Sunoor Verma

Dr Sunoor Verma is the Director of Partnerships and Advocacy at the Qatar Foundation.

Unlocking doors. Building bridges. Shaping tomorrow. Few have turned global experience into real-world impact quite as consistently as Dr Sunoor Verma. From advising the world’s top institutions to building complex coalitions in crisis zones, Dr Sunoor’s journey spans continents and causes, bringing a truly international and multidisciplinary profile to WISH at a pivotal moment in its evolution.

Raised across continents, Dr Sunoor has experienced life and work in Western and Southeastern Europe, North Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia, gaining firsthand insight into both local and global health challenges.

Dr. Sunoor has spent over 25 years shaping international development policy and driving strategic partnerships across continents. His distinguished advisory portfolio includes the University of Cambridge, the University of Geneva, Boston University, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNDP, and UN Women, among others. He is also recognised for founding three key policy centres: a Refugee and Migration Studies Centre for UNHCR, a Health Finance and Management Centre for UNICEF, and a Patient Safety Centre for a professional peak body in Australia. As the first Executive Director of the Geneva Health Forum, he led its transformation from a nationally anchored platform to one with global resonance. He practised cardiothoracic surgery before moving to global health.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Sunoor provided vital science communication guidance to Ministers of Health, Parliamentarians, and senior government spokespersons. His work has helped shape impactful responses to major health emergencies, including avian influenza outbreaks and tsunami crises, always placing trust-building and cross-sector collaboration at the forefront.

A passionate advocate for inclusive dialogue, Dr. Sunoor serves as Honorary President of The Himalayan Dialogues. He is also the series editor of the “Namaste” eleven-book collection, showcasing inspirational stories from the global South. His op-eds and commentaries are frequently published in globally respected newspapers and digital news portals.

At WISH-Qatar Foundation, Dr Sunoor was instrumental in crafting the WISH Transformation Strategy 2025–2034, which repositions the organisation from a world-renowned summit to a policy centre for global health diplomacy, innovation, and advocacy.

Dr. Sunoor’s unique ability to blend diplomacy, medical expertise, and coalition-building is exactly what is needed to guide WISH’s strategic positioning and foster meaningful global partnerships. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sunoor Verma to the WISH–Qatar Foundation leadership team.