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Keynote Speaker
Sir David Nabarro
Strategic Director of 4SD, Chair of Global Health at Imperial’s Institute of Global Health Innovation, Winner of the 2018 World Food Prize
Popular talks
- Forming Global Responses to Crises
- Food Systems Transformation
- Embracing the Sustainable Development Goals
- Pandemic Preparedness and Response
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Talks
Popular talks by Sir David Nabarro
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Forming Global Responses to Crises
In global health, crises often strike unexpectedly, demanding swift and effective responses. Since 2002, David Nabarro has worked within the WorldHealth Organization and the United Nations in tackling these pressingchallenges head-on. From navigating the complexities of the currentfood-energy-finance polycrisis to past ongoing challenges like ebola virus disease and malaria,each situation…
In global health, crises often strike unexpectedly, demanding swift and effective responses. Since 2002, David Nabarro has worked within the WorldHealth Organization and the United Nations in tackling these pressingchallenges head-on. From navigating the complexities of the currentfood-energy-finance polycrisis to past ongoing challenges like ebola virus disease and malaria,each situation offers valuable lessons. The early stages of any response are particularly daunting, characterised by the urgent need forcollective action amidst uncertainty. The focus is on joint working that leaves no-one behind.
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Food Systems Transformation
Food systems are intricate webs influenced by various factors, making their transformation challenging. Single-issue solutions have limited impact as changes in one area affect the entire system. Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for meaningful change, recognizing diverse contexts. Beyond our plates, food weaves between our culture, economy, and the environment. Climate…
Food systems are intricate webs influenced by various factors, making their transformation challenging. Single-issue solutions have limited impact as changes in one area affect the entire system. Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for meaningful change, recognizing diverse contexts. Beyond our plates, food weaves between our culture, economy, and the environment. Climate change and escalating crises highlight the urgent need for resilient food systems as well as the need to mitigate the impact of climate chaos on food. With government leadership in many locations, diverse stakeholders, from farmers to activists, scientists to business leaders, are connecting, dialoguing and collaborating, to address these complex challenges.
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Embracing the Sustainable Development Goals
The SDGs were agreed by all world leaders in 2015 after 3 years of intense negotiation. They are the compass for the sustainable development of people and the planet. They are interconnected, universal and call for integrated responses involving multiple partners. An appreciation of the SDGs, gives people the key…
The SDGs were agreed by all world leaders in 2015 after 3 years of intense negotiation. They are the compass for the sustainable development of people and the planet. They are interconnected, universal and call for integrated responses involving multiple partners. An appreciation of the SDGs, gives people the key tounlocking sustainable and shared prosperity for coming generations. In today’s divided world how can pressingglobal challenges like hunger, and climate change, best beaddressed? David Nabarro has worked extensively on these issues and has powerful and promising stories to share.
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Pandemic Preparedness and Response
During health crises, the World Health Organization (WHO) plays a crucial role as the UN’s health agency. Its staff prioritise swift analysis ofearly signals, ensuring outbreaks are accurately assessed. While manysignals are false alarms, it’s vital not to overreact. Thus, the focus is on confirming the outbreak’s severity through early…
During health crises, the World Health Organization (WHO) plays a crucial role as the UN’s health agency. Its staff prioritise swift analysis ofearly signals, ensuring outbreaks are accurately assessed. While manysignals are false alarms, it’s vital not to overreact. Thus, the focus is on confirming the outbreak’s severity through early detection, testing,treatment, and other public health measures. Drawing from multipleexperiences, including COVID-19, Ebola and Bid Flu, David Nabarro demonstrates the importance of adapting public health principles to local contexts in the early stages of a response. David Nabarro explains what responding to different outbreaks has taught him about people, health systems and working together, and how these lessons can best be applied in different settings.
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Systems Leadership for Sustainable Development
Complex challenges are intricately linked within dynamic systems. Unpacking just one symptom can reveal a cascade of underlying causes. Making change happen calls for people-centered “living” systems approaches, as the essential processes of life are interconnected. But many practitioners find it hard to think and work with systems because initially…
Complex challenges are intricately linked within dynamic systems. Unpacking just one symptom can reveal a cascade of underlying causes. Making change happen calls for people-centered “living” systems approaches, as the essential processes of life are interconnected. But many practitioners find it hard to think and work with systems because initially it can be overwhelming and time-consuming. It can also feel risky to approach issues differently than “the way it has always been done”. Taking a systems approach requires space, time and opportunity. This allows leaders to agree on their purpose, to build working relationships and to trust that they can share information freely with each other. When they can focus on the whole of the challenge – in addition to the small details – they have the potential to accelerate sustainable systems change.
Biography
About Sir David Nabarro
Since gaining his medical qualification in 1974, David Nabarro has worked tirelessly – in communities and hospitals, within governments, civil society organisations and universities, and in United Nations programmes – to galvanise action to address complex challenges facing humanity. In his early career he worked on child health and nutrition programmes in Iraq, South Asia and East Africa. He taught at the London and Liverpool Schools of Tropical Medicine and then served as Chief Health and Population Adviser to the British Government’s Overseas Development Administration and as Director for Human Development in the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
David Nabarro joined the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1999. His responsibilities covered Malaria, AIDS and TB, and responses to crises. He then moved to the office of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General in 2005 as Assistant Secretary-General. Initially he was responsible for coordinating UN system responses to avian and pandemic influenza but from 2008, this expanded to include the coordination of UN system action as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Food Security and Nutrition. From 2010 he coordinated the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, and from 2014, he served as the former UN Secretary-General’s Envoy for the West Africa Ebola outbreak. From 2016-2017, Sir David Nabarro worked as Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Cholera in Haiti.
In 2018, Sir David Nabarro co-founded 4SD – Skills, Systems and Synergies for Sustainable Development (now known as 4SD Foundation) with Florence Lasbennes in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation supports the development of capacities for systems change and accompanies global processes of change.
David has co-led the UN Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance (GCRG) in 2022-23 and has been Special Envoy of the WHO Director-General on COVID-19 in 2020-23. Sir David Nabarro also serves as Co-Director and Chair of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London where his focus is on people’s health and wellbeing in the climate emergency.
His work on food security and childhood malnutrition garnered him the World Food Prize in 2018. For his services to global health more broadly, Dr. Nabarro was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2023 King Charles III’s first New Year’s Honours list.
Testimonials
What clients say about Sir David Nabarro
"Your overall guidance in conducting the Food System Dialogue 2023 was truly inspiring and your presence and involvement were indeed engaging. Your expertise and enthusiasm added immense value to the event, leaving a lasting impression on all the participants. Thank you for joining us and sharing your knowledge and insights, contributing to the success of FSD 2023. Personally, it was bliss for me, to spend two days with you hearing you off and on."
“You are in the perfect position to have an overview of the world's responses to COVID and you did it with thoughtfulness and consideration for the historic position of WHO and for the many challenges it faces. I especially liked the way you just talked - reflecting on past challenges and future ones. You will know from the evaluations how much the participants appreciated your presentation.”
How to book Sir David Nabarro
Answers on fees, availability and booking process.
How do I book Sir David Nabarro for a keynote speech?
You can book Sir David Nabarro through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Sir David's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
What are Sir David Nabarro's speaking fees?
Sir David Nabarro's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Sir David tailored to your event.
What topics does Sir David Nabarro speak about?
Sir David Nabarro speaks on Change, Climate, Health, Sustainability. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Sir David to align the content with your delegates and goals.
Is Sir David Nabarro available for international events?
London Speaker Bureau can book Sir David Nabarro for events worldwide, subject to Sir David's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Does Sir David Nabarro deliver virtual or online keynotes?
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Sir David Nabarro is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
How long is a typical keynote by Sir David Nabarro?
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Sir David can accommodate.
Can Sir David Nabarro tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?
London Speaker Bureau will brief Sir David Nabarro on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Sir David can offer.
What languages does Sir David Nabarro present in?
Sir David Nabarro delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
What makes Sir David Nabarro a strong fit as a keynote speaker?
Sir David Nabarro's areas of expertise include Change, Climate, Health, Sustainability. To get a clear sense of Sir David's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
What kind of events can Sir David Nabarro speak at?
Sir David Nabarro can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Change, Climate, Health, Sustainability is relevant. Details of Sir David's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Does Sir David Nabarro offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Sir David Nabarro is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
How far in advance should we book Sir David Nabarro?
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Sir David Nabarro, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Sir David's current availability for your dates.
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