Ferdinand Strobel is a Global Health & Development Specialist with over 25 years of experience working in more than 30 countries across Africa, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. He has held senior roles within the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations, focusing on a broad range of initiatives from humanitarian response to long-term development and global health.

As a Freelance Consultant (2021–present), Ferdinand has provided strategic and technical advisory services to health and development projects in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly focusing on noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention, policy development, and program implementation. Notable recent achievements include evidence-based recommendations to enhance communication for NCD prevention in the Pacific Islands and territories, as well as an economic case for the prevention of NCDs in Fiji. This work had major policy implications at the national level, informed the development of a new national strategy, and was cited by the Prime Minister.

While working with the World Health Organization (2019-2021), Ferdinand successfully coordinated technical assistance for the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) across six countries, fostering policy and legal reforms that enhanced national tobacco control measures and reduced public health risks.

During his tenure as a Regional Health & Development Advisor with the United Nations Development Programme (2007-2019), Ferdinand provided high-level policy and technical support to 15 Pacific Island nations. He spearheaded efforts in addressing the social determinants of health, rights and gender issues, and established and advised large-scale multi-country health programs focused on HIV, TB, malaria.

Earlier in his career, Ferdinand managed post-tsunami recovery programs in Thailand (2004-2007) and led transition programs from emergency response to long-term development in Burundi as the Assistant Country Director of Concern Worldwide (2002-2003). His work with Médecins Sans Frontières (1999-2001) included coordinating medical and nutritional relief operations in conflict zones, delivering life-saving interventions in South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Liberia.

Fluent in French, English, and regional languages like Bislama, Ferdinand holds an MSc in International Development from the Institut Supérieur d’Agro-économie du Développement International (ISTOM), France. He has published on NCD prevention, trade and health policy, and HIV prevention.