Time to Lead: A conversation with Leslie Rae Ferat, NCDA's new chair

In this episode we’re speaking about leadership with the new President of the NCD Alliance Board of Directors, Leslie Rae Ferat, in the context of the huge challenges posed by the upcoming High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health (HLM4). Also Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control, Leslie received a Luther L. Terry Award at the World Conference on Tobacco and Health in June for her pioneering work. While the tobacco control movement continues to contend with industry interference and a major funding gap, Leslie says it can offer the broader NCDs response the tool of tobacco taxes, which, along with other health taxes, should be a easy investment decision for governments. 

As a leader, Leslie says her priorities will be to: encourage collaboration, create platforms to raise the voices of people living with NCDs, and champion evidence-based advocacy. “The two big priorities for us will be really solid outcomes at the High-Level Meeting and putting into place a sound and innovative strategy for the next four to five years for the NCDA,” adds the NCDA President.

Published on: 13 August 2025