Claire Topal serves as Vice President of International Health and Society, Director of the Center for Health and Aging (CHA), and Managing Director of the Pacific Health Summit.

Ms. Topal directs research, publications, and health policy labs for CHA. Her areas of focus include health information technology; malnutrition; emerging infections and pandemics; vaccines; and maternal, newborn, and child health.

As Managing Director for the Pacific Health Summit, she oversees the development of the agenda and relationships with key partners and participants. Since joining NBR in 2005, she has worked closely with the Executive Director and Executive Committee to shape and implement the Summit's strategic direction.

Prior to joining NBR, Ms. Topal taught fine art and English literature in Shanghai and worked for the social science journal, Issues & Studies: An International Quarterly on China, Taiwan, and East Asian Affairs in Taipei. She was previously an Associate Account Executive at the Vantage Consulting Group and has also worked at the International Desk of the Associated Press and the Cultural Affairs office at the Louvre.

Ms. Topal holds an AB in French and Studies in Modernism, Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude, from Cornell University and an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, where she focused on Pacific Asia studies and conflict resolution.