Before joining Global Development, Michele Galen was Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Shire Global and prior to that Chief Communication Officer of the Novartis Group. She developed expertise in global health, policy and communications issues impacting cancer, vaccines, malaria, leprosy and maternal and infant health. As a member of the Novartis Corporate Responsibility Steering Group, Michele supported the emerging shift to shared value, promoted global visibility and successfully leveraged corporate responsibility to drive employee engagement. She also represented Novartis Oncology with global stakeholders, patient groups and the media around diverse access issues and was engaged in the public debate around pricing, IP and access to medicines.

Prior to Novatis, Michele oversaw the Glivec® International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP), one of the most comprehensive and far-reaching cancer access programs ever developed in Africa and underserved countries. She was a key driver in evolving the GIPAP “philanthropy” model into sustainable “shared contribution” programs built on multi-stakeholder support and involvement. She played a leadership and liaison role across business, government and patient advocacy leaders to design, implement and execute the differential pricing brand for Exjade, also known as Asunra, which is still marketed today.

Michele further served as the managing director of Burson Marsteller, one of the world’s top PR firms. While there, she developed a sub-specialty in strategic philanthropy and was an editor at Business Week Magazine in Social Issues & Legal Affairs. She is a member of the New York State Bar and worked as an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York, where she focused on intellectual property.

She currently serves on the board of directors of GO (Global Oncology) and on the advisory board of MK&A, a global healthcare consultancy. Michele served as a board member of the Stupid Cancer nonprofit and the Global Health Council (the leading membership organization supporting and connecting advocates, implementers and stakeholders around global health priorities worldwide) and as adviser to the UNICEF Office of Public Advocacy.

After earning a B.A. in psychology from George Washington University, Michele graduated with an M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.