Anahit Avanesian (born 21 March 1981) is an Armenian jurist and the current Armenian Minister of Health.[1] Before, she has been a jurist in the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the pharmaceutical industry.
Anahit Avanesian | |
|---|---|
Անահիտ Ավանեսյան | |
| Minister of Health | |
| Assumed office 18 January 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Arsen Torosyan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 March 1981 |
| Citizenship | Armenian |
| Alma mater | Yerevan State University |
| Occupation | Jurist |
Education
She enrolled in the Faculty of Law of the Yerevan State University in 1997 from where she earned a M.Sc. in Civil Law in 2003.[2] She followed up on her studies at the American University of Armenia, graduating from the Master Programme in Law.[3] Between 2002 and 2004, she took part in Leadership Programs of the Leadership Development Center and the South Caucasus Young Women Leadership program.[2]
Professional career
Her professional career began in 2000 as a jurist for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Reserve Agency in the Ministry of Emergency situations.[2] From 2005 until 2015 she was a jurist for the NGO Democracy Today.[3] By 2014 she transferred into the pharmaceutical industry to Arpharmacia where she acted as member of the board from 2017 and 2018.[2]
Political career
She entered the public administration in May 2018 as a deputy Health Minister, becoming in May 2020 the First Deputy Health Minister.[4] In January 2021, she became the successor of Health Minister Arsen Torosyan (hy) from the Civil Contract[1] and is the only woman in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Nikol Pashynian.[5] As Health Minister, she was a central figure responsible for dealing with affronting the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7]
Personal life
She is married and has three children.[2]