Jalaa’ holds a Master of Public Health in Infectious Disease Epidemiology from University of Michigan School of Public Health (Ann Arbor). He joined GAVI in February 2022 as the Director of Vaccine Programmes leading the team responsible for the design and roll-out of new and underutilized vaccine introductions including Rota, PCV, HPV and Malaria, supporting preventive and outbreak response campaigns including for measles, rubella and stock-pile vaccines such as cholera, Ebola, meningitis and Yellow Fever as well as strengthening detection through introduction and use of new diagnostics tools.

Immediately prior to joining Gavi, Jalaa’ worked at UNICEF Cambodia Country Office as Deputy Representative Programmes where he managed the Health and Nutrition, Education, WASH, Child Protection and Public Financing for Children programmes and coordinated humanitarian programming including flood response and COVID-19 responses and recovery.

Jalaa’ spent over 20 years working for the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and UNICEF among others on infectious disease control and eradication programmes primarily in Africa and Asia with a focus on equity and supporting fragile and conflict affected countries. He comes with a wealth of applied experience in nurturing leadership, team building, change management, and strategy and partnership development.

Jalaa’ is Palestinian; He has lived in Palestine, Egypt, Kenya, Cambodia, Australia, US, and Switzerland. He speaks Arabic and English.

Jalaa’ is passionate about swimming, dancing, reading, painting, social justice and spending quality time with loved ones, preferably by the sea.