With a background in medicine, I embarked on my journey in global health, ultimately graduating from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm in 1988. Since then, I have spent most of my professional life on the development and implementation of global health policies and practices, serving in various capacities as both a staff member and a board member across many organizations.

For 13 years, I had the honour of representing Sweden as the Ambassador for Global Health at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (2010-2023). During this time, I took a leave of absence to lead the Secretariat for the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, a role that spanned from 2020 to 2021.

My association with the World Health Organization (WHO) included roles as the Assistant Director-General for General Management (2003-2006), Acting Director-General (May 2006 – January 2007), Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Services (2007), and Head of the WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone (2015-17).

In 2002 I established the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria as an independent legal entity and I served as the Interim Executive Director. My commitment to global health continued through my working life as a board member of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, as well as the boards of GAVI, UNAIDS, and PMNCH. Additionally, I have had the privilege of chairing various international working groups and processes that contributed to global health improvements.

Heading the Swedish International Agency for Development Cooperation as its Director-General from 2007 to 2010, I further solidified my commitment to development at large. My experience also includes contributions as the head of the Health Department and program officer at Sida.

Today, as a member of the Alliance for Health Systems Research’s board, the Chatham House Commission for Universal Health, the International Vaccine Institute Global Advisory Group of Experts, and the Virchow Foundation for Global Health Council, I remain dedicated to global health equitable available worldwide.