Who's who in #globaldev: May 2019 appointments

MANILA — Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s former health minister, is taking on new responsibilities. Starting July 1, he becomes the World Bank's new global director of health, nutrition and population, as well as the new director of the Global Financing Facility. He was previously CEO at Big Win Philanthropy, a U.K.-based foundation investing in African youth development. He has worked in government and academia, and with the private sector. As of July 1, he also takes on the title of “Julio Frenk Professor of Public Health Leadership” at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Australia The new Australian government headed by Scott Morrison has appointed Alex Hawke as new minister for international development and the Pacific. Hawke will serve a dual role as assistant minister for defense. His appointment, and the elevation of the position to minister, is seen by many as part of the Australian government’s increased attention to the Pacific amid growing Chinese influence in the region. World Health Organization The World Health Organization has four new goodwill ambassadors. At the recent 72nd World Health Assembly, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appointed former Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as its goodwill ambassador for health workforce. He also appointed Cynthia Germanotta, who co-founded the Born This Way Foundation with her daughter, singer Lady Gaga, as goodwill ambassador for mental health. Finally, Brazilian footballer Alisson Becker and his wife, doctor, and health advocate, Natália Loewe Becker, were appointed as goodwill ambassadors for health promotion. United Nations Gunilla Carlsson is currently serving as acting executive director of UNAIDS, following the resignation of Michel Sidibé, who was accused of failing to prevent or respond to allegations of harassment and abuse of authority at the agency. Sidibé initially proposed to quit in June despite calls from some members of the aid community, including some of UNAIDS’ donors, for him to leave immediately. Before his scheduled departure, however, he was appointed as the new minister of health and social affairs in Mali. A recruitment process is currently underway to find a permanent replacement. Other new U.N. appointments include: • David Gressly, U.N. deputy special representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as new U.N. emergency Ebola response coordinator. • Najat Maalla M’jid of Morocco as new special representative on violence against children. • Anita Bhatia of India as deputy executive director of UN Women for resource management, sustainability, and partnerships. • Gilles Michaud of Canada as U.N. under-secretary-general for safety and security. • James Swan of the United States as U.N. special representative for Somalia and head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Somalia. • Tatiana Valovaya of the Russian Federation as director-general of the U.N. Office at Geneva. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has also appointed a new set of high-profile Sustainable Development Goals advocates, including Alibaba founder Jack Ma, economist Jeffrey Sachs, and award-winning actor Forest Whitaker. Hewlett Foundation Dana Hovig is the new director of The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation’s global development and population program, and officially starts Aug. 15. He joins the foundation after having served as a director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for six years. Sentebale Richard Miller will be leading Sentebale, the charity co-founded by the U.K.’s Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, as its new chief executive. Miller has decades-long experience in the aid sector, and was previously chief executive of ActionAid UK. Counterpart International Ann Hudock is Counterpart International’s new president and CEO. Previously, she served as the organization’s executive vice president, overseeing its programs, business development, and communications. IPBES The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, an independent body providing policymakers with knowledge on the state of the planet’s biodiversity and ecosystems, has a new chair. Ana María Hernández Salgar was formerly head of international affairs, policy, and cooperation at the Alexander von Humboldt Research Institute for Biological Resources, and has served as head of the International Affairs Office in the Colombian Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development. Cardno Jaleen Moroney is the new president of Cardno’s U.S. division. She joins the company after 15 years at Nathan Associates, where she served in different senior level positions, including as vice president for economic policy and governance. Christian Aid Christian Aid has appointed two new directors. Nick Georgiadis will be director of fundraising and supporter engagement, while Patrick Watt will be director of policy, public affairs, and campaigns. Both have considerable experience in the charity sector. Watt is currently director of campaigns, advocacy, and communications at Save the Children International. Georgiadis is director of individual giving and product marketing at the British Heart Foundation.