Ara Babloyan

Ara Babloyan, an eminent figure in the medical community, is not only recognized for his exceptional expertise in Pediatric Surgery and Public Health but also for his selfless dedication to improving healthcare systems and promoting the well-being of others. Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Babloyan has tirelessly served in significant leadership roles, including Minister of Health of Armenia and President of the National Assembly, where he spearheaded crucial reforms and initiatives to enhance healthcare accessibility and quality. As the Scientific Director and Chairman of the Hospital Board of ARABKIR Medical Center – Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, he continues to champion the rights of children and adolescents, ensuring their specialized care and well-rounded development. Dr. Babloyan’s contributions extend beyond Armenia, as he actively participates in international organizations, collaborating with esteemed institutions to advance medical research and healthcare policies globally. His remarkable achievements have earned him numerous accolades and awards, reflecting his unwavering commitment to serving humanity. With an unwavering passion and a compassionate spirit, Dr. Ara Babloyan stands as a beacon of inspiration, positively impacting the lives of countless individuals and leaving an indelible mark on the field of medicine.

Kristian Schneider

Kristian Schneider, a dedicated healthcare professional, has made significant contributions to the Swiss healthcare sector throughout his remarkable career. Starting as a registered male nurse, he garnered two decades of invaluable experience in nursing before pursuing further training and obtaining a postgraduate degree in health management. With his wealth of knowledge, Schneider transitioned to leadership positions in public hospitals, where he has excelled for over 10 years at the C-level. From 2013 to 2017, he served as the general manager of the prestigious Hôpital du Jura, showcasing his exceptional leadership skills. In 2018, Schneider assumed the esteemed role of CEO at the regional public hospital of Biel in the Canton of Berne. Beyond his professional roles, he actively contributes to the advancement of the national healthcare system as the vice-president of the Swiss Hospital Association H+. Recognizing the importance of holistic healthcare, Schneider also serves on various boards of directors, including Clinique le Noirmont, Ambulance Region Bienne AG, and the Swiss Medical Weekly Supporting Association. Through his unwavering dedication and commitment, Kristian Schneider continues to make a lasting impact on the healthcare sector, leaving no stone unturned in his mission to improve the well-being of children and communities.

Dr. Benoît Bédat

Dr. Benoît Bédat is a thoracic surgeon at the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) in Switzerland. He has been actively involved with the SEMRAplus Foundation since 2006, initially joining the Board of Directors alongside Dr. Jean-Pierre Bernhardt. Among his contributions, he notably collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO) on a hand hygiene program at Arabkir Hospital in Armenia.


In 2024, Dr. Bédat was appointed President of the SEMRAplus Foundation. His commitment to the NTEC Foundation strengthens the partnership between SEMRAplus — a co-founder of NTEC — and NTEC itself. Through this collaboration, he ensures the continuation of ongoing medical education initiatives and supports the development of future national healthcare needs in Armenia.

Pierrette Chenevard

Pierrette Chenevard has been working in the fields of healthcare, humanitarian aid and training for over 30 years. Her varied career lies at the crossroads between the field, transmission and transformation. From hospital institutions to the field for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), via the management of training centers in Switzerland, she has always placed people, ethics and meaning at the heart of her commitment.

What drives her: designing high-impact training programs, supporting professionals in their development, and building bridges between academic knowledge, real-life situations and sector-specific issues.

Today, as a consultant and expert in educational engineering, she works in complex, multi-disciplinary environments, helping institutions to design tailor-made, innovative and sustainable educational solutions. Her approach combines strategy, educational expertise, intercultural agility and human leadership.

Her involvement with NTEC is part of a desire to make an active contribution to enhancing the skills of healthcare professionals in Armenia, and to setting up high-quality, accessible training that is in line with the realities on the ground. She is both an educational engineering consultant and a member of the management committee.

Her academic background reflects the versatility of her profile:

  • Training as an interview practitioner, pedagogical profile and mental management – Geneva (2020)
  • Master of Science & Bachelor in Economic and Social Sciences – University of Geneva (1996)
  • Diploma in Nursing – NZ (1987) & Diploma in Nursing – CH (1985)

She has also taken part in several specialist seminars as a speaker, organizer and facilitator, and has completed a solid program of further training in coaching, negotiation, project management and educational engineering. These skills enhance her ability to work in multicultural contexts with high operational demands.

Hambardzum Simonyan

Dr. Hambardzum Simonyan is the deputy country director of development and healthcare programs for the Fund for Armenian Relief of America (FAR) (since 2005). In addition to his work in FAR, Dr. Simonyan is the Artsakh-Armenia Fund (AAF) monitoring officer in Armenia (since 2009). Dr. Simonyan earned his Medical Doctor (MD) degree from the Yerevan State Medical University Pediatrics faculty (1991-1998). In 2022-2024, Dr. Simonyan completed a two-year full course on an executive Master of Business Administration focusing on healthcare management (health policy, systems, economics) at the City College Europe Campus of the University of York (UK). The geography of Dr. Simonyan’s training includes Austria, the USA, the UK, France, Greece, Armenia, and Russia; the topics are even more diverse—from clinical (pediatric cardiology, intensive therapy, etc.) to more broad and public health-related (medical education and leadership, good clinical practice, biosafety, monitoring and evaluation) and business administration. Dr. Simonyan authored articles that were published in both local and international journals. Along with all the administrative work, Dr. Simonyan has never given up practicing pediatrics. Treating children has always been one of Dr. Simonyan’s most essential and favorite activities. Dr. Simonyan is a member of the FAR Fellowship Alumni Association Board, an international medical advisory council member of the Direct Relief organization, a scientific board member of the National Medical Library, and a Medical Congress Foundation board member.