Asha DeSuza

Senior Advisor for Global Strategic Engagement

BIOGRAPHY

Ms. DeSuza brings extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, global health, and sustainable development. She previously served as Team Leader for Sustainable Development in the United Nations - Office of the President of the General Assembly during its 78th and 79th Sessions. Amongst the delivery of sustainable development mandates of the General Assembly, she led intergovernmental negotiations and high-level coordination on critical global health processes, including the delivery of the political declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health as well as the high-level dialogue on the determinants of health as well as the promotion of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Before joining the President’s Office, Ms. DeSuza was a career diplomat of Saint Kitts and Nevis. She served at the Permanent Mission of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations where her portfolio covered human rights, humanitarian and social affairs, global health and international legal affairs. She played a leading role in advancing the global health diplomacy agenda as the Caribbean Community’s Coordinator and Lead Negotiator for Global Health, contributing to intergovernmental processes on noncommunicable diseases, pandemic preparedness, universal health coverage, HIV/AIDS, food and nutrition security and strengthening health systems. Earlier in her career, Ms. DeSuza led 2030 Agenda implementation efforts within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saint Kitts and Nevis, where she supported national and regional policy alignment with the SDGs as well as the country’s bilateral engagements with African countries. Ms. DeSuza holds a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy from the University of Kent and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of the West Indies.

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