Dr Mary Stephen is a seasoned global health leader and public health expert with over 20 years of experience, working with WHO across Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Currently serving as WHO Representative to government of the state of Eritrea, where she is providing health leadership and coordinating technical cooperationon health system reforms, health security strengthening, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strategic partnerships. She has held senior roles in WHO, including Acting WHO Representative in Lesotho, and led regional work on health emergency preparedness and International Health Regulations (IHR) including the recent IHR (2005) amendment, and Pandemic Treaty Negotiations. An award-winning leader, she is also Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham in the U.K, and a passionate mentor for women in health. Dr Stephen holds a degree in Medicine, MPHand is pursuing a Doctor of Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.