Dr Temo Waqanivalu, founder and Managing Director of ActioNCD International, is a seasoned global health expert with 30 years of experience driving impactful public health initiatives and strengthening healthcare worldwide. Specializing in Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control, he excels in strategic leadership, capacity-building, program management, and fostering international collaborations. A maestro in Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control, he thrives on shaping the future of healthcare worldwide. He holds advanced qualifications in Public Health and Management. Dr Temo last held the post of Unit Head of the WHO NCD Department in Geneva from 2014-2022 and was NCD Coordinator in the Western Pacific region before that from 2005-2013. During this time, he led the NCD response supporting 22 Pacific island countries, spearheaded global guidelines development and implementation on physical activity and dietary policies for the prevention of NCD, and authored the famous `Walk The Talk` initiative of WHO. He was awarded the WHO Assistant Director General’s Staff Excellence award in 2016. He also championed support for the strengthening of the health system to deliver on NCD and mobilized resources for the establishment of the integrated service delivery unit in the NCD Department to provide support to countries. Previous to the WHO, Temo worked through the ranks of clinical and public health in the Fiji Ministry of Health heading various teams in managing health at sub-divisional, and last held the post of National NCD Advisor before transitioning to WHO. He orchestrated groundbreaking milestones, including crafting Fiji’s first National NCD strategic Plan and the seminal National NCD STEPS report, setting precedents for the Pacific and globally. He was awarded the Public Health Excellence award for 2 consecutive years. In 2023, fueled by his passion and expertise, Dr. Temo founded ActioNCD International as a social enterprise. His mission is to empower leaders worldwide to spearhead NCD prevention and control efforts, aiming to achieve the critical Global NCD targets, notably reducing premature mortality by 33% by 2030. With a sense of scientific possibility and an urgent call to support each other, his focus remains steadfast on curbing this preventable NCD scourge in every corner of the globe.
Pascal Bovet is board certified in both internal medicine and public health (FMH, Switzerland) and holds a MPH degree from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He currently is a senior consultant at the division of chronic diseases at the University Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Prior to this, he was the head of the NCD section at the department of community health of the University Medical Center of Lausanne (CHUV) and a professor of public health at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University in Lausanne. He still regularly teaches public health at the University of Lausanne and in other universities. Earlier he was practicing clinical medicine and medical research in various hospitals, including the University Medical Center, also as chief resident. He has been a consultant for NCDs for the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Seychelles since 1988 until now. He led there several population-based NCD surveys and contributed to the development of various policies, including national NCD strategy, tobacco control legislation (including being the representative of the country to all the intergovernmental FCTC negotiations), fiscal measures on tobacco and sugar drinks, and guidelines for the management of hypertension and diabetes at the primary health care level. He currently collaborates with several studies and projects related to NCDs, including with the Swiss Development Agency, Swiss TPH, Imperial College (NCD Risk collaboration), Shandong University in China, Harvard University, University of Rochester (NY) and Loyola University in Chicago. He authored or co-authored >400 publications (http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0242-4259). He has been serving as a technical adviser for WHO, Swiss Development Agency and the World Bank around the development or the evaluation of national NCD plans of actions or clinical guidelines in a number of countries. He led, or collaborated with, the organization of several NCD training programs with the Swiss Development Agency, CDC and WHO.
Lindah Mutua brings over 12 years of management and leadership experience, including 5 years in public health programming with the Kenyan government and international organizations. She has a proven track record in emergency and post-conflict settings, as well as managing multi-sectoral programs in health, environment, and counseling. Since 2016, Lindah has focused on entrepreneurship, overseeing the development of personal investments and managing a small-scale commercial farm. Her public health experience includes serving as a Clinical Officer and Counselor with the International Rescue Committee, delivering healthcare and HIV/TB services in refugee settings. Lindah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and is completing a Master’s in International Relations. She is proficient in Microsoft Office and multilingual, fluent in English, Kiswahili, and Kamba. Lindah’s diverse background, strategic leadership, and adaptability make her an asset to both humanitarian and business ventures.
Lea May Mas is a skilled Virtual Administrative Professional with extensive experience providing comprehensive administrative and operational support to diverse clients. She specializes in streamlining business processes, project management, and utilizing various tools to ensure efficient workflows. Known for her adaptability, strong communication skills, and professionalism, Lea May excels in managing sensitive information and complex schedules. Her expertise includes negotiation, problem-solving, and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, with additional certifications in Customer Journey Mapping and Quality Assurance. As a freelance Virtual Assistant since 2022, she has successfully handled tasks such as email correspondence, calendar scheduling, data entry, research, and customer service, consistently delivering high-quality solutions. Lea May’s career includes roles as a Quality Analyst and Customer Service Representative at Teleperformance Inc., where she honed her analytical and customer engagement skills. Her earlier experiences as an intern at Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines and as a Student Assistant at the University of the East – Manila equipped her with a solid foundation in operations and quality assurance. Lea May holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing Management, from the University of the East – Manila. Her commitment to excellence, coupled with her reliability and quick learning ability, makes her an asset to any team or client.
In each of the six regions (Europe, Americas, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Middle East) experts will be placed in the areas of Public Health, Finance, Legal, Communication, and Community empowerment for the prevention and control of NCDs. The expert consultants are well qualified and would have served in a country system, especially middle and low-income countries. Upon request, consultants are then mobilized to provide support to countries in any area of NCD Prevention and Control
