Dr. Derek Yach
Global Public Health Expert,
Global Health Strategies LLC
Dr. Derek Yach, MBChB, MPH, is a global health leader whose career spans more than four decades across public health, policy, academia, and the private sector. He has held senior leadership positions at the World Health Organization, Rockefeller Foundation, Vitality Institute, and PepsiCo, and is the founding president of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World. Earlier in his career, he established the Centre for Epidemiological Research in South Africa, where he advanced groundbreaking work to address health inequities during a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. Today, he serves as an independent global health consultant and advisor.
Dr. Yach is internationally recognized for shaping major global health initiatives, including leading the development of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first treaty negotiated under WHO auspices, and the Global Strategy on Diet and Physical Activity. He has also played a central role in advancing innovative approaches to prevention, healthy aging, and the intersection of public and private partnerships to improve health outcomes worldwide.
A prolific researcher and thought leader, Dr. Yach has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, delivered keynote addresses at major international forums, and contributed to shaping global debates on chronic disease, mental health, and prevention. He holds degrees from the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as an honorary doctorate from Georgetown University.
In addition to his academic and policy work, Dr. Yach has served on the boards of numerous influential organizations, including the Wellcome Trust, the Clinton Global Initiative, and the NIH Fogarty International Center. He continues to advise governments, NGOs, and companies around the world on advancing health equity, with a growing focus on longevity and healthy aging.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Yach is a three-time cancer survivor and an avid open-water swimmer, having completed swims across the English Channel, Lake Geneva, and around the Statue of Liberty. His personal resilience and commitment to wellbeing fuel his lifelong dedication to prevention, quality care, and compassion in global health. He lives in Fairfield, Connecticut, with his wife, Dr. Yasmin von Schirnding, and their son, Julian.