This week we launch a special series where Australia’s Ambassador for Regional Health Security, Dr Stephanie Williams, interviews leaders in the Pacific and Southeast Asia about how they have faced being a leader and health challenges during the current COVID-19 crisis.These frank conversations begin with Dr Takeshi Kasai, the Regional Director for the Western Pacific Office of the World Health Organization. As Regional Director, Dr Kasai is responsible for convening and communicating with partner governments on the health and well-being of 1.9 billion of the world's population from Fiji in the East, to China and Vietnam in the West and Japan to the North. A physician by training, Dr. Kasai has been involved in responding to outbreaks and crises, including avian influenza in Hong Kong and Japan, the 1995 Kobe earthquake and the SARS crisis. He has worked for WHO for more than 15 years and was instrumental in developing and implementing the Asia Pacific strategy for emerging diseases and public health emergencies, which guides member states ongoing improvements to readiness and response.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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