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Story
Harvard Vice-Dean Dr. Rifat Atun joins the Board of Nutrition International
Posted on October 15, 2025
Ottawa, CANADA – Nutrition International is pleased to announce that Dr. Rifat Atun has joined its Board of Directors. Dr. Atun brings to the organization global expertise in health systems innovation, as well as a strong commitment to advancing equitable, sustainable solutions in global health.
“We are honoured to welcome Dr. Atun to Nutrition International’s Board of Directors,” said Masood Ahmed, Chair of the Board. “His expertise in health systems and his record of driving innovation to improve health outcomes will help elevate and guide our efforts to deliver lasting impact.”
Dr. Atun is Vice Dean for Non-Degree Education & Innovation at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where he also serves as Professor of Global Health Systems and leads the Health System Innovation Lab. He was the inaugural tenured professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard, and previously held senior leadership positions at Imperial College London, including Professor of International Health Management and Head of the Health Management Group.
From 2008 to 2012, he was a member of the Executive Management Team of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, overseeing strategy, performance, and evaluation of investments of nearly USD $4 billion annually in more than 120 countries. He has also advised the World Bank, World Health Organization, and the G20 on health system reform, global health security, and the COVID-19 response.
“Dr. Atun brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and networks to the fight against malnutrition,” said Joel Spicer, President and CEO, Nutrition International. “He is a top-tier addition to our high-impact global board of directors and he joins us at a critical time.”
Dr. Atun has published over 500 papers in leading scientific journals and is consistently ranked among the world’s Highly Cited Researchers. His work focuses on health system performance, reform, and the diffusion of innovations to improve population health.
“I am delighted to join Nutrition International’s Board of Directors,” said Dr. Atun. “Nutrition is foundational to human development and a cornerstone of health systems everywhere. I look forward to our work together to advance the organization’s objectives, improve people’s lives and build healthier, more resilient communities around the world.”
For more than 30 years, Nutrition International has been dedicated to eliminating malnutrition around the world. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Nutrition International’s global Board of Directors includes former heads of state and leaders in philanthropy, academia, think-tanks, advocacy and impact investing provides strategic guidance and support. Together, the board drives efforts to assist the organization in improving the lives of more than one billion people– particularly women, adolescent girls and children – by 2030.
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