Dr Godfrey C. Xuereb is a Maltese national and is currently the Ambassador-Designate of Malta to Brazil. Prior to this posting Dr Xuereb served as the 15^th Maltese Ambassador to the United States of America. He was also non-resident Ambassador to Mexico and High Commissioner to The Bahamas.

Dr Xuereb spent twenty-two years working for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). He held the post of Head of the Country and Subregional Cooperation Office within the Office of the Director of PAHO (2019-2023); served as the PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Countries (2014-2019); Team Leader for Population-based Prevention in the Department for Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO in Geneva (2007-2014) and as Public Health Nutritionist for the Caribbean (2001-2007).

During his tenure as the Ambassador of Malta to the United States of America (USA), Dr Xuereb ensured that diplomatic relations with the USA, Mexico and The Bahamas were strengthened, especially during the period when Malta occupied a non-permanent seat within the UN Security Council (2023-24) and when it was Chair-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (2024). Dr Xuereb also enhanced relations with the Maltese diaspora through increased communication and support to Malta’s Honorary Consul Corps, ensuring they were regularly briefed and trained, enabling them to perform their role more effectively. Through strengthening cultural and educational diplomacy Dr Xuereb widened knowledge of Malta within the USA, Mexico and The Bahamas. This led to greater trade and the identification of commercial potential between Malta and each of the three countries. As Ambassador to the USA, Dr Xuereb also served as Malta’s Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States (OAS) and has worked to elevate Malta’s visibility within this multilateral institution.

In his work with WHO/PAHO, Dr Xuereb led several projects relating to nutrition, physical activity for health and also led the health sector response following major natural disasters in the Eastern Caribbean. In addition to his role as PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr Xuereb also served as UN Resident Coordinator i.a., leading the UN Country team to launch the Barbados Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Gallery and was also a member of the Reference Group for the UN Transition Team Multi-Country Office (MCO) Review.

From 2019 to 2023, Dr Xuereb led the political liaison with all the PAHO/WHO Country Offices in the Americas and was an active member of the PAHO senior management team. He led PAHO’s activities within the UN system and was the Director’s representative for the UN Office for South-South Cooperation and the representative of the Americas within the WHO Global Country Office Coordination team. During the COVID-19 pandemic he had a pivotal role in political relations between the national authorities within Latin America and the Caribbean, and the PAHO/WHO Director.

Dr Xuereb has a PhD in Public Health and is specialized in Global Health Diplomacy, having gained his university education at the University of Malta, University of London (Kings College) UK and the University of the West Indies (Mona). Dr Xuereb has presented at several international scientific fora and is the main author of several publications in peer reviewed journals, as well as publications for patient education and continuing professional development for health care professionals. He has served as Vice-President and Secretary of the European Diabetes Education Study Group and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (UK).

Dr Xuereb is married to Kay and they have one adult son.

Countries and Territories covered: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines.