Global Health Leader Brings Decades of Experience in Science, Policy, Advocacy, and Equitable Access to TAG’s Board

October 7, 2026 – Treatment Action Group (TAG) is pleased to announce that Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD,  has been elected to the Board of Directors.

Nina Schwalbe is the founder and president of Spark Street Advisors, a think tank and global advisory firm focused on improving global public health outcomes. She has held senior leadership positions across the global health field, including as Managing Director for Policy and Performance at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Principal Advisor and Acting Chief of Health at UNICEF; and founding Director of Global Public Health at the Open Society Institute.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nina established and served as the first director of USAID’s COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Delivery Initiative, a $7 billion program that delivered more than 500 million vaccines around the world. Her career has spanned HIV and TB treatment, harm reduction, LGBTQ+ health, TB drug development, and equitable access to lifesaving medicines and vaccines.

“I am thrilled to join TAG’s board. They have changed the game on access to medicines, and they never shy away from the fight for justice. I’m excited to learn from them and contribute to their tireless efforts in the US and around the world,” Nina said.

Nina is currently a Senior Scholar at Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Policy and Politics and an honorary professor at Queen Margaret University. She has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds a BA from Harvard University, an MPH from Columbia University, and a PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand.

“Nina has been an amazing colleague and ally to me and to TAG for over two decades of our work together to promote transformative changes in the TB and global health spaces,” said Mark Harrington, TAG’s executive director. “Nina’s career reflects so much of what TAG stands for: rigorous science, fearless advocacy, accountability, equity, and a commitment to turning research into real-world impact. Her deep respect across the scientific and global health communities will make her an enormous asset to TAG and our board.”

TAG Board President Ivy Kwan Arce said, “Nina has spent her career advancing global public health through science, policy, and advocacy. She now joins us at the table, bringing her experience, energy, and commitment to make our work stronger.”

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About TAG
Treatment Action Group (TAG) is an independent, activist and community-based research and policy think tank fighting for better treatment, prevention, a vaccine, and a cure for HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C virus. TAG works to ensure that all people with HIV, TB, and HCV receive lifesaving treatment, care, and information. We are science-based treatment activists working to expand and accelerate vital research and effective community engagement with research and policy institutions.