Maimunah Mohd Sharif
Maimunah Mohd Sharif (born 26 August 1961) is the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).[3] From January 2019 to January 2020 she also concurrently served as the Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).[4][5] She holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations in the UN System and sits on the United Nations Chief Executives Board for Coordination and the Secretary-General's Senior Management Group.[6][7]
Maimunah Mohd Sharif | |
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Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) | |
Assumed office 22 January 2018 | |
Preceded by | Joan Clos |
Acting Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) | |
In office January 2019[1] – 8 January 2020 | |
Preceded by | Hanna Tetteh |
Succeeded by | Zainab Bangura |
Mayor of Penang Island[2] | |
In office July 2017 – December 2017 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia | 26 August 1961
Nationality | Malaysian |
Residence | Nairobi, Kenya |
Alma mater | University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology |
Website | unhabitat |
Prior to her appointment to UN-Habitat, Sharif was the Mayor of Penang Island, Malaysia. Before her appointment as Mayor, she had served as the President of the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai from 2011, the first woman to be appointed to the position.[8]
Family, early life and education
Maimunah Sharif was born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, on 26 August 1961. She attended the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science with honours in Town Planning Studies.[9] She also holds a Master of Science in Planning Studies from the Malaysia Science University.[10]
She is married to Adli Lai they have two daughters.[11]
UN-Habitat
On 22 December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly elected Maimunah Sharif as the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-Habitat. She was appointed by the UN Secretary General António Guterres for a four-year term.[12]
On 22 January 2018, Sharif assumed her post at UN-Habitat's Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.[13]
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In January 2019 Maimunah Mohd Sharif was designated as the Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi following the appointment of her predecessor, Hanna Tetteh, as Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union in Addis Ababa.[14]
Honors and awards
- Malaysian Institute of Planners - Planner of The Year 2014.[15]
- Habitat III in Quito - 2016 Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award[16]
- Malaysia Book of Records, January 2018 - first Asian woman to be appointed as Executive Director of UN-Habitat.[17]
References
- https://unon.org/content/office-director-general
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/07/01/mayor-role-for-council-president-maimunah-takes-over-on-island-while-rozali-assumes-seberang-prai-po/
- "Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif of Malaysia elected new Executive Director of UN-Habitat – UN-Habitat".
- "Office of the Director-General - UNON". unon.org.
- https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/personnel-appointments/2019-12-30/ms-zainab-hawa-bangura-of-sierra-leone-director-general-of-the-united-nations-office-nairobi-%28unon%29
- https://www.unsystem.org/content/executive-heads
- https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/senior-management-group
- "From mayor of Penang to 'Mayor of the World'". Malaysiakini.
- "In Oxford, UN Habitat chief urges interdisciplinary collaboration". 28 May 2018.
- "Our Executive Director". UN-Habitat. Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
- Vinesh, Derrick. "First female MPSP president looks back on her year - Community - The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my.
- "UN chief appoints Sharif of Malaysia as new head of UN-Habitat - Xinhua - English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com.
- Choong, Meng Yew. "A gruelling and hectic six months - Nation - The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my.
- https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/personnel-appointments/2018-12-10/ms-hanna-serwaa-tetteh-of-ghana-special-representative-the-african-union-and-head-of-the-united-nations-office-the-african-union-%28unoau%29
- "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com.
- Yuan, Chong Kah; Lim, Dominic. "Lady mayor bids goodbye - Metro News - The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my.
- "Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif – the first Asian female head of UN-habitat". www.iut.nu.
Positions in intergovernmental organisations | ||
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Preceded by![]() |
Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme UN-Habitat 2018–present |
Incumbent |