BUILDING THRIVING, EQUITABLE REGIONAL HEALTH ECONOMIES in PRACTICE | July 22nd, 2026

This one-hour international learning webinar is delivered in partnership between the WHO European Regions for Health Network (RHN) and the South West Wales (SWW) Regional Health Economy (RHE) group, bringing speakers across regions to share case studies and transferable learning relevant to regional health and wellbeing economies. AGENDA 1. Opening and setting the scene (10min): WHO and Wales 2. Case studies (30min) Case study 1 South West Wales - Ardiana Gjini, Executive Director of Public Health, Hywel Dda University Health Board Case study 2 Utrecht – Nina Conkova, Senior Policy Researcher, Province of Utrecht Case study 3 Norway – Dina von Heimburg, Head of NTNU WellFare, Nordic Research Centre for Wellbeing and Social Sustainability 3. General discussion and Q&A (15 min) Kira Fortune, Senior Advisor, WHO 4. Closing remarks and next steps (5 min) Kira Fortune, Senior Advisor, WHO & Mariana Dyakova, Technical Director, WHOCC on Investment for Health and Well-being, PHW THE ORGANIZERS +The WHO Regions for Health Network (RHN) brings together subnational authorities across the WHO European Region to strengthen health, equity and wellbeing through collaboration, capacity building and shared learning. The WHO Healthy Cities Network supports cities in placing health high on political and social agendas, promoting equity, sustainability and intersectoral action. The South-West Wales Regional Joint Committee (RJC) brings together Swansea Bay University Health Board and Hywel Dda University Health Board to plan and deliver services collaboratively across the region. The RJC provides a shared governance framework to support integrated service planning, improved population health outcomes and more sustainable health and care systems. The Regional Health Economy (RHE) Subgroup, reporting to the RJC, is leading the development of a long-term strategic approach to building a thriving and equitable regional health economy. This includes a focus on prevention, reducing inequalities, and strengthening collaboration across health, local government, academia and wider partners, including through engagement with international networks such as the RHN. The WHO Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being at Public Health Wales is working closely with the WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development in Venice, Italy to support implementation of the WHO Europe/ Wales Special Initiative on Health and the Well-being Economy, delivering to the Memorandum of Understanding between WHO Europe and the Welsh Government (2026/2027 renewal).