Why would you like to be on the NCDA Board of Directors?

Because I care; I deeply care that who you are and where you live should not define the care you receive. Leading City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) has shown me that real change happens through collaboration, local leadership, and practical solutions. On the NCDA Board, I will bring hands-on experience from working in cities and countries across all income levels, always focused on delivering impact. I am committed to pushing for stronger advocacy, faster integration of NCDs into health and development agendas, and smarter, more diverse financing models. I will work to connect locally generated evidence with global policy, ensuring that community voices shape solutions - not the other way around. Beyond programmatic work, I also bring experience in building and running organizations: I co-founded C/Can from the ground up, establishing its full governance, operations, and a high-performing, impact-driven team, experience that I believe will be valuable for NCDA and its members. Joining the Board is not about representing one disease or one perspective; it’s about uniting efforts to achieve better outcomes for everyone affected by NCDs. Only together can we build stronger health systems for all!

What makes you a good candidate for the NCDA Board of Directors?

With over 15 years of leadership experience in global health, I bring a deep understanding of the NCD community's needs, shaped by work across both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. Throughout my career, I have worked closely with diverse communities, governments, and health systems to implement sustainable, impactful solutions—and I am known for getting things done. My experience spans advocacy, strategic partnerships, program implementation, and successful resource mobilization efforts across public, private, and philanthropic sectors. This positions me well to contribute to NCDA’s efforts to strengthen investment and mobilize new resources for NCDs. I am also committed to actively supporting NCDA’s fundraising efforts to benefit the entire membership and build a stronger, united movement. I am dedicated to representing the interests of all communities affected by NCDs, advocating for integrated, equitable, and people-centered approaches. Believing strongly in collective action, I would bring energy, integrity, and practical leadership to advance NCDA’s mission for the broader NCD community.

Biography

Isabel is the CEO of City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), a leading city-based initiative supporting cities worldwide as they strive to enhance access to quality and equitable cancer care. C/Can inspires scalable community-led cancer care solutions, reshaping collaboration between the private and public sectors to design, plan, and implement effective strategies.

Passionate about advancing public health, Isabel was vital in founding C/Can and has played a pivotal role in transforming projects in 15+ cities into dynamic solutions for cancer care access. Previously, she held the position of Director of Partnerships at C/Can, and prior to that, she held leadership positions at the International Union for Cancer Control, driving membership growth and forging a successful public-private partnership model that resulted in a tenfold increase in income generation.

Isabel, a Barcelona native with an MBA from ESADE Business School, speaks multiple languages. She resides in Switzerland with her family and dogs.