Dr Shakira Choonara is a multi-award-winning public health practitioner, bold activist, 2017 Woman of the Year in Health in South Africa (SA), Destiny Magazines Most Powerful Woman under 40 in SA, listed as a 100 Most Influential Young African and the 2017 National Research Foundation of SA Next Generation Researcher. She is currently a Technical Specialist at the World Health Organization HQ supporting the Department of Health Workforce and Sexual and Reproductive Health and holds a concurrent role as the Thematic Lead on Bodily Autonomy and SRHR at UN Women HQ. She is widely recognized for her work on universal health coverage, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights and youth development. Dr Choonara is a former member of the African Union Youth Council and AHAIC Commission on universal health coverage in Africa. Dr Choonara is currently appointed to the second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing and is a Board Member for AMREF Health Africa and Youth Health Africa.