I didn't see a woman like me in global health rooms. So, I became her. Fifteen years ago, I sat at a joint UN meeting as a civil society member. I spent those early years attending every s.i.n.g.l.e webinar and working group I could find, simply trying to understand the "language of the UN."

I would look at the presenters, experts from WHO and UNICEF and ask myself: What do I need to do to stand in their shoes?I was fascinated by the idea of working for the United Nations, yet it felt like a distant dream.

Coming from an underserved community with no doctors, diplomats, or lawyers in my family, I knew as a first-generation graduate that the path would be long.

But my determination never allowed me to stop.Today, I can say that I have stepped into those shoes.With over 15 years of experience, I am a Romani woman whose journey has come full circle. I have served as a consultant for WHO, UNICEF, and the EU, working across the EURO, AFRO, and MENA regions.

Whether leading EU health advocacy, advising on health governance in the Gulf, or authoring science communications for the European Parliament, I speak from lived experience. I have learned to navigate complex systems and lead without losing my roots.In 2020, this path led to my recognition as a Candidate for the UN HRC Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Mandate.

It was a moment that affirmed a core truth: our voices belong in the rooms where decisions are made. Building a path is possible even when there’s no blueprint. I did it, and now I am committed to ensuring other underrepresented women can do the same. I speak on health diplomacy and navigating complex global systems from lived experience.