INTRODUCTION:
Migration and workforce mobility have long shaped global public health, bringing diversity and innovation. However, these trends often risk perpetuating inequities: high-income countries disproportionately benefit from skilled professionals, while low- and middle-income countries face workforce shortages. In our complex and fragmented world, equitable collaboration is essential to address shared health challenges and harness the full potential of a global workforce.

METHODS:
This session will explore strategies for fostering equitable partnerships across countries and turning “brain drain” into “brain gain.” We will consider how diaspora professionals and others committed to global public health, regardless of background, can contribute meaningfully. We will emphasise bilateral learning, recognising that high-income countries have much to learn from the expertise of professionals in low- and middle-income settings. Advances in digital technology enable remote engagement, knowledge exchange and collaboration, creating new opportunities for inclusive global health action. The session will be structured around guiding questions: What principles underpin equitable collaboration? What examples of successful reciprocal partnerships can inspire new models for global health workforce engagement? What practical steps can prevent collaborations from being extractive and instead foster mutual benefit? How can digital platforms democratise global health engagement? The session will involve professionals from low, middle, and high-income settings, including Faculty of Public Health Africa SIG members.

RESULTS:
Through interactive discussion and case examples, participants will identify practical approaches for building collaborations that strengthen health systems globally. Outputs will include a set of actionable recommendations for equitable engagement, highlighting models that prioritise mutual benefit, sustainability, and respect for local contexts, ensuring that knowledge flows in both directions.

CONCLUSIONS:
This session aims to foster inclusive partnerships that advance global solidarity and health equity. Participants will leave with concrete ideas for leveraging diversity, digital innovation and reciprocal learning to create collaborations that benefit all, rather than perpetuating existing imbalances.