Dr Despena Andrioti Bygvraa, PhD in Health Economics, Senior Researcher, CMSS, University of Southern Denmark.

She served for more than 15 years as head of departments with the Ministry of Health Hellas, as well as advisor to the leadership in health policy issues. During 2001-2005 she joined WHO/EURO as public health policy advisor. Despena has been a member of SHIPSAN and HEALTHY GATEWAYS EU Joint Actions since 2013 and an Expert of the EU Health Workforce Working Group. Her research interests include the impact of working environment on seafarers’ health and safety, with a focus on economic assessment of ill health.