Ishtar Espejo is Director of the Aladina Foundation, a leading Spanish nonprofit supporting children and adolescents with cancer and their families. She oversees operations in more than 22 public hospitals across Spain, providing emotional, psychological, and material support to over 1,500 young patients annually. Under her leadership, Aladina has funded pediatric day hospitals, humanized oncology wards, and introduced virtual reality experiences to reduce sedation in imaging procedures.
Espejo has expanded Aladina’s international programs in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, giving children with cancer across the globe a chance to receive quality cancer care. She was the first Spaniard selected for the UICC Young Leaders in Cancer Control program. She has led humanitarian initiatives, including supporting Ukrainian children with cancer, and advanced pediatric cancer care through palliative training programs and Spain’s first pediatric oncology gymnasium, improving patient quality of life during treatment.
The 100 CEOs featured here reflect the diversity and complexity of modern oncology leadership. In 2025, some lead the world’s largest cancer institutions; others guide specialized societies or emerging innovators. What unites them is responsibility: for millions of patients, for the integrity of science, and for the future direction of cancer care globally.
This list is not a celebration of power, but a recognition of stewardship, accountability, and impact – and of the leaders whose choices continue to shape the fight against cancer. For the many deserving individuals not mentioned in this list, we will continue to acknowledge, honor and elevate your voices in our daily publications from across the world.
See the full list of The 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology in 2025, and stay tuned for other special category nominations.
