Marina Agoundou is a public health professional who first graduated in France with a Master in Biochemistry and specialized in the Quality Control of pharmaceutical products.

 

This study path led her to work between 2003 and 2011 in pharmaceutical laboratories in the Netherlands and in UK including for the Health Protection Agency where she functioned as the quality expert for developing and validating innovative analytical methods for the release of more potent and safer Hepatitis B vaccines. She authored several internal Standard Operating Procedures and also trained technicians in advanced laboratory techniques, ensuring superior analysis quality and thus contributed to the accreditations of the laboratories and the integrity of the medicines’ registration process.

 

Passionate about improving the health of the poor, Marina joined in 2012 the Overseas Women Foundation of Bangalore where she was the Vice President Charity until 2014.

 

In this role, she led a committee of charity representatives, coordinating efforts and chairing meetings to ensure effective support for various local Non-Governmental Organisations serving the marginalized who suffer from HIV, terminally ill cancer, or undernutrition. She oversaw visits to the charities, assessed their needs, and prepared grant applications for funding considerations. She also advocated for the inclusion of new charities and ensured that existing ones adhere to legal and procedural requirements.

 

In 2015, Marina moved to Thailand with her husband and she devoted her time and talent to raise their 3 children. Meanwhile, Marina further specialized in 2020, with a Master in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that added to her practical experience, an in-depth understanding of current major public health issues in developing countries including the control of infectious diseases, vaccinations or global health governance and cooperation.

 

She has since then, been involved in various public health initiatives including giving speeches to high school students in Thailand on HIV and health inequalities, or consulting as a Medical writing expert for Dreamlopment and she is currently exploring a future collaboration as a nutrition specialist for a Non Govermental organization serving children with autism in Kenya.