Ms. Seema Bali, Principal of Trio World School, educator, climate leader, and public health advocate, made a powerful impact at the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) side events in Geneva, bringing critical grassroots perspectives to global policy dialogues. Representing the Healthy India Alliance (HIA) and the NCD Alliance’s Our Views, Our Voices Global Advisory Committee, Ms. Bali shared her profound journey from an “overwhelmed caregiver” to an “empowered advocate,” championing the institutionalization of lived experience in health governance.

At the session “In Conversation: Where Lived Experience Meets Policy,” co-hosted by the NCD Alliance and Boehringer Ingelheim, Ms. Bali emphasized that patient and caregiver engagement must be sustained and representative rather than tokenistic. “Do not leave any podium without your voice being heard,” she urged, emphasizing that true change occurs when communities actively shape solutions. She highlighted the Healthy India Alliance’s success in integrating meaningful engagement into India’s national NCD guidelines, proving that lived experience is essential expertise, not an afterthought.

Ms. Bali also lent her voice to the urgent intersection of climate change and public health at the panel “The Clean Air Dividend: Investing in Health for All,” alongside global health leaders from the WHO, UICC, and the Clean Air Fund. Addressing air pollution as a primary driver of non-communicable diseases, she joined experts in calling for governments to treat clean air as a non-negotiable human right and a smart economic investment. Throughout the assembly, her interventions reinforced a singular, powerful message: building equitable, responsive health systems requires continuous, meaningful engagement from the grassroots to the global stage.

Ms. Bali also participated in the session Leadership Dialogues – Climate and Health. In this session, she collaborated with Christie Oliver, Senior Manager of Public Policy and International Affairs at Haleon (UK), sharing vital insights on public policy and the power of global health partnerships.

Looking ahead, Ms. Bali and the Healthy India Alliance are already gearing up for the upcoming Global Week for Action on NCDs, set to take place from August 31 to September 4. This annual campaign unites the global health movement to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and advance health equity. Following the United Nations High-Level Meeting (#HLM4), this year’s focus on delivery, accountability, and driving measurable progress on NCDs and mental health. The campaign will officially kick off this June on International Yoga Day. Ms. Bali aims to translate international health goals into everyday, accessible practices for the community by launching the initiative locally.

The Trio World School community extends its heartiest congratulations to Ms. Seema Bali for her leadership and impactful representation on the global stage. By bringing these critical conversations about health, climate, and community empowerment back to our school, she continues to inspire our students and staff to think globally and act purposefully.