The Global Water Partnership’s (GWP) Sponsoring Partners have selected Howard Bamsey, former executive director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), as the new chair of GWP. The appointment is effective immediately.
An Australian citizen, Bamsey has been a prominent leader in public service and diplomacy in the environmental field, particularly on climate change. Bamsey’s 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 at GCF.
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 characterized 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,” said Kenzo Hiroki, chair of GWP’s Nomination Committee, which unanimously recommended Bamsey for approval by the Sponsoring Partners. “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.”
“I’m joining GWP because I have seen the network’s ability to mobilize a large and inclusive partnership that takes action on many levels to improve the way water is managed,” said Bamsey on accepting the position. “The knowledge embedded with the network’s many partners is at the forefront of advancing water governance and a unique asset.”
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. He exited the GCF last July for personal reasons, but was lauded by GCF co-chair Lennart Båge as having done an “exceptional job”.
@hbamsey resigns from #GCFund. What an instrumental leader he has been to steer the direction of the fund. I hope the @GCF_News Board finds the difference between “what you have the right to do” vs. “what is the right thing to do”
— jahan chowdhury (@JahanChowNDCP) July 4, 2018
“We are excited to see Howard join GWP at a time when the network is developing its new strategy,” said 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.”
