Anuradha Gupta is a leader in global health and a passionate champion for women, adolescents and children. She has over 35 years of experience leading organizations, building teams and ushering in meaningful change.
Ms. Gupta is president of global immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington, D.C. She previously served as deputy CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a unique public-private partnership recognized for its transformative role in expanding access to life saving vaccines. Prior to Gavi, Ms. Gupta led India’s flagship National Health Mission, the world’s largest public health program, where she spearheaded initiatives that led to India’s successful eradication of polio and steep reduction in child and maternal mortality.
Ms. Gupta is a thought leader who has contributed to hundreds of articles and presentations on topics related to immunization, universal health coverage, primary health care, health equity, gender equality, global health security and pandemic preparedness, multisectoral integration, resilient health systems, human capital and sustainable development.
Ms. Gupta’s board and committee affiliations include the Partnership for Maternal Neonatal & Child Health (PMNCH), Merck for Mothers, the Steering Committee for ‘Child Survival: Call to Action’, Immunization Agenda 2030 Partners Council, Global Equity Reference Group on Immunization, Investors Group of the Global Financing Facility (GFF), UHC2030 Steering Committee, International Committee on pandemic preparedness, Leadership Team of Measles and Rubella Initiative and Health Campaigns Effectiveness.
She represented India on the Commission of Information & Accountability (COIA) set up by the secretary general of the United Nations for the Every Woman, Every Child strategy. She also led the clarion call for bringing family planning back into global discourse and has served on multiple committees and advisory groups championing family planning.
Ms. Gupta has served on a number of governing bodies of educational institutions in her native India, including Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad; Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore; Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode; School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi; National Institute of Technology and Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Bombay; National Council for Teachers’ Education and All India Council for Technical Education.
She has received several distinguished awards including the Global Australian Award, the University of Wollongong’s Alumni Award for Social Impact, the highest civilian award for public service by the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Cross of Labour by the president of Laos. She has also been honored by the government of Pakistan for improving the health of children in Pakistan, and by the government of India for public health excellence.
Ms. Gupta was profiled among the 10 most influential women IAS officers in the book “Women of Influence” by Rajni Sekhri Sibal and featured among “300 Women Leaders in Global Health” by the Global Health Centre of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Under her leadership, Gavi received the prestigious Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award (2019), Princess of Austrias Award for International Cooperation (2020) and topped the charts for 4 consecutive years on gender equality by Global Health 50/50.
Ms. Gupta holds a Master of Business Administration from Wollongong University, Australia, a masters in English literature from Kurukshetra University, India, and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and English literature from Kurukshetra University, India. She also completed advanced study in public administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, USA.
“R4D has evolved into a pioneering institution catalyzing developmental in low- and middle-income countries. Its focus on public health, sustainable and innovative financing models, public-private partnerships and peer exchange and learning sets them apart as a unique organization. It is my honor to join the board and to help further their goals.” – Anuradha Gupta
