GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE WFPHA

The Governing Council of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) plays a pivotal role in shaping the global public health agenda. As the Federation’s primary decision-making body, the Council comprises esteemed public health professionals and representatives from member associations worldwide, all dedicated to advancing health equity, improving health systems, and promoting evidence-based public health policies.

Working collaboratively, the Governing Council provides strategic direction, ensuring that the WFPHA remains at the forefront of addressing emerging health challenges, advocating for sustainable public health practices, and fostering global partnerships. The Council implements WFPHA’s vision, mission, and programs while maintaining a strong commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and scientific rigor.

With a global perspective and a deep commitment to public health advocacy, the Governing Council upholds the Federation’s core values—equity, solidarity, and social justice—while striving to improve the health and well-being of populations worldwide.

Emma Rawson Te-Patu

Emma Rawson Te-Patu

President
Public Health Association of New Zealand

Director of ManuKahu Associates, Indigenous Consultancy in Aotearoa, New Zealand, Emma is a Researcher/Trainer and Facilitator. Emma has a Master of Philosophy with Honors (First Class). Emma specializes in addressing Institutional Racism using Indigenous frameworks for public health. Emma consults with the New Zealand Human Rights Commission and will soon be the Public Health Equity Lead at Whakauae Research Services based in Whanganui. She is the current President of the WFPHA. She will pursue a doctorate by investigating and developing a global framework for transformational public health to eradicate inequities founded on Indigenous knowledge values and Human Rights.

Prof. Raman Bedi

Prof. Raman Bedi

Vice-President- President-elect
Faculty of Public Health UK

Prof. Raman Bedi is an Emeritus Professor at King’s College London. He holds several international honorary chairs, including an “Extraordinary Professorship” in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa, and the University of Pennsylvania. Raman was the founding chair of the WFPHA’s oral health working group and a WHO consultant, reviewing dental services in Oman. He was President of the British Society for Disability and Oral Health,  the Education Research Group of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), and the IADR Regional Development Program Committee Chair.

Prof. Luis Eugenio De Souza

Prof. Luis Eugenio De Souza

Immediate Past President
Brazilian Association of Collective Health

Professor at the Federal University of Bahia, Prof. De Sousa, has a degree in Medicine, a Master’s degree in Community Health, and a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of Montreal. In addition to his academic activities, he has assumed important political and managerial positions including being the Director General of the Science and Technology Department of the Ministry of Health. He has been a leading member of the Brazilian Association of Collective Health (Abrasco). He is the current President of the World Federation of Public Health Associations.

Prof. Julienne Louise Ngo Likeng

Prof. Julienne Louise Ngo Likeng

Africa
Cameroon Public Health Association 

Prof. Julienne Louise Ngo Likeng (PhD) is a medical anthropologist, lecturer, and coordinator of the Master’s and PhD programs in Public Health at the School of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Central Africa.She currently manages a project called CODI (Considering Difference) and trains young researchers to handle fieldwork and field trips. Julienne is the executive director of the Cameroon Public Health Association and a member of the Scientific Committee of the School of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Central Africa.

Basant Adhikari

Basant Adhikari

South-East Asia
Nepal Public Health Association

Basant Adhikari is the President of the Nepal Public Health Association. He is a public health professional in the Ministry of Health as a Senior Public Health Administrator managing public health interventions at the provincial level. He has completed a Master of Public Health and a Master of Public Administration. He currently represents the South-East Asia region on the WFPHA Governing Council.

Dr. Deogratias Sekimpi

Dr. Deogratias Sekimpi

Africa
Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health

Dr. Deogratias Sekimpi has been a public health specialist for over 40 years and has been in the Uganda National Association of Community and Occupational Health (UNACOH) leadership since 1987. He was a founding member, Secretary General, and President of UNACOH and is Acting Executive Director. He led various advocacy, public awareness, research, training, and UNACOH health development projects and programs. He represents Africa’s WFPHA Governing Council.

Dr. Al Ounoud Al Marzouqi

Dr. Al Ounoud Al Marzouqi

Eastern Mediterranean 
Emirates Public Health Association

Dr. Al Ounoud Al Marzouqi is an Assistant Professor at the College of Health Sciences at the University of Sharjah. She is a former Director of the Quality Office at Dubai Hospital. She has worked as the Acting Assistant Director of Administrative and Financial Affairs at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, Khorfakkan Hospital, and Al Kuwait Hospital in Dubai.

Dr. Georges Benjamin

Dr. Georges Benjamin

Americas
American Public Health Association

As the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, Dr. Benjamin has provided strong leadership and strategic direction to the organization. He is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in policy and management at all levels of government. Dr. Benjamin is a nationally recognized public health leader who has led state and local public healthcare systems. He represents the Americas region on the WFPHA Governing Council.

Dr. Ramón Anulfo López Ledesma

Dr. Ramón Anulfo López Ledesma

Americas
Dominican Society of Public Health

President of the Dominican Society of Public Health of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Ramón Anulfo López Ledesma, is a physician, specialist in Health and Social Security Management, and Professor of Quality, Global Health, and Bioethics. He is the Executive Director of the Alliance of Public Health Associations of the Americas. He is a former alternate member of the Executive Council of the WHO. He has worked in the community, health, and education areas for over two decades through the Foundation Sol Naciente. He represents the Americas’s WFPHA Governing Council.

Dr. Xiaofeng Liang

Dr. Xiaofeng Liang

Western Pacific
Chinese Preventive Medicine Association 

Dr. Liang is the Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association. He was previously the director of the National Immunization Program, deputy director, and standing member of the Party Committee of China CDC, as well as a committee member of the SAGE group. He currently represents the Western Pacific region on the WFPHA Governing Council.

Dr. Tarun Weeramanthri

Dr. Tarun Weeramanthri

Western Pacific
Public Health Association of Australia 

Tarun Weeramanthri is President of the Public Health Association of Australia and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Population and Global Health at the University of Western Australia. He is a trained specialist in internal medicine and public health and has a PhD in Social Medicine. He has extensive experience in disaster and emergency preparedness and response. He represents the Western Pacific region on the WFPHA Governing Council.

Prof. Lucy Parker

Prof. Lucy Parker

Europe
Spanish Society for Public Health

Dr. Lucy Anne Parker is an associate professor of Preventative Medicine and Public Health at the University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Spain. She is an active member of this university’s Global Health research group and coordinator of the Masters program in Development Cooperation in Health. She has diverse international experience after working several years with Medecins sans Frontieres and running a large research project in Ecuador. She is a committed member of the Spanish Society for Public Health and Health Administration (SESPAS) and was one of the prominent editors of the WFPHA Casebook on Advocacy for Public Health.

Dr. Dragoslav Popovic

Dr. Dragoslav Popovic

Europe
Serbian Public Health Association

Dr. Dragoslav Popovic is the Serbian Public Health Association President and a WFPHA International Immunization Task Force member. His recent projects include Faculty at the World Bank Flagship Course on Universal Health Coverage (2019); Evaluating Targeted Country Assistance, GAVI Alliance (2018); Moderating Global Vaccine Procurement Practitioners Forum, Copenhagen (2018); Introduction of ARV in SEE (2021); Setting joint UN mechanism for USD 115 million procurement of vaccines and essential drugs in Ukraine (2017); Coordinating Health Sector Post-Disaster Risk Assessment and Recovery Plans after floods in Countries in Balkans (2014).

Dr. Lwando Maki

Dr. Lwando Maki

Young Professionals
South Africa Public Health Association

Dr. Lwando Maki hails from rural Eastern Cape, South Africa. He earned his Bachelor’s in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Cape Town (UCT). He completed specialist training in Public Health Medicine at the College of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) and a Master of Medicine at the University of Pretoria. He pursued a second specialty in Internal Medicine at the CMSA and another Master of Medicine at UCT. Dr. Maki specializes in Global Health, Climate Change, and Noncommunicable Diseases, focusing on Cardiovascular Disease.