World Health Organisation – 17 May 2007
In early May, Time Magazine named Dr Judith Mackay one of the “most influential people in the world” in recognition of her role as a leading campaigner for stricter tobacco control measures and vigilant critic of tobacco industry practices. As a senior policy advisor to the World Health Organization, Mackay was one of the early architects of what is today a global momentum to implement smoke-free public places and workplaces and proven, effective tobacco control measures in countries around the world. A Hong Kong resident for 40 years, Mackay was also a key player in the development of the landmark WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, one of the most widely and rapidly endorsed treaties in United Nations history.
Mackay was among those honoured by Time Magazine at a ceremony 8 May 2007 at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Time Warner Building in New York. Among others named in Times Magazine’s “Top 100″ was New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who spearheaded the city’s successful public health campaign to make all workplaces smoke-free. In a separate initiative, Mr Bloomberg last year donated US $125 million to create a global initiative aimed at reducing tobacco use in developing countries where the number of smokers and health burden from tobacco use is highest. WHO is a key partner in the Bloomberg Global Initiative.
