Natalia Linou

Natalia Linou (Linos) is a social epidemiologist and Global Health Policy Lead at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She brings two decades of experience in global development and public health, translating research and evidence into policy and action to address the social, environmental and structural determinants of health and well-being. Her work spans health equity, HIV, climate change and planetary health, with a focus on tackling inequalities and systemic barriers that prevent people from living healthy and dignified lives. Natalia began her UN career in Beirut, Lebanon, and later served as an adviser and speechwriter to former UNDP Administrator Helen Clark. From 2019 to 2024, she was Executive Director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, where she also taught courses on health justice. While her current role is global in scope, she has significant experience working at the local level, having previously served as Science Advisor to the New York City Health Commissioner and as an elected member of the Brookline School Committee and Town Meeting. Natalia holds doctoral and master’s degrees in epidemiology and an undergraduate degree in anthropology, all from Harvard University.