Dr Durgavasini Devanath

Dr Durgavasini Devanath is a senior medical leader and health systems specialist with over 15 years of experience in clinical governance, health emergency preparedness and response, and health systems strengthening across Asia and the Pacific. She has held senior roles with the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and International SOS, bringing deep expertise in national and regional initiatives that translate policy and governance frameworks into operationally resilient, high-quality, and sustainable health service delivery.

Her work encompasses the governance and management of multiple health facilities in complex settings and resource-constrained environments, with a strong focus on quality, patient safety, sustainable operations, workforce leadership, and system-level resilience. She has led regional and national initiatives in hospital redevelopment, as well as health workforce development and planning, engaging with a breadth of stakeholders, sustaining trusted partnerships. She has managed large, multi-country health programmes, coordinated international medical teams, and supported Ministries of Health and regulators in aligning service delivery with national standards and global best practice.

Having witnessed the impact of climate on health while coordinating emergency and outbreak responses, Dr Durgavasini is a passionate advocate at the intersection of climate change and health, with a focus on how climate risks impact health system resilience, workforce wellbeing, service continuity, and vulnerable populations. Her work integrates planetary health principles into governance, climate resilient infrastructure planning, emergency preparedness, and community health programmes, ensuring that climate considerations are embedded into decision-making rather than treated as a standalone issue. Within Climate Governance Malaysia, she leads the Climate & Healthcare portfolio, supporting CGM’s capacity-building, applied governance and advocacy agenda across healthcare institutions, professional bodies, and policy stakeholders.

A medical doctor with an MBA in Healthcare Management, Dr Durgavasini is a graduate of the Harvard Medical Leadership Program, and is a co-author and contributor to multiple global health and humanitarian standards, including the Sphere Handbook. She is committed to advancing climate-resilient, equitable, and ethically grounded health systems as a core pillar of sustainable climate governance.