Dr Shakira Choonara is a multi-award-winning public health practitioner, 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 a bold activist. She is currently a Technical Specialist at the World Health Organization supporting the Department of Health Workforce and Sexual and Reproductive Health and is appointed as the Thematic Lead on Bodily Autonomy and SRHR at UN Women. She is widely recognized for her work on universal health coverage, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health rights and youth development.