Abbira Nadarajah
About the World Summit on Social Development
The United Nations General Assembly, through its resolutions 78/261 and 78/318, decided to convene the “World Social Summit” in 2025, under the title “the Second World Summit for Social Development” to be held in Doha, Qatar from 4-6 November.
The Summit will convene heads of State or Government, along with other leaders and CSOs, to address gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action and its implementation and give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Advancing Healthy Ageing as a Cornerstone of Social Development
As populations age at unprecedented rates, the global community faces a decisive moment: will we adapt policies and systems to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to age with dignity, health, and voice, or risk leaving millions behind? Our work demonstrates that investing in healthy ageing strengthens entire societies, from resilient health systems and inclusive labour markets to sustainable urban development and intergenerational solidarity. The ageing agenda must be a core component of the sustainable development agenda.
Abbira recently started the role of Project and Policy Coordinator at the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) in 2024. Abbira brings robust work experience in academic, government, and non-government settings.
She graduated with a Master of Public Health from the University of Toronto in June 2024, specializing in Public Health Policy. Abbira also earned her Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc.) at McMaster University in 2022, with a minor in Health, Ageing, and Society. Her academic journey reflects a diverse range of research topics, including addressing community and physical mobility among older adults and investigating a novel microemulsion-based drug delivery system to treat glaucoma.
Outside of academia, her work experiences in community organizations and government settings have addressed the barriers individuals face in accessing substance use care supports and mobilized research to build health-promoting policies and programs. She is enthusiastic about addressing the challenges faced by older adults and believes her role at the IFA provides an excellent platform to meaningfully contribute to the recognition and success of this demographic.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Abbira enjoys reading, photography, and hiking.