Saima Wazed

Saima Wazed is the Regional Director for WHO's South-East Asia Region, spanning 2 billion people. Her priorities are mental health and well-being for all; investment in women, girls, adolescents, and vulnerable populations; access to technology and innovations; capacity, knowledge management, and innovations; and refining WHO leadership and performance. Prior to being elected as the Regional Director, Ms. Wazed served as advisor to the WHO Director-General on mental health and autism, and was a member of WHO’s Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health. She was Chief Advisor for the National Mental Health Strategic Plan for the Government of Bangladesh, Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Focal Person for disability for the Ministry of Disaster Management & Relief in Bangladesh. She was Commissioner of Chatham House’s Commission for Universal Health, Associate Fellow in the Global Health Programme at Chatham House, Thematic Ambassador for ‘Vulnerability’ of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and Chairperson of Shuchona Foundation in Bangladesh. Her career in public health began as a licensed School Psychologist under the Florida Department of Health in the USA. She has a M.Sc. degree in Clinical Psychology, and a Specialist degree in School Psychology.