Judith Mackay

Judith is a public health leader known for her global work in tobacco control and efforts to reduce smoking-related harm. After graduating from Edinburgh Medical School in 1966, she moved to Hong Kong, where her experiences as a doctor led her to focus on the health impacts of smoking and the influence of the tobacco industry.

She became a key adviser on tobacco control, including to the Chinese government, helping to introduce policies that have improved public health and saved lives. Her work has had an international impact across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. As one leading researcher noted, “Worldwide, Judith Mackay has achieved far more than any other tobacco control activist.”

Judith has also been an advocate for women in public health, working to ensure that women’s health and participation are better represented in research and policy. She helped establish the International Network of Women Against Tobacco and supported changes to increase women’s involvement in global conferences.

She has received many international honours, including being named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people and receiving a lifetime achievement award from the BMJ. She has also supported research and students at the University of Edinburgh over many years.