Olga Gvozdetska

With over 20 years of experience in public health, Olga serves as Deputy Director General in the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, which oversees programmes in HIV, TB, viral hepatitis, opioid dependence, prevention services, immunization, AMR, pharmaceutical and supply chain management, and emergency preparedness and response. Her role includes strategic planning of international engagement, coordinating the transition of HIV services to sustainable public funding, institutional development, and high-level negotiations with international partners and donors. She is responsible for strengthening governance, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring alignment of national programmes with global public health standards.

Previously, Olga held senior leadership positions in Ukraine’s largest HIV-focused civil society organization and served as a public health consultant for a World Bank-Ministry of Health reform project. She led large multidisciplinary teams, managed complex donor-funded portfolios (including USAID, CDC and European Commission projects), coordinated cooperation with WHO and other international agencies, and contributed to the development of national public health reforms. Olga’s expertise spans strategic planning, health systems strengthening, international partnership development, programme design and monitoring, and the implementation of evidence-based approaches to HIV prevention and treatment and broader public health priorities.

Throughout her career, Olga has actively engaged with international organizations, multilateral institutions, donors and civil society networks to bridge scientific evidence, community needs and public policy. In her current position, she coordinates cooperation with WHO, the World Bank and other international partners in the development and implementation of HIV, TB, viral hepatitis and harm reduction programmes. She oversees strategic planning of international partnerships, contributes to the development and review of technical deliverables, supports alignment of national policies with global guidelines, and facilitates expert consultations to ensure evidence-based decision making.

In the civil society organization, Olga worked with government institutions, donors and community stakeholders to design and implement large-scale prevention, treatment and support programmes. She has promoted meaningful engagement of affected communities in policy dialogue and programme development while ensuring that scientific standards and monitoring frameworks guide implementation. Through participation in international conferences, reform processes, essential public health operations assessments, and cross-country learning initiatives, Olga has contributed to strengthening the interface between science, community leadership and sustainable health systems.