Dinesh Arora is a passionate health expert with over 20 years of experience leading transformational public sector projects in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
With a medical background and specialization in public health and economics, he has dedicated his career to researching, implementing, and advocating for evidence- based strategies to address pressing public health challenges.
Dr Martha Phiri is an economist and development practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in development planning and financing. She is currently working as Director, Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development at the African Development Bank.
She is also acting as Director for Gender, Women and Civil Society Department.
The MFAT division that Deb leads covers New Zealand’s engagement with, and funding to, multilateral development organisations, New Zealand’s international humanitarian policy and action, and international development and humanitarian partnerships with New Zealand NGOs. Her previous roles with the Ministry include Deputy Director of both Humanitarian and Pacific Regional programmes.
Erika Placella received her Master degree in History of Medicine at the University of Geneva. She completed her education with a specialization in Public Health and various additional trainings, including at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and ICRC/WHO.
Erika Placella has over 22 years of experience in public health and global health. She is currently the Head of Health at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Dr Anban Pillay is the Deputy Director General responsible for Health Regulation and Compliance at the National Department of Health in South Africa. He has served in various roles at the National Department of Health over the past 20 years. These include development of pharmaceutical policies on medicine registration, treatment guidelines, medicine formularies, procurement and service delivery strategies. He has also been instrumental in the developmental of the Universal Health Coverage (National Health Insurance) policy and legislative development in South Africa.
Dr Anban Pillay is the Deputy Director General responsible for Health Regulation and Compliance at the National Department of Health in South Africa. He has served in various roles at the National Department of Health over the past 20 years. These include development of pharmaceutical policies on medicine registration, treatment guidelines, medicine formularies, procurement and service delivery strategies. He has also been instrumental in the developmental of the Universal Health Coverage (National Health Insurance) policy and legislative development in South Africa.
Dr Joy St John’s 30 year career in Public Health has allowed her to give service at the national, regional and global levels.
She rose through the ranks of Public Health in Barbados to become the first Barbadian to be Chief Medical Officer of her country, from 2005 to 2017.
She has served as the Director and most recently in June 2024, completed 5 years as the first female Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency.
Dr Chikwe Andreas IHEKWEAZU, MBBS, DCH&TM, MPH, EPIET, FFPH
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu is Assistant Director-General at the Health Emergencies Programme of the World Health Organization.
Pandemic Preparedness and Response through a One Health Approach
For general inquiries: the_pandemic_fund@worldbank.org
Pandemic Response Optimization Through Engaged Communities and Territories (PROTECT)
For general inquiries: the_pandemic_fund@worldbank.org
