Dr. Magda Robalo

Dr. Magda Robalo is a senior global health leader and medical doctor with more than thirty years of leadership experience across public health, infectious diseases, ethics, governance, and gender equality. She has held high-level national and international roles, combining technical expertise with political and diplomatic leadership in complex and resource-constrained settings.

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, Global Ambassador for the G20 and G7 Health and Development Partnership, and a member of the Accra Reset High-Level Panel, advancing universal health coverage, equity, health sovereignty, and health security globally.

Previously, she served as Minister of Public Health and High Commissioner for COVID-19 in Guinea-Bissau, leading health-sector reforms and the national pandemic response. Her international career includes more than two decades with the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, where she held senior leadership roles, led large multidisciplinary teams, managed significant financial portfolios, and shaped regional strategies for disease control, epidemic preparedness, and maternal and child health.