Session Chair

Johanna Ralston has worked in global NCDs and their risk factors for over two decades. Since 2017 she has served as CEO of World Obesity Federation, the obesity organization in official relations with the World Health Organization. With member organisations in more than 100 countries, World Obesity works to reduce to prevent and manage obesity through advocacy, convening, training and knowledge exchange. From 2011-2016 Johanna served as CEO of World Heart Federation and as Vice Chair, steering group member and Interim Director of NCD Alliance. From 1999 until 2011 Johanna was Vice President of Global Strategies at American Cancer Society, overseeing global advocacy and building the global capacity building program to strengthen community-based cancer and tobacco control in LMICs. She has also been a fellow at Geneva Centre for Security Policy and served on several committees and boards including GO2 Foundation (formerly the Lung Cancer Alliance), the WHO Civil Society Working Group on NCDs, Our Views Our Voices advisory group and has published on NCDs, including lived experience, in Lancet, BMJ, The Guardian, and other journals.