Dr Saunthari Somasundaram, President and Medical Director of the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), and Co-Chairperson of NCD Malaysia has been elected as the President-Elect of the NCD Alliance (NCDA) during its virtual General Assembly held on 6 May 2025.
Her appointment marks a significant milestone as the first Malaysian to hold the position as she brings over two decades of experience in championing cancer and NCD control across health systems worldwide.
Dr Saunthari, who has served on the NCDA Board for the past four years, is widely recognised for her leadership in healthcare, especially within cancer prevention, advocacy, and policy reform in low- and middle-income countries. Her elevation to the President-Elect role positions her to take on the presidency following the 2025–2027 term and continue driving international collaboration on the NCD agenda.
Her election comes at a pivotal moment for global health advocacy, ahead of the fourth United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs and as NCDA approaches the culmination of its long-term strategic plan in 2026.
As President-Elect, Dr Saunthari will support the NCDA Board in strengthening its global strategy, expanding partnerships, and promoting the rights and roles of people living with NCDs. Upon completion of her two-year term, she will assume the role of President of the NCD Alliance, guiding its work at the highest level.
“This is more than just a personal honour — it is a statement that voices from ASEAN, the third most populous region worldwide, belong at the heart of global health governance,” said Dato’ Dr Saunthari, the current President of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM); Co-chair of NCD Malaysia; and board member of the City Cancer Challenge Foundation.The NCDA General Assembly, held biennially, is the alliance’s highest governing body and brings together a global network of civil society organisations dedicated to the prevention and control of NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental health conditions.
In total, 14 leaders were elected or appointed to the 2025–2027 NCDA Board, reflecting a diverse mix of geographic representation and sectoral expertise. The new Board includes seven elected general members, a newly designated representative for lived experience, and four representatives from NCDA’s Founding Member organisations.
Dr Saunthari joins Leslie Rae Ferat, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Tobacco Control, who officially assumed the role of NCDA President during the Assembly. In her opening remarks, Leslie expressed her optimism and commitment to leading the alliance during a critical phase of the global NCD response.
Outgoing NCDA President Dr Monika Arora thanked members and the Board for their support during her tenure and welcomed the incoming leadership, expressing confidence in their ability to drive the alliance’s mission forward.
Full NCDA Board for 2025–2027:
- President: Leslie Rae Ferat (Global Alliance for Tobacco Control)
- President-Elect: Dr Saunthari Somasundaram (NCD Malaysia; National Cancer Society Malaysia)
- Beatriz Champagne (Healthy Latin America Coalition, Argentina)
- Cristiana Fonseca (Portuguese League Against Cancer, Portugal – UICC representative)
- Stefan Islandi (Danish NCD Alliance, Denmark)
- Ishu Kataria (RTI International, India)
- Cassandra Kelly-Cirino (The Union, Switzerland – Founding Member representative)
- Jackie Maalouf (DiaLeb, Lebanon – IDF representative)
- Isabel Mestres (City Cancer Challenge, Spain)
- Joseph Mucumbitsi (East Africa NCD Alliance, Rwanda)
- Chikhulupiriro Stanley Ng’ombe (NCD Alliance Malawi – Lived Experience Board Member)
- Fausto Pinto (Portugal – WHF representative)
- Pubudu Amarajith Sumanasekara (Sri Lanka Alcohol and Drug Information Centre)
- Laura Tucker-Longsworth (Healthy Caribbean Coalition, Belize)
