Keizo Takemi is Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan and a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Member of the House of Councillors. Prof. Takemi has been involved in various global health initiatives, serving roles like Chair of the parliamentary caucus on Stop TB Partnership, WHO expert working group on R&D Financing, the international organizing committee of the Prince Mahidol Award Conference (PMAC) and co-Chairman of the UK-Japan 21st Century Group. In 2016, he was appointed to the UN High Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth, and in 2018, to the UHC Financing Advisory Committee for the G20 2019. Recognized for his contributions, he was appointed WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) from 2019-2022 and Co-Chair of the UNDP’s High-Level Advisory Panel for the Special Report on Human Security in May 2021. Prof. Takemi is also a visiting professor at a number of universities around Japan. He is the co-author of Global Action for Health System Strengthening: Policy Recommendations to the G8 (2009), and has contributed numerous articles in English and Japanese to journals such as The Lancet, Asia-Pacific Review, and Gaiko [Diplomacy]. In September 2023, he assumed the role of Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in the Japanese government, furthering his commitment to advancing health and welfare initiatives.