European Region

The EUR Regional Hub is working on the theme ‘Health and Climate Justice’ as part of its current Regional Flagship Initiative.

Europe is increasingly feeling the effects of climate change. Across the region, we are increasingly exposed to extremes of heat, threats to food and water systems, and changing patterns of infectious diseases. Communities that are already disadvantaged are among the most vulnerable to the effects of systemic shocks and extreme events – meaning that climate change also has the potential to widen existing health inequalities across the region. Our regional approach explicitly recognises and seeks to address the linkages between health, social and climate justice. In 2022-2023, flagship initiatives of the IWG Europe team will focus on fostering spaces for knowledge creation, intergenerational learning and transformative advocacy for climate and health. To get more involved with the EUR Regional Flagship Initiative, please contact iwghealthsystems@gmail.com.

IWG EUR Regional Leadership

Laura Haywood | EUR Board Member

Laura Haywood is a Public Health Specialist Registrar and medical doctor. She is a founding member and Board Member (EUR) of the International Working Group for Health Systems Strengthening (IWG). She is passionate about creativity, complex problem solving, equality, diversity and inclusion.

Joy Muhia | EUR Board Member

Joy Muhia is a global mental health professional, a Medical Psychologist & the Mental Health Innovation Network coordinator. She is also a Board Member (EUR) of the International Working Group for Health Systems Strengthening (IWG). Her research interests lie in strengthening mental health systems and policy to ensure equitable and quality access to mental health care.

Lucy Fagan | EUR Regional Director

Lucy is a Specialty Registrar in Public Health, and currently undertaking her MSc at LSHTM as part of the UK Faculty of Public Health (FPH) specialty training programme. Lucy is particularly passionate about adolescent health – from sexual and reproductive health and rights through to emerging NCD risk factors – with a focus on how early intervention and prevention can improve health outcomes across the life course. Lucy is Global Focal Point for SDG3/Health in the UN Major Group for Children and Youth where she works to enhance and strengthen the voice of adolescents and youth on their health and rights through global, regional and national policy processes. She is passionate about the role that youth advocacy can play and is committed to ensuring that this generation of young people, and those to come, are recognised and engaged in creating a sustainable, healthy and more equal world for all.

Amanda Quintana | EUR Regional Director

Amanda Quintana is a global environmental health professional with over seven years of experience in international health and development, program management, and implementation. Currently, Amanda is pursuing her Ph.D. in climate resilient health systems at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), where she looks at the implementation of climate adaptation policy for health in South Africa. Quintana also currently works for Abt Associates in the UK, where she works at the intersection of climate and health, supporting the integration of climate change into health programs, climate and health strategy development, and broader stakeholder engagement. She has experience supporting international agencies, government partners, civil society, and country decision-makers around the world on global health activities and climate and health research priorities.