Bruce Aylward Speaking Fee: $200,000 to $300,000

Dr. Bruce Aylward is a Canadian physician and epidemiologist with over three decades of experience in global public health. Originally from St. John's, Newfoundland, he earned his medical degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland, followed by advanced training in tropical medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. His early career was marked by extensive fieldwork across South America, Africa, and Asia, where he supported national immunization programs and led disease control initiatives. Since joining the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1992, Dr. Aylward has held numerous leadership roles. He directed the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, overseeing its expansion and the development of new vaccines, significantly reducing polio cases worldwide. His expertise in managing health emergencies led to his appointment as Special Representative of the Director-General for the Ebola Response, where he coordinated WHO's efforts during the West Africa outbreak. Dr. Aylward also played a pivotal role in reforming WHO's emergency response mechanisms, leading to the establishment of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. He contributed to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), implementing system-wide activation procedures for infectious disease emergencies. In 2020, he co-led the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, providing critical insights into the pandemic's early response. Currently serving as Assistant Director-General for Universal Health Coverage and Life Course at WHO, Dr. Aylward focuses on making primary health care accessible to all, overseeing work on health systems, immunization, and maternal and child health. His career reflects a steadfast commitment to strengthening global health systems and responding effectively to public health challenges.