Holger Schünemann is professor in the Departments of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact and of Medicine at McMaster University, widely considered the birthplace of evidence-based health care, where he was department chair from 2009 to 2019. He graduated from the Medical School of Hannover (1993 & Dr. med. in 1994) and trained in lung biology, epidemiology, internal medicine and preventive medicine/public health at the University at Buffalo, State of New York (M.Sc. Epidemiology in 1997; Ph.D. Epidemiology & Community Medicine in 2000). Since 2000, he co-led the reshaping of methodology for guideline development spanning clinical medicine to public health. He was a key contributor to the revised methods for WHO guideline development and the Institute of Medicine statement on trustworthy guidelines. He has been advisor and chair of many guideline expert groups for WHO, the European Commission, ministries of health, other governmental organizations and professional societies. He is co-chair of the GRADE working group (www.gradeworkinggroup.org) and director of Cochrane Canada and the McMaster GRADE center. Maintaining an active internal medicine practice fulfils his passion for patient care and ensures his research is people-oriented. He is an author of over 700 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 160/101 google scholar/web of science) and among the 1500 most cited scientists of all times (www.webometrics.info).

Robby Nieuwlaat is Associate Professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University. He obtained MSc in health sciences (2001) and PhD in cardiovascular clinical epidemiology (2007) from Maastricht University in The Netherlands. He worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton from 2008 until becoming a faculty member at McMaster University in 2011. He is a researcher in the MacGRADE Centre of McMaster University, GRADE working group member, and has experience with developing practice guidelines as a methodology panel member and systematic review lead. He is also a researcher at the Michael G. DeGroote Cochrane Canada Centre at McMaster University, Cochrane Heart editorial board member, and has led several highly cited reviews. His research interests include advancing evidence synthesis methods for clinical decision-making, as well as optimizing implementation of recommended best practice. He is an author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications (h-index 41 in Google scholar).

Elaine Harrow, the CEO of the Guidelines International Network has been at the helm of the organisation since 2012, during which time she has overseen the strategic development and professionalisation of the business management, as well as the growth of the role of the secretariat, in supporting the Board.

An experienced manager and qualified project manager, Elaine previously ran her own consultancy and interim management business for ten years, during which time she worked extensively with the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland in senior roles. Prior to setting up her own business, Elaine was a member of the management team for an American hi-tech multinational, where she was head of HR.

Gillian Leng, CBE, MBChB, MD, is a professor of public health with a wealth of experience in healthcare and the life sciences sector. She was on the Board of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for over 20 years (2001-2021) most recently as its Chief Executive. As NICE’s Chief Executive, Gillian was responsible for delivering a new 5 year strategy to put NICE at the forefront of global evaluation of new technologies. This was underpinned by a vision for creating dynamic living guidelines for frontline healthcare staff. Prior to this, Gillian was instrumental in establishing the original clinical guideline programme at NICE, followed by setting up an implementation work programme to ensure the recommendations changed practice. She also developed many of NICE’s new initiatives including indicators for the Quality and Outcomes Framework and for the online portal NICE Evidence. With a passion for using evidence to improve healthcare, Gillian is a trustee of the Guidelines International Network and a member of the Global Evidence Commission. She is a visiting professor at King’s College London, an affiliate professor at the University of Singapore and a healthcare adviser. Gillian read medicine at the University of Leeds, and is a fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians in London and Edinburgh. She was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Leeds in 2022, and a CBE in 2012 for services to healthcare.