What is the CoMO conference?
The conference alternates each year between in-person and online, with our in-person conferences rotating between our four regions. 2025 took us to Africa for the first time: we met in the iconic coastal city of Cape Town, South Africa.
Why attend the CoMO conference?
- Network – connect face-to-face with members from around the world.
- Expert speakers – discover the latest meningitis research and health updates.
- Skills – develop your skills and share best practice through training for advocates.
- Plan – look ahead to future meningitis advocacy campaigns.
- Connect – hear personal stories from other advocates, survivors and families affected.
Who will you meet?
Members affected by meningitis, including survivors and those who have lost loved ones
Diverse representatives of member organisations, including CEOs and founders, social media managers and programme directors
The CoMO Advisory Council and Regional Coordinators
Members from all four regions and over twenty countries.
Conference agenda
Friday 20th June 2025
5:00pm – 8:00pm
Join us for a warm welcome to the CoMO Conference 2025. Dinner and drinks will be provided for all attendees. This is a great opportunity to network with other members.
Saturday 21st June 2025
9:00am – 9:15am
Welcome to Africa and the CoMO members’ conference.
An opportunity for members to meet everyone in the room through a facilitated networking session.
10:15am – 11:15am
A conversation with Vinny Smith, CEO of CoMO and Meningitis Research Foundation, covering the CoMO strategy for 2025-2030, followed by a Q&A session.
11:15am – 11:30am
Take part in social media Q&A videos and take part in a demo of the Meningitis Progress Tracker.
11:30am – 12:15pm
An opportunity to share members’ meningitis advocacy and lived experiences.
12:15pm – 1:00pm
Eat at the hotel restaurant and connect with other CoMO members.
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Chair and panel speakers to be announced. Hear from scientific experts and members around the globe on the latest scientific updates on the after-effects of living with meningitis.
2:30pm – 3:15pm
A breakout session focusing on how members support people affected by meningitis.
3:15pm – 3:30pm
Take part in social media Q&A videos.
3:30pm – 5:00pm
Workshop on developing a national plan on meningitis. We will draft messages for national and regional decision makers, explore effective ways to engage with governments and learn from the expertise of global members.
5:00pm – 5:15pm
A quick summary of the day.
6:30pm – 9:30pm
Dinner at a local Cape Town harbourside restaurant, Sevruga.
Sunday 22nd June 2025
9:00am – 9:05am
Plans for the day.
9:05am – 9:45am
An opportunity to share members’ advocacy and lived experiences.
9:45am – 10:30am
Successes from 2024, hear from our World Meningitis Advocacy Fund recipients and make plans for 2025.
10:30am – 10:45am
Take part in social media Q&A videos and a demo of the updated and improved Meningitis Progress Tracker.
10:45am – 12:45pm
Social media training to help build your campaigning capacity.
12:45pm – 1:30pm
Eat at the hotel restaurant and connect with other CoMO members.
1:30pm – 2:15pm
Vinny Smith shares Meningitis Research Foundation’s experience with fundraising in a high income setting, outlines the CoMO funding policy and what CoMO can and can’t do to support member funding challenges.
2:15pm – 3:00pm
A celebration of new and long-standing members.
I am excited to welcome our members to our 2025 conference, the first taking place on the African continent. The CoMO members' conference brings together global meningitis advocates to network and connect, hear latest scientific updates, take part in training, work together on future meningitis advocacy projects and join in lively debate. It is a timely and crucial opportunity to accelerate progress at the mid-point of the World Health Organization's Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030.Laura Ross, Head of CoMO
Find out more about membership
If you're not a member yet and want to attend a future conference, click the link below to learn more.