Council for Ethics and Life Sciences, President of INFARMED (2017-2019), High Commissioner for Health (2006-11), Clinical Director of Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte (2013-2014), Head of the Department of Pediatrics of Hospital Santa Maria (2011-2017) and Hospital Fernando Fonseca (1996-2006), President of the National Committee for Children and Adolescent Health. She has degrees in Neonatology and Health Management.

She received eight research grants, three awards (Prémio BIAL de Medicina Clínica in 2002 and in 2006, Prémio da Qualidade Maria Amélia de Mello in 2005), and has published nearly 200 articles and 13 books. 

Amalini Simon is a clinical psychologist, Doctor of Psychology specialising in multilingualism in children. She heads the Centre Babel (Paris, France), a leading centre for transcultural issues. She is the coordinator of a university diploma in Psychiatry and transcultural skills (University Paris 13), and is responsible of transcultural consultations.

Full Professor of Philosophy of law and biolaw at Lumsa University, Rome; Italy’s delegate to the Council of Europe Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO); member of the ethics committee in clinical practice at Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome and vicechair of the committee at Meyer’s Hopsital in Florence.

Child advisors from six European countries (Northern Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Spain, Bulgaria, Albania) taking part under the coordination of Child Rights Connect.