The UCL Institute for Global Health was honoured to welcome Professor Natalia Kanem to deliver the UCL–Lancet Lecture 2026, ‘Futurecasting 21st Century Global Health: Anticipating Threats and Preparing Responses’.
In a wide‑ranging lecture, Professor Kanem looked ahead to the end of this century, outlining intersecting global health threats including pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, conflict, demographic change and rapidly evolving technologies. She emphasised that these challenges require coordinated action across societies, systems and disciplines.
Professor Kanem highlighted that ensuring longer, healthier lives for all will depend on:
- Societies that choose peace over conflict
- Institutions that earn and sustain public trust
- Policies that uphold equity, rights and education
- Investment in robust health systems capable of withstanding shocks
- A culture of long‑term thinking, where anticipation and preparedness guide decision-making
Following the formal programme, conversations continued among students, researchers, practitioners and partners, reflecting on how public health can help shape fairer and more resilient futures.
Professor Natalia Kanem is a distinguished global health leader with four decades of experience advancing the health and rights of women and children. Formerly UN Under‑Secretary‑General and Executive Director of UNFPA, she now serves as Distinguished Scholar at CUNY’s Graduate School of Public Health. A physician and epidemiologist, she has held senior roles in philanthropy and academia, and co-chairs the Lancet Commission on 21st‑Century Global Health Threats.
We extend our thanks to everyone who joined us for the lecture, panel discussion and networking reception, and to The Lancet and UCL Grand Challenges for supporting this important annual event.
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