Dr Mikkelsen comes from a position as Director of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) at the World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, a post she has held since 2020.
Prior, Dr Mikkelsen was Director of the Division of NCDs and Promoting Health through the Life course at the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Head of the Secretariat for the Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of NCDs from its inception in 2014 and a former CEO of the Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.
In her previous roles, Dr Mikkelsen has been instrumental in advancing the NCD agenda, elevating attention to the matter globally, not least in low- and middle-income countries. She brings a wealth of experience relating to NCDs, Universal Health Coverage, health systems strengthening, multi-sectoral action, and integrated, people-centred care. While at the WHO, she has spearheaded international efforts at the UN High-Level Meetings on NCDs and the first-ever global treatment coverage targets for diabetes, adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2022. Dr Mikkelsen has also been essential in fostering collaboration between WHO and Non-State Actors through various initiatives, including the Global Diabetes Compact.
Dr Mikkelsen is trained as a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician and holds a master’s degree in health administration and management from the University of Oslo.