Kristelle Pascual

Kristelle Pascual is a licensed social worker from the Philippines, currently serving as Executive Director of a nonprofit addressing the country’s surgical backlog. Since 2020, she has led efforts that delivered over 5,000 free surgeries in more than 50 underserved provinces. In a country where access to timely surgical care remains a long-standing concern, these life-changing procedures—provided with high standards of quality and safety—have restored health, livelihoods, and dignity for thousands.

She earned her bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she graduated cum laude in 2015. Over the past decade, she has worked across government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, gaining extensive experience in child protection, migration, education, and community health. She has supported Filipino migrant workers and their families through psychosocial programs and training, served as a residential social worker for children-at-risk, and managed educational scholarships for indigent students. She also contributed to a corporate sustainability report aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led response efforts in partnership with government and non-government organizations. These included the distribution of essential supplies and PPE—often unavailable at the time—and free antigen testing to protect front line workers and prevent the spread of the virus through early detection.

Through the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) Program at Duke University, she aims to strengthen her leadership and policy skills to advance inclusive healthcare and social protection in the Philippines—and potentially on a global scale. In the long term, she hopes to explore broader roles in both national and international arenas, where the insights gained from the MIDP can create lasting impact. Ultimately, she aspires to help shape a more just, inclusive, and equitable world.