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Toropova brings decades of experience in international public health and tobacco harm reduction to Global Action's team of experts committed to funding work to end the smoking epidemic.
NEW YORK, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Action to End Smoking is pleased to announce the appointment of Nataliia "Natasha" Toropova as its new Chief Development Officer, effective immediately.
"I'm honored to join Global Action, an organization that shares my own values of compassion for those who smoke and my vision of a world without smoking-related deaths," said Toropova.
Natasha will lead Global Action's efforts to expand its philanthropic reach by funding critical research and initiatives that accelerate progress toward ending smoking worldwide. She brings decades of experience in public health, tobacco control, and fundraising including as a Programme Manager for the World Health Organization (WHO) and as an Advocacy Coordinator at Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids in Eastern Europe. In these roles, she not only promoted public health initiatives but also led successful fundraising campaigns to support their missions.
Most recently, Natasha completed her six-year tenure as CEO of Healthy Initiatives, a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening public health by addressing the risk of non-communicable diseases in countries including Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. As a grantee of Global Action, Healthy Initiatives has educated hundreds of health care providers across nine countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia on the benefits of tobacco harm reduction for people who cannot or will not quit smoking—especially amid the stress of global conflict. The team has also provided critical aid—including CAT tourniquets, ambulances, and mental health support—to the areas most impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
"Natasha brings a bold vision, deep expertise, and an unwavering commitment to public health," said Pam Parizek, Executive Board Chair of Global Action. "She's seen firsthand the positive impact Global Action's support can have to accelerate smoking cessation, and is the perfect person to lead our efforts to secure additional funding for this life-saving work."
Natasha joins Global Action at a pivotal time as the organization reinvigorates its commitment to grantees. Through a recent reorganization, Global Action has ensured its ability to exist until its mission to end smoking is completed, allowing it to honor existing commitments and fund future grants. Natasha's development work will directly support Global Action's grantees, which currently include projects with organizations such as Northwell Health, the National Harm Reduction Coalition and ECLAT, a research-based spinoff of the University of Catania. She will work closely with the executive leadership team to carry out her fundraising and outreach duties.
"Global Action remains steadfast in its commitment to its mission," said Heidi Goldstein, President and Chief Legal Officer of Global Action. "We have now guaranteed that our organization will last to see the end of the global smoking epidemic."
About Global Action to End Smoking
Global Action to End Smoking is an independent U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization whose charitable mission is to end combustible tobacco use, which remains the leading preventable cause of death globally. Historically, Global Action received funding from PMI Global Services, Inc. (PMI). As of September 2023, Global Action and PMI terminated their original funding agreement, and Global Action formally adopted a policy not to seek or accept funding from companies that produce tobacco or non-medicinal nicotine products.
Media Contact:
Katherine Ellen Foley
202-215-9971
Katherine.Foley@actiontoendsmoking.org
Toropova brings decades of experience in international public health and tobacco harm reduction to Global Action's team of experts committed to funding work to end the smoking epidemic.
NEW YORK, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Action to End Smoking is pleased to announce the appointment of Nataliia "Natasha" Toropova as its new Chief Development Officer, effective immediately.
"I'm honored to join Global Action, an organization that shares my own values of compassion for those who smoke and my vision of a world without smoking-related deaths," said Toropova.
Natasha will lead Global Action's efforts to expand its philanthropic reach by funding critical research and initiatives that accelerate progress toward ending smoking worldwide. She brings decades of experience in public health, tobacco control, and fundraising including as a Programme Manager for the World Health Organization (WHO) and as an Advocacy Coordinator at Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids in Eastern Europe. In these roles, she not only promoted public health initiatives but also led successful fundraising campaigns to support their missions.
Most recently, Natasha completed her six-year tenure as CEO of Healthy Initiatives, a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening public health by addressing the risk of non-communicable diseases in countries including Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. As a grantee of Global Action, Healthy Initiatives has educated hundreds of health care providers across nine countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia on the benefits of tobacco harm reduction for people who cannot or will not quit smoking—especially amid the stress of global conflict. The team has also provided critical aid—including CAT tourniquets, ambulances, and mental health support—to the areas most impacted by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
"Natasha brings a bold vision, deep expertise, and an unwavering commitment to public health," said Pam Parizek, Executive Board Chair of Global Action. "She's seen firsthand the positive impact Global Action's support can have to accelerate smoking cessation, and is the perfect person to lead our efforts to secure additional funding for this life-saving work."
Natasha joins Global Action at a pivotal time as the organization reinvigorates its commitment to grantees. Through a recent reorganization, Global Action has ensured its ability to exist until its mission to end smoking is completed, allowing it to honor existing commitments and fund future grants. Natasha's development work will directly support Global Action's grantees, which currently include projects with organizations such as Northwell Health, the National Harm Reduction Coalition and ECLAT, a research-based spinoff of the University of Catania. She will work closely with the executive leadership team to carry out her fundraising and outreach duties.
"Global Action remains steadfast in its commitment to its mission," said Heidi Goldstein, President and Chief Legal Officer of Global Action. "We have now guaranteed that our organization will last to see the end of the global smoking epidemic."
About Global Action to End Smoking
Global Action to End Smoking is an independent U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization whose charitable mission is to end combustible tobacco use, which remains the leading preventable cause of death globally. Historically, Global Action received funding from PMI Global Services, Inc. (PMI). As of September 2023, Global Action and PMI terminated their original funding agreement, and Global Action formally adopted a policy not to seek or accept funding from companies that produce tobacco or non-medicinal nicotine products.
Media Contact:
Katherine Ellen Foley
202-215-9971
Katherine.Foley@actiontoendsmoking.org
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Global Action to End Smoking Welcomes Nataliia Toropova as Chief Development Officer
BEIJING, March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:
More and more travelers to Southwest China's Yunnan province are choosing to stay there longer and longer, and run their own businesses, attracted by the province's distinctive industries and comfortable living environment, said Wang Ning, secretary of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.
The province welcomed 53 million tourist visits during this year's Spring Festival holiday. Over the past year, about 5.5 million tourists, known as "sojourners" locally, have chosen to stay in Yunnan for more than two weeks at a time, official statistics showed.
"What delights us even more is that a growing number of people are settling in Yunnan to pursue entrepreneurship. Attracted by Yunnan's unique charm, they aspire for a better life," Wang said, adding that Yunnan's charm lies in its "purity, beauty, novelty and uniqueness".
"Pure nature nourishes simple hearts, which nurture pure dreams. The sea of clouds on Ailao Mountain, the tea forests in Jingmai Mountain and the blue waves of Fuxian Lake, as well as the conversations by the fire pit, the smiling faces at the market and the mutual help in the villages, all help people reconnect with their original dreams and the very purpose they started with," he said.
Besides, Yunnan's picturesque landscapes, magnificent scenery and rich culture provide an endless source of inspiration for entrepreneurs, he said. Time-honored crafts, such as the Yi embroidery of Chuxiong, the purple pottery of Jianshui and the silverware of Heqing, have been revitalized by many young entrepreneurs at their workshops.
Wang added that every year Yunnan witnesses new changes that bring new opportunities. In just three to four years, the output of the province's coffee industry has grown from less than 10 billion yuan ($1.45 billion) to nearly 100 billion yuan. Many sojourners in Yunnan have gone on to open coffee shops, run coffee plantations and sell coffee via livestreaming.
Yunnan's climate, which is neither severely cold in winter nor unbearably hot in summer, is a huge draw, "offering great potential for the health and wellness tourism and outdoor sports", he added.
The province also occupies a unique geographical location as a frontier opening up to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The China-Laos Railway has been reporting large passenger and cargo volumes.
"Everyone with a dream and the courage to explore can find their own place in Yunnan," Wang said.
In recent years, the province has become a magnet for entrepreneurs and expatriates seeking a blend of culture and business opportunities.
After 10 years of the fast pace in Shanghai, Zhang Yu and his wife moved to Dali in Yunnan in 2019, as he believed that as a place welcoming all, Dali was diverse, inclusive and gave newcomers a strong sense of belonging, along with beautiful mountains, waters, ancient towns and ethnic customs.
In April that year, the couple rented a courtyard near Dali Ancient City and converted it into an apartment with rooms available for renting. Their business later expanded to eight courtyards and about 100 rooms, each equipped with a kitchen, stove and refrigerator.
"In the beginning, we just wanted to cover our daily expenses. Later, we found that Yunnan has a very good business environment," Zhang said.
Chen Yuxin used to sojourn in Dali every year while working in Beijing. In 2023, she moved the headquarters of her company, Wonder Wander Coffee, to Dali to better connect with the source of the products.
Chen said that she has hired many good locals, and is invited to tea parties hosted by the local government routinely to share resources and solve problems. Her company has been growing fivefold every year.
"I met a British couple who had sojourned in Dali for a year. With their help, I'm promoting Yunnan coffee beans in London," she added.
French traveler and cook Vincent Aguesse has lived in Kunming, the provincial capital, since 2015, married a local woman and opened a French restaurant.
For him, Yunnan's wild mushrooms are the most unique gift of the land and climate. Every August and September, he combines fresh wild mushrooms with French cooking techniques to create fusion dishes, including chicken braised with wild chanterelles in white wine.
"Food has helped me get to know, adapt to and integrate into life in Yunnan. But my exploration of this land has only just begun," he said.
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Visitors become entrepreneurs, discover opportunities in Yunnan
