Maria is a Professor of Public Health at Umeå University, specializing in climate change and health, with a focus on adaptation and vulnerable populations. She was the integrating editor for health in the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change and co-led the adaptation, planning, and resilience working group in the global Lancet Countdown 2030 from its inception in 2016 until 2024. Since 2021, she has chaired the Lancet Countdown in Europe.

Additionally, Maria heads a working group on communication and knowledge translation within the EU Horizon-funded Catalyse project, is a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ Health Committee, and the Editor-in-Chief of Global Health Action. In 2023, she was named a National Champion and finalist for the Frontiers Planet Prize.

With extensive experience in managing national and international health responses, Gabriella specializes in strengthening systems and organizations to drive sustainable, impactful change.

She has worked for the Swedish Public Health Agency, the UN, the EU Commission’s delegation, and NGOs across low- to high-income countries, where she led and coordinated multisectoral health strategies, forged strategic partnerships, and mobilized resources to enhance collaboration.

In recent years, Gabriella has focused on strengthening partnerships with Swedish universities to advance health through transdisciplinary approaches.

Johan brings vast experience in managing international development projects across health, governance, education, and agricultural extension.

Since 2017, he has been driving initiatives for global health equity, actively supporting Swedish academia in leveraging their expertise and resources to create impactful partnerships.

Johan is also a PhD student, studying adolescent mental health with an interdisciplinary perspective on the role of physical activity.