María Neira seeks to improve health and safety around the globe, especially within the world's most vulnerable populations.
Why you should listen
As Director of the Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. María Neira works to raise awareness of the health challenges posed by climate change and air pollution. Prior to her appointment as director, she was Vice-Minister of Health and President of the Spanish Food Safety Agency, and she had previously held several senior positions in the WHO.
Neira began her career as a medical coordinator with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) in El Salvador and Honduras, working with refugees during the region's conflicts. In 2019, policy platform Apolitical named her one of the world's 100 most influential people in climate policy.