Andrea Kidd Taylor, DrPH, MSPH, embodies the personification of the American Dream. Born of a middle class Southern family in the late 20th century, she was one of the first African-American children to attend, and thereby, de-segregate an all white school.

Reflecting her family’s strong background in organised labour, Taylor worked as an industrial hygienist and occupational health policy consultant for the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), playing a seminal part in many Right-to-Know programmes throughout the USA.

“To achieve gains in health, public policies must be implemented that overcome discrimination and reduce exploitation of labor, thereby promoting socioeconomic equity and improved health status for all people.”

Unafraid to tackle major health policy questions, she served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, and has represented organised labour on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. In 1998, Taylor was appointed to the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), empowered to investigate major chemical accidents that involve deaths or serious harm to workers and the public.