Dévora Kestel is a global expert in mental health policy, with over thirty years of international experience in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, implementing and advising governments on national policies related to mental health systems. She is a strong advocate for the rights of people with mental health issues.

Kestel obtained her BA in Psychology from the National University of La Plata, Argentina, and her Master's in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. After completing her university studies, she worked for 10 years developing and supervising community mental health services based in Trieste, Italy. In 2000 she joined the World Health Organization as a mental health officer, first in post-war Kosovo and then in Albania, where she also served as a WHO Representative.

In 2007, Ms. Kestel joined the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), where she worked initially for the Caribbean countries, and then in Washington DC headquarters, providing technical cooperation in mental health to the Region of the Americas. In 2015 she became head of the Mental Health and Substance Use Unit at PAHO/WHO.

Since 2019, Dévora Kestel has been WHO Director of Mental Health and Substance Use.