A man who you may not have come across, but whose invention you definitely will have, Marc Koska is the inventor of the non-reusable K1 auto-disable syringe. An innovator, a philanthropist and a pioneer, Marc Koska has revolutionised medical reuse on a global scale, and now he works as a keynote speaker inspiring others with his story, and determined to educate on the issue that motivated him. Responsible for inventing one of the most widely used pieces of medical equipment to date, Marc Koska designed and created the non-reusable K1 auto-disable syringe in 1985.
After hearing of the dangers of reusing needles, and the unequivocal rise this caused in blood-borne diseases, Koska embarked on a journey to creating a solution. Resilience and perseverance led to him designing a syringe that automatically locked once used and therefore, made it impossible to use again. A truly ingenious inventor, Koska was motivated by the need to improve quality of life for those suffering.
Prior to creating his groundbreaking apparatus, Koska had no medical background. After leaving school with his A levels, he traveled the world, and spent time in deprived areas throughout his trips. Evident was the lack of resources and lack of knowledge in some of the countries, and this insight underpinned much of Koska’s later work and ambitions. Unsatisfied with simply inventing the syringe, Marc Koska has devoted his career to combating the lack of knowledge in underdeveloped countries surrounding reuse of medical material.
In 2005, Koska founded The SafePoint Trust, a non-profit that tackles this issue by travelling to countries with the highest risk and providing education to the people. Additionally, he continues to tackle other issues associated such as packaging and transportation of drugs, and fight for legislation to improve accessibility. Driven to continually educate, Marc has become a revered speaker around the world. In 2009 he shared a TEDOxford talk ‘1.3 Millions Reasons to Reinvent the Syringe’ where he discussed his motivations, challenges and how he persevered despite them. He has since given numerous industry leading talks, to unanimous praise from corporate clients and private events. Be inspired, be educated and be motivated to action your ambitions with a keynote speech from Marc Koska.
How to hire Marc Koska
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Marc Koska for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
When booked for corporate events, Marc is known to discuss the following topics:
Global Medical Practices – Having witnessed first-hand the various standards of medical practices across the globe, Marc’s unique insight is incredibly valuable. Audiences will learn about not just the position of privilege they may have with their own country’s healthcare, but the dizzying standards being set elsewhere in the world. Marc’s personal journey through the globe’s healthcare services is all-encompassing, and enlightening.
The K1 Syringe – Who better to discuss the K1 syringe, than its inventor? This syringe has revolutionised modern medical practices, and saved billions of lives in the process. Learn all about Marc’s guide to inventing this miracle medical device, and the staggering impact it has had on the welfare of underprivileged areas.
Innovation – As an inventor, Marc embodies innovation. His mindset is geared towards creating, while his heart is constantly on the lookout for more lives to improve. A speaker like Marc will inspire an innovative mindset in his audience, and a keen drive for new, unique ideas. Essential for corporate success, Marc teaches audiences how to open their eyes to the bigger picture.
Transmitted Diseases – From a novice, to an expert, Marc has dedicated his life to understanding the complex nature of transmitted diseases – in particular, those spread through the blood. Including HIV and AIDS, his ongoing work continues to uncover the secrets of these diseases, and the ways that humankind can decrease its infection rate.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
"What a rockstar! Marc opened the day and was amazing. We will work with him in the future." - Patsnap
"A brief note to say thank you for your speech at our conference. We have had great feedback on how engaging and fascinating it was. Hope all goes well with your new venture – The world needs people like you and it was great to meet you." - BSI Group
- Created the K1 in the early 2000s, a single-use syringe that disables itself following a single use. The life-saving product has been bought over 2.5 billion times since 2001.
- Led the One Injection, One Syringe campaign in India, in 2008. The campaign raised awareness for the dangers of diseases transmitted through blood.
- Founded The SafePoint Trust in 2009.
- Conducted his TEDOxford talk titled 1.3 Million Reasons to Reinvent the Syringe, in 2009.
- Marc’s K1 syringe was endorsed by the World Health Organisation in 2015.
- Awarded an OBE in 2006, for his contribution to global healthcare.
