Dr Katherine Helena Oliveira de Matos

Dr Katherine Helena Oliveira de Matos is currently Food Safety Technical Officer at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and brings more than 20 years of experience advancing food safety in diverse global settings.

She is a Food Engineer and holds a PhD in Food Engineering. Her professional background spans the private sector, non-profit organizations and international institutions, reflecting a strong commitment to strengthening food safety systems across countries and regions.

Prior to joining WPRO, Dr Matos served as a food safety consultant at WHO Headquarters, where she contributed to major initiatives including the development of the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety and the establishment of the WHO Alliance for Food Safety. She has also supported the WHO Regional Office for the Americas as a food safety consultant.

Dr Matos is passionate about innovative and collaborative approaches to food safety, with particular interests in alternative proteins and digital traceability to support safer and more sustainable food systems.