Prof. Dr. Magda Robalo

Dr Magda Robalo is a distinguished global health leader, medical doctor, and seasoned diplomat with more than three decades of experience shaping health policy and practice at national, regional, and global levels. Her career spans ministerial leadership, global health governance, and senior executive roles within the World Health Organization, with a strong focus on equity, ethics, and health system strengthening. She is President and Co-founder of the Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD) and currently serves as Co-chair of the UHC2030 Steering Committee. She is also a Global Ambassador for the G20 and G7 Health and Development Partnership and a member of the Accra Reset High Level Panel, where she advocates for universal health coverage, inclusive governance, health sovereignty and health security. Previously, Dr Robalo served as Minister of Public Health and High Commissioner for COVID-19 in Guinea-Bissau, leading major reforms and the national pandemic response. Internationally, she spent over twenty years with WHO in senior leadership roles across Africa, directing large programmes, managing significant portfolios, and advancing strategies on epidemic preparedness, infectious diseases, and maternal and child health. She is widely recognised for her ability to translate evidence into policy, build trusted partnerships, and deliver impact in complex settings.