Professor Lubna A. Al-Ansary

Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine

King Saud University

Saudi Arabia

Term: 2024-2026

Lubna Al-Ansary is an internationally recognized leader in healthcare innovation, evidence-based medicine, and public health policy. With a deep commitment to improving healthcare systems, she has been a driving force behind the advancement of family medicine and the implementation of clinical guidelines in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region. Her distinguished collaborations with WHO-EMRO, her role as a Cochrane author, and her leadership positions on the Boards of the Guidelines International Network (GIN) and the MENA Health Policy Forum highlight her relentless dedication to evidence-based healthcare. She also played a pivotal role in founding the International Society for Evidence-based Healthcare (ISEHC). Her focus areas span geriatrics, women’s health, and the development of the primary healthcare workforce.

Beyond her contributions to healthcare, Lubna has been a passionate advocate for human rights, gender equality, and family safety. As one of the first women appointed to Saudi Arabia’s Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura), she served from 2013 to 2016. During this time, she made significant strides in representing Saudi women on the international stage through the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Her tenure exemplified her commitment to creating lasting societal change.

In 2017, she was appointed Secretary General of the National Population Committee at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, where she steered national population strategies. Soon after, her leadership reached new heights when she became the first Arab woman to serve as Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization (WHO). From 2017 to 2019, in her Geneva-based role overseeing Health Metrics and Measurement, she contributed to shaping global health systems and ensuring accountability for health outcomes worldwide.