She has served as Pro-Chancellor of the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) since September 2021, Professor and Executive Director of Sunway Centre for Planetary Health since August 2021, and Senior Fellow at the Adrienne-Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center.

[5] In 2008, she was one of the 16 members appointed by Ban Ki-moon, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations to Advisory Group of the Central Emergency Response Fund.

[8] She started her career in Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, and was a lecturer in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Medical Faculty of UKM until 1995.

"I am extremely grateful and honoured to be appointed to lead the charge in such an important initiative, and that a Malaysian has been selected for the role," said Dr Jemilah in a statement.

"[13] Starting in March 2020, Jemilah has been officially appointed as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, on Public Health issues.