About
Robb Butler is a senior public health and social science leader with substantial international experience delivering impact through public health, climate change, and humanitarian action. He has a strong record of leading high‑stake programmes, shaping regional health policy, and driving innovation across complex, multicultural environments.
Robb began his career in 1992, on community engagement, public health and social protection initiatives across South/Southeast Asia and Africa before joining WHO in 2008, where he led groundbreaking work on vaccine hesitancy. In 2022, Robb oversaw the launch of WHO’s first Behavioural and Cultural Insights for Health Framework and secured the adoption of an accompanying WHO resolution by 53 Member States—an organisational milestone. He currently serves as Director for Communicable Diseases, Environment and Health and WHO Special Representative for Climate Change and Health, following earlier service as Executive Director at the WHO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.
With experience in more than 40 countries, Robb has worked with major global institutions including the World Bank, ADB, EC, UNDP, UNICEF, GFATM, SIDA/FPH, GAVI, OXFAM, PSI, SCF (US & UK), SGS, and the Gates Foundation. From 2004–2018, he also contributed to academic capacity‑building as a lecturer, supervisor, and advisor at the University of Copenhagen’s School of Global Health.
He brings strategic leadership, systems thinking, and deep technical expertise to complex global health challenges—paired with a proven ability to mobilise partnerships, influence policy, and deliver results at scale.
Expertise: Climate and Health; Vaccine Hesitancy; Behavioural Insights; Immunization Programme Delivery and Assessment; Communicable Disease Prevention; Outbreak Response; Health Promotion, Strategic Communications