Dr Sandro Demaio

Director of WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health

Biography

Dr Sandro Demaio took up his position as Director and Head of the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health (ACE), based in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in February 2025. ACE leads WHO’s work on climate, environment, and health across the Western Pacific’s 38 Member States. Sandro brings a unique blend of academic expertise, executive leadership, and global health experience.

Prior to this role, Dr Demaio served as Chief Executive Officer of VicHealth, the health promotion agency for the state of Victoria, Australia. He also held the position of CEO at EAT, a global non-profit organization dedicated to transforming food systems for the health of people and the planet.

Originally trained as a medical doctor in Australia, Dr Demaio previously worked as a Medical Officer and technical advisor at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, where he contributed to major global initiatives on noncommunicable diseases and public health policy.

With a strong commitment to advancing health through environmental sustainability and climate action, Dr Demaio leads the Centre’s efforts to drive evidence-based policy, foster multisectoral collaboration, and support countries across the Western Pacific Region.

He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, as well as a Master’s and PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology. He remains active in academic circles, currently holding a professorship, and has previously held honorary appointments with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Melbourne.