Derek Yach (born 21 November 1955) is a global public health expert and former president of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World.

[3] Yach's career has spanned over four decades, during which he has held numerous leadership roles in both the public and private sectors: Yach serves on several advisory boards, including the NIH's John E. Fogarty International Center,[10] the Board of Directors of Cornerstone Capital Group,[11] and the Wellcome Trust's Sustaining Health Committee.

Yach has authored or co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals such as Science, Nature, The BMJ, and The Lancet.

[13] Yach has received numerous accolades, including an honorary Doctor of Science from Georgetown University[14] and being a finalist for the Nelson Mandela Award in South Africa.

Yach is an avid open water swimmer and is passionate about combining artificial intelligence with biotechnology to enhance public health outcomes worldwide.