Katja Iversen - Safe Motherhood Week

Katja Iversen

“It is important that the Sustainable Development Goals are universal – this is not about developing countries, this is everybody. We still have high maternal mortality numbers in pockets within rich countries and that needs to be taken seriously.”

Katja Iversen is the CEO of Women Deliver – a leading global advocate for investment in the health, rights and wellbeing of girls and women, with a specific focus on maternal, sexual and reproductive health and rights. Iversen, an internationally recognized expert on development, advocacy and communications, has more than 20 years of experience working in NGOs, corporates and United Nation agencies. Previously, she held the position as Chief of Strategic Communication and Public Advocacy with UNICEF, a position she came to after almost six years of leading the team responsible for advocacy and communication on reproductive health and MDG 5 at UNFPA.

She holds a master’s degree in communications, bachelor’s degree in public administration and certificates in management, conflict resolution and international development. Iversen has worked in global health for more than a decade and has an extensive network within the UN, development communities and global media. She has counseled and trained multiple Fortune 500 executives on cross cultural management and cross cultural communication. She is a health adviser to the Clinton Global Initiative and on the CSO consultative group to the World Bank.