Who we are
Meet the Focal Point and the Facilitators of the Health Network!
Selena Lopreno, Focal Point
Selena Lopreno joined the Health Network team in July 2023 as focal point for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. She has a background in political science and a Master of Science in global health, focused on environmental health.
Previously, Selena worked for the State Secretariat of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on global health in multilateral bodies. Among other roles, she represented Switzerland at the World Health Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the UN General Assembly. Before this, she conducted research on healthy urban planning in France and worked in health promotion at the local level in Belgium.
Previously, Selena worked for the State Secretariat of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on global health in multilateral bodies. Among other roles, she represented Switzerland at the World Health Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and the UN General Assembly. Before this, she conducted research on healthy urban planning in France and worked in health promotion at the local level in Belgium.
Gemma Masciadri, Academic Trainee
Gemma has been working as an academic trainee for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation’s Health and Food Section since May 2026. She supports the Health Network, in particular its platform and webinars.
Passionate about international cooperation and global health, her background in Sustainability and Circular Innovation, combined with several years of experience working in hospitals as a nurse assistant and trainee, enables her to approach complex health challenges with both a practical and systemic perspective. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to engage with issues related to sustainability, equity and access to healthcare through a people-centred and impact-oriented approach.
Alongside her studies, Gemma completed an exchange semester at the University of Geneva, where she attended courses related to sustainable societies and global challenges. She also followed several health-related courses at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, including a course analysing inequalities and inequities in global health. These experiences strengthened her interest in the intersection of health, sustainability and international development cooperation.
Passionate about international cooperation and global health, her background in Sustainability and Circular Innovation, combined with several years of experience working in hospitals as a nurse assistant and trainee, enables her to approach complex health challenges with both a practical and systemic perspective. Her interdisciplinary background allows her to engage with issues related to sustainability, equity and access to healthcare through a people-centred and impact-oriented approach.
Alongside her studies, Gemma completed an exchange semester at the University of Geneva, where she attended courses related to sustainable societies and global challenges. She also followed several health-related courses at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, including a course analysing inequalities and inequities in global health. These experiences strengthened her interest in the intersection of health, sustainability and international development cooperation.
David Streiff, Network Facilitator
As an Evaluation and Learning Adviser at Helvetas, David supports Helvetas colleagues at the head office and in the field in setting up Monitoring and Evaluation systems and advocates for a results-based management approach within the projects he supports.
David holds a master’s degree in Geography from the University of Bern, and previously worked with People In Need (PIN) in the Philippines, with Welthungerhilfe (WHH) in Germany and South Sudan, and since 2022, with Helvetas. David is experienced in conducting rapid needs assessments (market, WASH, and food), establishing global and regional results frameworks, standardising organisational indicators, outcome harvesting, setting up digital monitoring systems, as well as supporting projects during the planning phase with establishing theories of change, results chains, and translating these into logframes and M&E plans.
David holds a master’s degree in Geography from the University of Bern, and previously worked with People In Need (PIN) in the Philippines, with Welthungerhilfe (WHH) in Germany and South Sudan, and since 2022, with Helvetas. David is experienced in conducting rapid needs assessments (market, WASH, and food), establishing global and regional results frameworks, standardising organisational indicators, outcome harvesting, setting up digital monitoring systems, as well as supporting projects during the planning phase with establishing theories of change, results chains, and translating these into logframes and M&E plans.
Contact the team
SDC Health
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Eichenweg 5
Switzerland - 3003 Berne
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Eichenweg 5
Switzerland - 3003 Berne