Dr Manisha Shridhar, Regional Advisor, World Health Organization- South East Asia Regional Office WHO-SEARO, India Dr Manisha Shridhar WHO- SEARO works on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), Regulation and trade for health and medical products (medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices). That includes trade and legal issues relating to public health e.g. in areas of communicable diseases, pandemic influenza preparedness framework, traditional medicines, international health regulations, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), tobacco control and nutrition. Dr Shridhar received her Master’s degree in Intellectual Property Law with specialization in Patent and Biotechnology Law and is a certified Mediator for IPRs disputes from Franklin Pierce Law Center, Concord, USA. She has an MSc Public Health degree from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Bachelor of Science (Botany, Zoology, Chemistry) from Delhi University, and Masters in Public Administration from Punjab University, Chandigarh, India. Her Doctorate on “Technology Innovation and Patent Activity in Indian Industry” is from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. As member of the Indian Administrative Service, Dr Shridhar worked in different capacities in Government of India. She was Principal Secretary in the State Government of Himachal Pradesh where she managed departments of Health, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Cooperation, Town and Country Planning, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture and Horticulture from time to time. She was District Magistrate in the state capital district of Shimla and in the district of Kangra at Dharamsala where she has performed quasi-judicial functions and also was responsible for public health government programs. She functioned as President of the District Red Cross Society and was associated with numerous health based voluntary associations. Dr. Shridhar served as the Joint Secretary with the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in the Government of India where, in addition to administrative assignments she prepared documents and reports on policy reform for growth and development of micro enterprises. She has drafted policy and briefing documents for WTO negotiations and other free trade agreements. As Head of Training Research and Development Wing in the National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, she designed and conducted training programs for senior Civil Servants from India and Sri Lanka on IPR and WTO issues. Dr Shridhar has written extensively and prepared case studies, study material for courses. She has scripted and produced a film on IPRs for World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). She assisted United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on Geographical Indications for traditional products. Dr Shridhar is fluent in Hindi, English and French.

MONTH	DATE	TIME	SESSION	SESSION TITLE
Nov 2020	04 Nov	19.00- 21.00 (BKK)	WS201	Assessing the Situation of COVID-19 and International Trade and Health