In 2016, representatives from the British Society for Haematology (BSH) and haematologists from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) met to decide the priorities of the Global Haematology Special Interest Group (SIG).
One priority was identifying BSH speakers to visit LMIC haematology meetings to establish links and collaborative projects.
We built on the success of the 2017 pilot project to establish the Plenary Speaker Project as a core activity of the SIG. In 2023, we rebranded the scheme as BSH Global Speakers to better communicate our vision for the project,
Applications are open for societies to request a BSH-sponsored Global Speaker.
The BSH Global Speakers scheme aims to form international partnerships with haematology societies in LMICs to share knowledge and expertise.
We have previously funded UK-based speakers selected by BSH to travel to face-to-face meetings, financially supporting economy return international flights, accommodation, visas and subsistence for speakers. We have also provided speakers for virtual meetings.
Several long-term collaborations have resulted from previous speakers’ visits. Society applicants are encouraged to use this initiative to collaborate on eg. co-authored evidence-based guidelines or research to improve evidence and treatment in your setting.
If your society is planning a conference or meeting from January 2026 onwards, we welcome applications for a speaker. Please apply using this form and return it to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed by a panel and applicants notified of the outcome by the end of August 2025. You should also use this address if you have any questions about the application process.
Deadline: Friday 6 June 2025.
Please note that applications received after this deadline will not be reviewed until January 2026.
The BSH Global Speakers task force is accepting applications for the BSH Global Speakers scheme. This scheme aims to form collaborative partnerships between the BSH and haematology societies in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), for sharing knowledge and expertise.
Speakers are invited to apply to represent the BSH at the following conference
Annual Meeting of the Egyptian Society of Hematology and Research (ESHR), Cairo. 29-30 October 2025 (TBC).
The organisers request a speaker with expertise in Challenges in the diagnosis and management of rare anaemias. The selected speaker will also be invited to visit university and hospital facilities to network with scientists and clinicians.
If you are interested to apply, please contact our Volunteer Support Officer, Asia Parvez.
Deadline: Friday 30 May 2025
Eligibility: you must be a BSH member to apply
About the programme
Making links, creating networks
The initial phases of this programme involved mapping out and making contacts with active haematology and transfusion societies in LMICs worldwide.
We searched for active haematology societies in LMICs in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
We contacted attendees from LMICs at the 2016 BSH international congress, and we asked respondents about active haematology societies in their region. We conducted internet searches and contacted haematologists and transfusion specialists in large teaching hospitals in LMICs.
We shortlisted LMIC haematology societies for our 2017 pilot scheme based on pre-defined criteria. We invited the Ghanaian Society of Haematology (GHASH) and the Haematology and Oncology Society of Africa (HOSA) to take part.
Previous attendees:
2017: Dr Hume Ahmad - Accra, Ghana - Challenging diagnostic cases in anaemia.
2017: Dr Maadh Aldouri - Nairobi, Kenya - Treating lymphoma in low resource settings.
2018: Dr Noemi Roy - Cairo, Egypt - Dyserythropoesis and the use of NGS in rare anaemias.
2019: Dr Anita Hill - Colombo, Sri Lanka - Update in PNH.
2019: Dr Ben Kennedy - Bangkok, Thailand - Update in CLL.
2021: Dr Jecko Thachil - South Africa - Coagulopathy and COVID-19.
2021: Dr Nandini Sadasivam - Vietnam - Update in care for patients with thalassaemia.
2022: Dr Richard Dillon - Egypt - Molecularly guided interventions to prevent relapse in AML.
2022: Dr Keith Gomez - Ghana - Anticoagulation: challenging cases.
2023: Dr Bill Grey - Thailand - Targeting protein homeostasis to eradicate acute myeloid leukaemia stem cells and protect health issues.
2023: Miss Lucy Wheeler - Egypt - MRD in acute leukaemia: a 'different from normal' approach.
2024: Dr Jecko Thachil – Vietnam – Von Willebrand disease