Sir Ashley Bloomfield trained in medicine at the University of Auckland and specialised in public health medicine. His key areas of professional interest are non-communicable disease prevention and control, tobacco control, and addressing equity. He has 25 years’ experience in public policy and health leadership, including at the World Health Organization in Geneva. He was New Zealand’s Director-General of Health from June 2018 to July 2022 and led the country’s health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He was appointed a Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to public health. Dr Bloomfield is now a Professor at the University of Auckland’s School of Population Health.