As Africa continues to confront a complex mix of old and emerging health challenges - from infectious diseases and underfunded healthcare systems to the growing burden of non-communicable illnesses and the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic - few people have had a closer view of the continent's public health journey over the past decade than Dr Matshidiso Moeti. Dr Moeti recently completed a historic 10-year tenure as Regional Director for Africa at the World Health Organisation, becoming the first woman to lead the organisation on the continent. During that time, she helped steer Africa through some of its most difficult public health moments, including Ebola outbreaks, COVID-19, and the fight to strengthen healthcare systems across the region. Her leadership also placed strong emphasis on resilience, universal health coverage, local ownership of health priorities, and gender equity in public health leadership.  Peter Ndoro spoke to Dr Moeti about her reflections on a decade at the helm of WHO Africa, the progress made, the setbacks faced, and the future of public health on the continent. He began by asking her what she had hoped for WHO Africa at the beginning of her tenure as Regional Director.