Dr. Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez

Dr. Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez is a medical doctor, anthropologist and international expert on healthy ageing and ageism. Since 2023, she has worked as an independent senior consultant, providing technical and strategic advice to governments and public and private entities across various countries to improve the lives of older people and combat ageism. Deeply committed to making healthy ageing a reality for all, she prioritizes equity, focusing on the needs of the most disadvantaged older populations, including older women. Dr. de la Fuente-Núñez is the author of the book ‘La Trampa de la Edad’ (Penguin Random House), which delves into the phenomenon of ageism, offering practical tools so that anyone can recognize, understand and challenge ageism in their daily lives. She also serves on various boards and councils, including that of the Foundation Grandes Amigos in Spain, and is a regular contributor to media outlets such as El Pais, CNBC, and RTVE.

Previously, Dr. de la Fuente-Núñez worked as an international civil servant at the World Health Organization (WHO) for nearly a decade, being responsible for the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism and co-authoring the landmark UN Global Report on Ageism. She also led the area of capacity building on ageing at WHO, implementing innovative learning programs, and developing healthy ageing policies and initiatives in countries and regions around the world. She further contributed to the launch of WHO’s Global Observatory for Health Research and Development and supported the Secretariat of the WHO Research Ethics Committee during the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak. Before joining WHO, Vânia worked with various NGOs and research institutes in both high- and low-income countries.