Who we are
Our Experience
Our Founder and CEO
Dr. Mareike Ostertag is a scientist with a PhD in Molecular Immunology and a strong interest in geopolitics and policy. She believes in the power of multi-stakeholder collaboration to address complex health challenges globally and to build resilient, sustainable health systems.
As Founder and Managing Director of Cembramo Advisors GmbH, she advises pharmaceutical companies, other private sector organizations, industry associations, and governments on strategic health policy and stakeholder engagement. Her work focuses on helping leaders navigate an increasingly complex international environment by bringing together diverse perspectives from science, policy, business, and society.
Before founding Cembramo Advisors in 2023, Dr. Ostertag spent more than 20 years at Novartis, where she held leadership positions of increasing responsibility across Technical Marketing, Research & Development (R&D), Business Development & Licensing (BD&L), and Public Affairs. She most recently served as Global Head, Policy Strategy for the Novartis Group, leading strategic policy development and engagement on global health priorities.
Dr. Ostertag is passionate about advancing Women’s Health and fostering greater awareness, dialogue, and collaboration around the topic. She is also deeply committed to mentoring, intercultural collaboration, and leadership approaches that bring together diverse perspectives to drive practical and meaningful outcomes.
Recognized for her ability to lead in multicultural environments, she has successfully built and led international teams, alliances, and cross-industry working groups across the globe.
Having lived and worked in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East, Dr. Ostertag brings a distinctly global perspective to her advisory work.
Publications:
· Saunders (now Ostertag), M.;Taubert, A; Dafa’alla, T; Zahner, H: Effect of chemotherapeutic treatment on cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) gene transcription in response to specific antigens in Brugia malayi-infected Mastomys coucha. Parasitol. Res. (2008)103:1163-1176
· Co-author: An assessment of the hospital exemption landscape across European Member States: regulatory frameworks, use and impact; Published October 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.08.011
Our Name
Our name derives from the Swiss Stone Pine, Pinus Cembra. The stone pine stands out for its resilience in dynamic and sometimes challenging habitats at the timberline, interaction with its surroundings and its proven health benefits. Swiss stone pine wood in the bedroom saves 3500 heart beats a day, leaving people feeling more rested. Deeply rooted, the Swiss stone pine can reach great age and plays an important ecological and economic role as the main tree species of the stone pine-larch forest community. *
Our Philosophy
The Art of Science based Advice
Science.
Insights.
Networks.
