Dr. Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez is a medical doctor, anthropologist, and public health expert with over a decade of dedicated experience in addressing critical global issues, particularly focusing on ageing and combatting ageism. With a robust background working with international organizations, government agencies, research institutions, NGOs, and the private sector, Dr. de la Fuente-Núñez has demonstrated expertise in navigating complex challenges and opportunities related not only to ageing but also to epidemics and outbreaks, and health research and development.
Driven by a passion for promoting healthy ageing and challenging age-related biases across the globe, Dr. de la Fuente-Núñez offers a diverse skill-set encompassing excellent programme management, rigorous analytical abilities, and multilingual proficiency in English, Spanish, French, and German. Her proficiency extends to crafting compelling written narratives for strategies and proposals and delivering impactful keynote addresses. She believes in the power of collaboration, and is committed to forging connections and cultivating the networks and alliances needed to catalyze the transformative change that is required to build a world for all ages.
Vânia has spearheaded numerous capacity-building strategies, including the pioneering WHO leaders program on healthy ageing which trained more than 1000 professionals across sectors and countries, as well as various masterclasses, and country-specific workshops. She has also orchestrated and led impactful public health campaigns, such as WHO’s Global Campaign to Combat Ageism. Dr. de la Fuente-Núñez has further been involved in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of multiple global, regional and national policies and strategies to improve the lives of older people, and has played a key role in consolidating evidence and addressing research gaps in the field of ageism.
Vânia serves as expert for the European Commission and is an independent member of various boards. Her insights on ageing and ageism are regularly sought after by renowned media outlets like El País, CNBC, Agencia EFE and RTVE, as well as by organizers of prestigious international and national events and major conferences.