Mike Podmore is an advocacy and network specialist that has been working in the field of HIV, health, gender and human rights for 20 years. Since 2015, he has been CEO of STOPAIDS, an HIV, health and human rights advocacy network of 50 UK international development agencies working globally to end AIDS and realise all people’s right to health and wellbeing.

Prior to STOPAIDS, he was a policy manager at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and worked for nine years at VSO on HIV, gender and education policy.

Mike has two decades of experience in effectively building coalitions across multiple diverse stakeholders, developing and packaging powerful evidence, mobilising campaigners, the media and parliamentarians, and building strong relationships with decision-makers in the UK and globally to secure policy change. He served as a Board Member of the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria for 4 years and served for two years on their Strategy Committee. He is currently a trustee of Stamp Out Poverty (UK) and a trustee of WACI Health. He is also on the Steering Committee of the Global Fund Advocates Network and Action for Global Health UK.

Under his leadership, STOPAIDS has earned a well-recognised reputation as a best practice model for resource mobilisation advocacy for key global institutions such as the Global Fund, Unitaid, UNAIDS and the Robert Carr Network Fund. During Mike’s tenure, STOPAIDS has become a leading voice for securing more equal access to medicines; in ensuring the digital transformation is grounded in human rights; on the effective integration of HIV within Pandemic preparedness and response and universal health coverage; on ensuring the meaningful involvement of civil society and communities in global health governance; and promoting greater international cooperation, equality and solidarity.