Alex Ross

Before taking up the post as Director, WHO Centre for Health Development, Kobe, Japan in October 2011, Mr. Ross was the Director of the World Health Organization's Programme for Partnerships and UN Reform where he developed and directed collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders to advance global public health. In leading the Programme, he provided
strategic policy guidance for WHO on health partnerships, partnering with different sectors, and engaging with the private sector. He cultivated partnerships between the Organization and the UN system, the private sector, the non-governmental sector, regional intergovernmental organizations and parliamentary associations.


His major achievements include;

  • Key policy documents of WHO and UN regarding global public health, partnerships particularly engaging the corporate sector such as companies and related entities.
  • Inputs to the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness framework negotiations, including a strategy to engage vaccine manufacturers, other private sector entities, the World Bank/IMF to fund the operations.
  • Support to create the Medicines Patent Pool Foundation (an innovative approach to pooling patents and intellectual property) and other innovative financing approaches for health such as the Millennium Foundation and the Solidarity Tobacco Levy.

Mr. Ross has also served in various senior positions at WHO Headquarters: the Director of Programme on Partnerships and UN Reform (2007-2011); the Director of the Office of the Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases (2006-07) and Chief of Staff for the Office of the Assistant Director-General for HIV, TB and Malaria (2003-2006). During these periods, he developed mutually supportive relationship with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and advanced the agenda of broader access to medicines and vaccines for developing countries.


Before joining WHO, Mr. Ross served as a Senior Health Advisor Health systems, HIV/AIDS and integrated health policy for the UK Department for International Development (2001-2003); and Deputy Chief for Health and Education in the USAID Bureau for Africa (1993- 2001) He also worked in the U.S. Public Health Service (1990-93), the U.S. Congress House Energy and Commerce Committee (1988), and the U.S. General Accounting Office (1987-89).

In summary, Mr Ross has engaged in the development of a number of health initiatives and partnerships within and beyond the health sector during the course of his career. Mr. Ross holds Masters and Bachelors of Science degrees in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles. An American citizen, Mr. Ross has lived in Canada, England and France. He is fluent in English and French. Mr. Ross is married with two children.