NEW YORK– Global Action to End Smoking has announced the appointment of Nataliia “Natasha” Toropova as its new Chief Development Officer. A veteran in international public health and tobacco harm reduction, Toropova will lead the organization’s efforts to expand philanthropic funding for initiatives aimed at eliminating smoking-related deaths worldwide.
Toropova brings decades of experience to the role, including leadership positions at the World Health Organization and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in Eastern Europe. Most recently, she served for six years as CEO of Healthy Initiatives, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Under her leadership, Healthy Initiatives—also a grantee of Global Action—trained hundreds of healthcare providers across nine countries on the benefits of tobacco harm reduction, especially for individuals unable or unwilling to quit smoking through traditional methods.
“I’m honored to join Global Action, an organization that shares my values of compassion and my vision of a world without smoking-related deaths,” said Toropova. “I look forward to expanding support for the innovative, life-saving work already underway.”
In addition to advancing harm reduction, Healthy Initiatives has been active in humanitarian aid, delivering tourniquets, ambulances, and mental health services to communities in Ukraine affected by war. Toropova’s deep understanding of both public health and operational challenges in conflict zones positions her well to drive global support for Global Action’s work.
“Natasha brings a bold vision, deep expertise, and an unwavering commitment to public health,” said Pam Parizek, Executive Board Chair of Global Action. “She has witnessed firsthand the impact our funding can have and is the ideal leader to grow our partnerships and strengthen our philanthropic reach.”
Toropova joins the organization at a critical moment. Following a recent reorganization, Global Action has ensured its long-term viability, pledging to operate until its mission to end smoking is achieved. This restructuring secures funding for both current grantees and future initiatives. Current grantees include Northwell Health, the National Harm Reduction Coalition, and ECLAT, a research organization affiliated with the University of Catania.
Working closely with the executive leadership team, Toropova will oversee fundraising strategy and outreach to support ongoing and new research and education efforts.
“Global Action remains steadfast in its mission,” said Heidi Goldstein, President and Chief Legal Officer of Global Action. “We’ve guaranteed that this organization will continue its work until we see the end of the global smoking epidemic—and Natasha will be key in helping us get there.”
