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.

María Neira’s TED talk

More news and ideas from María Neira

Live from TEDSummit 2019

Anthropo Impact: Notes from Session 2 of TEDSummit 2019

July 22, 2019

Session 2 of TEDSummit 2019 is all about impact: the actions we can take to solve humanity’s toughest challenges. Speakers and performers explore the perils — from melting glaciers to air pollution — along with some potential fixes — like ocean-going seaweed farms and radical proposals for how we can build the future. The event: […]

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News

A first glimpse at the TEDSummit 2019 speaker lineup

May 21, 2019

With TEDSummit 2019 just two months away, it’s time to unveil the first group of speakers that will take to the stage in Edinburgh, Scotland, from July 21-25. Three years ago, more than 1,000 members of the TED global community convened in Banff, Canada, for the first-ever TEDSummit. We talked about the fracturing state of […]

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