Leadership news

News

7 February 2025

The Women in Global Health Board are delighted to welcome Dr. Magda Robalo as our Interim Executive Director. Dr. Robalo is a visionary leader in global health, bringing decades of experience in health governance and diplomacy, programme implementation, gender equity, and international development. As a former Minister of Health, she is a global advocate for women’s rights, and an experienced leader in driving systemic change. Dr. Robalo has led and contributed to multiple high-impact initiatives worldwide. Her strong leadership, strategic mindset, and unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion will be key as we move forward with strength, clarity, and purpose. Dr Robalo is not new to WGH, having served as its Global Managing Director in 2022. In 2023, she led the establishment of a WGH Lusophone Chapter, a multi-country and transcontinental branch, which includes 9 countries and is now 80 members strong. We are delighted to have Dr Robalo at the helm at this vital stage in our organisation’s journey.

We are mindful that the global health ecosystem is in a fragile state. Women’s rights are being reversed, gender equity is facing setbacks, and the world continues to grapple with health, economic, humanitarian and political crises that disproportionately impact women and young girls. At WGH, we have the responsibility to act. This is why, in addition to welcoming new leadership, we have also expanded our Board, for the challenges ahead demand inclusive and equitable representation for collective action.

We are honored to welcome our new Board Members, who are all leaders from WGH Chapters. They bring diverse expertise and a strong commitment to advancing our mission: