Maria Paola Lia has 20 years of experience establishing and nurturing strategic global health partnerships with government agencies, international organizations, and NGOs across multiple countries and regions. She began her professional training and career in the EU and the Italian Parliament before being elected Secretary General for a political NGO in Brussels.

Transitioning to the private sector, Maria Paola assumed the role of Programs Director in a $30 million Global Public-Private Partnership, driving innovative approaches to fortify healthcare systems and advance health policies. More recently, Maria Paola worked for a medical clinic and supported startups and NGOs in Geneva. In addition, she sits on multiple boards. Maria Paola holds a master’s degree in international relations and a PCG in Global Health Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is fluent in several languages.

She joined GAHP as Executive Director in 2023 to work on two of her main passions: health and the environment.