Matthew Harpur

Matt is Deputy Director for Multilateral engagement and G7/G20 in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) with responsibility for issues related to the World Health Organization (WHO). Matt was co-chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement from 2025-2026 and was previously UK lead negotiator throughout the INB. Matt has also led for the UK in the health tracks of both the G7 and G20 and the G20 health and finance taskforce and leading for the UK in agreeing different declarations. Matt also oversaw the team leading on the International Health Regulations negotiations. Matt has been a civil servant since 2003 having studied at Warwick University and the London School of Economics. Matt has worked in different roles in Private Office, on pharmaceutical policy including negotiations on pharmaceutical pricing, and on EU and WHO policy in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) including at the time of the WHO Special Session on Ebola. Matt was First Secretary for Health and Pharmaceuticals at UKREP in Brussels from 2015-2019, representing the UK in the Public Health and Pharmaceutical Working Groups and giving Matt a strong understanding of the European Union and legislative negotiations. Matt also engaged with the Conference of the Parties on Tobacco control leading a relevant drafting group on novel products. More recently Matt has been Deputy Director for Pricing and Supply of medicines, and Deputy Director for Goods in DHSC with a particular focus on life sciences and health security issues, leading for DHSC in relevant negotiations.