The Global Water Partnership’s (GWP) Sponsoring Partners have selected Mr. Howard Bamsey, former Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), as the new Chair of GWP. The appointment is effective immediately.
Mr. Bamsey, a citizen of Australia, has been a prominent leader in public service and diplomacy in the environmental field, particularly climate change. His diplomatic career included time as Ambassador to the UN (Geneva); Chief Executive, Australian Greenhouse Office; Deputy Secretary, Department of Climate Change; and Special Envoy on Climate Change. Later, he was Director General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and then Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
He resigned as executive director of the GCF with immediate effect on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in a bombshell finish to a fraught board meeting. The Australian cited “pressing personal reasons” in his resignation letter, adding that it was best he leaves before the next round of fundraising started. It came as the four-day meeting in Songdo, South Korea collapsed with no decisions on 11 funding bids worth nearly $1 billion.
Mr. Bamsey, a graduate of the University of Queensland, is Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University, and an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University.
“Mr. Bamsey’s leadership style, as characterised by his deep strategic thinking, advocacy skills, belief in teamwork, and his extensive international network, will help GWP sail through a rapidly changing water world towards achievement of the SDGs. He will be able to build a bridge with those beyond the water sector – who need to take water into consideration as they make planning and investment decisions,” said Mr. Kenzo Hiroki, Chair of GWP’s Nomination Committee, which unanimously recommended Mr. Bamsey for approval by the Sponsoring Partners.
In accepting the position, Mr. Bamsey said, “I’m joining GWP because I have seen the network’s ability to mobilise a large and inclusive partnership that takes action on many levels to improve the way water is managed. The knowledge embedded with the network’s many partners is at the forefront of advancing water governance and a unique asset.”
Mr. Bamsey co-chaired the United Nations “Dialogue on Long-term Cooperative Action on Climate Change” from 2006 to 2007 and served as Australia’s Special Envoy on Climate Change and Deputy Secretary at the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency from 2008 to 2010.
“We are excited to see Howard join GWP at a time when the network is developing its new strategy,” confirmed Monika Weber-Fahr, GWP’s Executive Secretary. “With his broad network and focus on climate change action, Howard will take us forward, enhancing our impact as we help water management and governance to serve the development agenda more broadly.”
