STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

Sophie is a passionate advocate for democratizing science, empowering decision-makers, and advancing knowledge transfer. With over 27 years of distinguished experience spanning academia, private enterprise, education and government agencies, her work has had a meaningful impact both nationally and internationally.

Sophie holds a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Lille II in France and a Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. Her academic research career focused on critical drinking water projects for the European Union and prominent institutions such as Lille II and the University of Toronto. Her scientific expertise later extended into environmental consultancy, where she collaborated with GAP Environmental Services in Ontario on projects designed to improve public well-being.

Driven by her commitment to bridging science and practice, Sophie became a Knowledge Translation Scientist with the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH) in Vancouver, Canada. In this role, she authored influential scientific reports, guidance documents, and evidence-based recommendations to support public health professionals and policymakers. She also pioneered a national Journal Club for Environmental Health professionals, equipping them with the tools to critically evaluate scientific literature and apply findings to real-world challenges.

As a BC-certified teacher, Sophie also shared her passion for science by teaching science and French across all age groups. Upon returning to France, Sophie continued to teach at the University of Littoral (Hauts-de-France). Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to co-found the Society for Intelligence Management (SIM), a nonprofit organization devoted to fostering knowledge transfer, cultivating critical thinking, and championing evidence-based decision-making.
Sophie's career exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and a steadfast commitment to leveraging science for societal benefit. Her work continues to drive innovation, empower professionals, and create meaningful change at the intersection of science, education, and public service.

Craig Thompson is an international public-health executive, strategist, innovator, and entrepreneur with significant leadership experience spanning government, public health, academia, military service, and the not-for-profit sector. He is Founder and Chair of the Society for Intelligence Management, a founding partner of Bucci-Hepworth Health Services, and a Lecturer at the Université du Littoral Côte d’Opale, where he teaches leadership, critical thinking, communications, and innovation.

Craig previously served as a Public Health Director specializing in communicable diseases at the British Columbia Ministry of Health, with executive responsibility across immunization, tuberculosis, blood-borne pathogens, and sexual health. He led major provincial portfolios, advanced legislative and policy change, developed emergency-preparedness frameworks, and helped launch or expand twelve immunization programs.

Craig led the creation of ImmunizeBC—the first branded provincial immunization program in Canada—and developed Canada’s first provincial immunization clinic locator. He also helped create and advance I Boost Immunity and Kids Boost Immunity, pioneering new approaches to digital education, vaccine confidence, and knowledge translation.
He was instrumental in expanding the scope of practice of pharmacists, midwives, licensed practical nurses, and naturopathic physicians, transforming vaccine delivery and significantly expanding access to immunization services across British Columbia.

Craig has also led training, professional-development, and exchange initiatives for Indigenous community nurses, strengthening nursing practice, professional capacity, and community-based public-health services. His broader leadership has included serving as Chair of the Pan-Canadian Immunization Policy and Health Promotion Committee and as an Executive Member of the World Health Organization’s Vaccine Safety Net. He also chaired the BC Immunization Committee and BC Promotions Committee and served as a member of the Canadian Immunization Committee.

Ms. Bucci is a vibrant public health consultant and health policy expert with two decades of impactful experience. She is the co-founder of Bucci-Hepworth Health Services Inc., a Canadian-based consultancy with an international presence, and the visionary Society for Intelligence Management (SIM). Renowned for her innovative approach, Ms. Bucci has played a pivotal role in shaping public health initiatives across Canada and beyond.

Ms. Bucci has excelled as a research associate at the Centre de recherche en droit public at l’Université de Montréal and the Centre for Genomics and Policy at McGill University and Genome Québec’s Innovation Centre. From 2010 to 2022, she served as Senior Manager of Immunize Canada, where she championed vaccination awareness and advocacy, and as a liaison member to the Canadian Nurses Coalition on Immunization (CNCI).

Her expertise has been sought by leading organizations, including the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Advisory Committee and the WHO’s Vaccine Safety Network (VSN) Advisory Committee, where she chaired the Research Working Group. From 2019 to 2024, she represented the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) on the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), contributing to critical policy advancements.

Currently, Ms. Bucci serves as a board member of HPV Global Action, co-chair of the Working Group to Increase Vaccination Rates in Adults with Respiratory Issues, and a member of the World Meningitis Day Planning Committee. She also lends her expertise as a consultant to the HELPinKIDS&ADULTS team at the University of Toronto, driving forward initiatives to improve public health outcomes.

With a career defined by strategic leadership, innovative thinking, and a deep commitment to public health, Ms. Bucci continues to influence global health policies and inspire meaningful change in communities worldwide.

Dr. Irina Costea is a medical doctor with a passion for integrative, regenerative, and anti-aging medicine. Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, she co-owns a private medical practice focused on personalized, preventive care. With over three decades of experience across Canada, Europe, and South Africa, her background blends clinical medicine, public health, and academic research. She has advised global health institutions, held faculty positions, and published widely in peer-reviewed journals. Fluent in English, French, and German, Dr. Costea is committed to innovative, evidence-based approaches that empower patients to thrive at every stage of life.

Francesco Gesualdo is a pediatrician and researcher at the University of Pisa, within the Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery. His work combines clinical pediatrics with public health, with a particular focus on vaccine communication, the study of health misinformation, and the analysis of behaviours relevant to infectious disease prevention.

He is involved in multidisciplinary projects aimed at improving public health strategies, especially by understanding how vaccines and preventive measures are discussed and perceived, including through social media analysis. His research also explores how data on behaviours can support explanatory and predictive models for disease prevention.

Alongside his research activity, he practices as a general pediatrician, providing care to children and families. This clinical work offers valuable insight into the concerns and questions that often arise around vaccines and preventive health, strengthening the connection between research and everyday healthcare needs.

Charlotte has spent much of her time working at the intersection of science and society. As a bench scientist studying rotavirus immunology, she began her professional career learning the practice of science—designing experiments, analyzing results, and learning from colleagues as the studies were dissected and the conclusions evaluated. These efforts sought to further the collective goals of better understanding this universal disease of infants and contributing knowledge to progress toward its prevention.

Equally important to contributing scientific knowledge is communicating it, and much of Charlotte’s career has been devoted to just that. In 2000, she helped create the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to address common vaccine safety concerns by communicating the science of vaccines, immunology, and infectious diseases in compelling and approachable ways. For more than two decades, the Vaccine Education Center has served as a national and international resource for those seeking answers about vaccines. Charlotte has been directly involved in the creation and integration of programs for the public, healthcare providers, and classrooms; developing partnerships; and designing novel communication strategies to ensure that accurate vaccine-related information is available to families wherever they are seeking it.

Charlotte has a master’s degree in communication and is the co-author of a 2nd edition book about vaccines titled, Vaccines and Your Family: Separating Fact from Fiction (2024 Columbia University Press). Charlotte was the consumer representative on the U.S. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) until the entire committee was dismissed on June 9, 2025. Through her experience, Charlotte has spent considerable time thinking about science and communication, particularly communicating science that affects the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

Pauline W. Hoffmann, Ph.D., is a scholar practitioner. Pauline is an associate professor in the Jandoli School of Communication and is a New York State senior public health fellow with the Cattaraugus County Health Department. She has a LinkedIn newsletter titled WTF? (What the Facts?) which delves into all things infodemic. She recently published her first book - Fake News, Witch Hunts & Conspiracy Theories: An Infodemiologist’s Guide to the Truth. And she is opening a bookstore – The Beekeeper’s Bookshop - in February 2026.

She received her doctorate and master’s degrees in communication from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from St. Bonaventure University. Her research and teaching focus on infodemics, conflict management, conflict resolution, and corporate and health communication and strategy. Prior to going into academia, Pauline worked in creative services for Catholic Health, the second largest health system in Western New York. She also served as the deans of the Jandoli School of Communication and graduate studies at St. Bonaventure University.

Additionally, she completed the World Health Organization Infodemic Manager Training Program. She was a Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellow having written a policy blog on disinformation related to lead poisoning as it impacts public health. Personally, Dr. Hoffmann lives on a farm in the Southern Tier of New York with two dogs, five chickens, a duck and one hive of bees. She is a master scuba diver and regularly dives with sharks.

Dr Smaragda Lamprianou is the Senior Manager for Working Groups at the ICH Secretariat in Geneva. With over 15 years of experience in project management, she enhances the effectiveness of support to Working Groups and leads the development of a strategic plan for Working Group monitoring operations. Smaragda is committed to supporting global access to safe and effective health products. Over the past 10 years, she has worked in the Pharmacovigilance Team at the World Health Organization, in Geneva, focusing on vaccine safety communication and the safety surveillance of health products during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Prior to this, Smaragda worked in biomedical research on neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. She holds a PhD in Neuronal Physiology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Policy.