About the Speaker
![Philippe Douste-Blazy](https://oslofreedomforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Speaker-Philippe-Douste-Blazy-V1-293x300.png)
Philippe
Douste-Blazy
French physician and politician
Philippe Douste-Blazy is a French cardiologist, politician, and former minister of culture and foreign minister of France. He was the mayor of Lourdes from 1989–2000 and Toulouse from 2001–2004. Since 2008, Douste-Blazy has been a special adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Innovative Financing for Development. Douste-Blazy is also responsible for organizing the first World Conference of Non-Governmental Donors, which seeks to raise funds to facilitate the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. In 2017, Douste-Blazy’s name appeared on the shortlist of candidates for director general of the World Health Organization.