Vasoontara Sbirakos Yiengprugsawan is focused on health system strengthening and universal health coverage, especially on primary health care and management of chronic non-communicable diseases including mental health. Prior to ADB, she held various senior health research positions in Australia for over 15 years and co-authored over 80 international peer-reviewed publications, a World Health Organization’s Fellowship with the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, and in policy with a United Nations Migration Agency International Organization for Migration in Geneva. Dr Yiengprugsawan was awarded a PhD in Epidemiology, Economics and Population Health from the Australian National University, and an MA in International Development from Syracuse University USA.