YBHG. DATO’ SERI MAIMUNAH MOHD SHARIF Executive Director The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) 2018-2024 The Background of
Following the recommendation of the United Nations Secretary-General, after consultation with Member States, the General Assembly confirmed Maimunah Mohd Sharif of Malaysia as Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for a further two years beginning 20 January 2022 and ending 19 January 2024. Before becoming Executive Director, Ms. Sharif served as Mayor of Penang in Malaysia and was the President of the Malaysian Association of Local Authorities (MALA). She has over 30 years of experience in urban planning, urban regeneration and community-led development. A town planner by profession, Ms. Sharif was Co-President of United Cities and Local Government for Asia Pacific (UCLG-ASPAC). She was also elected to represent South East Asia in the Global Executive Committee of ICLEI (Local Government for Sustainability). She spear-headed gender participatory budgeting in Malaysia and led heritage conservation work in the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since joining the United Nations in 2018, Ms. Sharif has re-positioned UN-Habitat as a thought leader in sustainable urbanization. She is the Co-Chair of the SecretaryGeneral’s Task Force on the Future of Cities and Co-Chair of the Local 2030 Coalition. She is an advocate for local voluntary reviews and champions the urban perspective in the World Economic Forum, never forgetting her humble beginnings in the rubber plantations of Malaysia. Source : https://www.un.org/sg/en MS. MAIMUNAH MOHD SHARIF OF MALAYSIA - CONFIRMED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECISION AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME (UN-HABITAT) 20 January 2022 Secretary-General 1/5
Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif (Malaysia) is the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), appointed at the level of Under-Secretary-General by the Secretary-General, following an election by the General Assembly on 22 December 2017. On 22 January 2018, Ms. Sharif assumed her post at UN-Habitat’s Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. She succeeds Dr. Joan Clos of Spain. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Sharif was the Mayor of the City Council of Penang Island, Malaysia. In 2011, she became the first woman to be appointed President of the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai. As mayor, she led the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai to achieve its vision of a “cleaner, greener, safer and healthier place to work, live, invest and play.” She is a champion of Gender-Responsive Participatory Budgeting and Planning, integrating gender perspectives into the governance process. During her tenure, the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai was the first Local Authority to implement and achieve six qualitybased management ISO certifications. Ms. Sharif began her career as a town planner at the Municipal Council of Penang Island in 1985. In 2003, she was promoted to Director of Planning and Development, a position she held until November 2009. As Director, she was responsible for the preparation of structure and local plans and was directly involved in the development management of Penang City’s projects and landscape. She also led a team which planned and implemented urban renewal projects in George Town. In November 2009, as its General Manager, Ms. Sharif established George Town World Heritage Incorporated and managed the George Town World Heritage Site, which was inscribed by UNESCO in July 2008. Our Executive Director Born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, on 26 August 1961, Ms. Sharif holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Town Planning Studies from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, UK and a Master of Science in Planning Studies from the Malaysia Science University. She has received several awards, including, “Planner of The Year 2014” by the Malaysian Institute of Planners, the 2016 Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award during Habitat III in Quito, for her contribution in sustainable planning in Seberang Perai and from the Penang State Government. On 11 January 2018, she received an award from the Malaysia Book of Records recognizing her for being the first Asian woman to be appointed as Executive Director of UN-Habitat. Source : https://www.un.org/sg/en 2/5
YBhg. Dato' Seri was born and raised in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, the daughter of Mohd Sharif bin Idu (father) and Shariah binti Adam (mother), together with four brothers and a sister. She undertook her primary school education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Dua, and her secondary school education at Tunku Kurshiah Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan. She attended the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology and graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Town Planning Studies. She also holds a Master of Science in Planning Studies from the Malaysia Science University. She is married to Adli Lai, and they have two daughters.
Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif (Malaysia) is the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), appointed at the level of Under-Secretary-General by the Secretary-General, following an election by the General Assembly on 22 December 2017. She succeeds Dr. Joan Clos of Spain. As the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms. Sharif has focused on reforming and rejuvenating the agency, mobilizing for internal and external support for the organization's restructuring and new Strategic Plan 2020–2023. Key initiatives undertaken by Ms. Sharif as the Executive Director of UN-Habitat include the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution 73/539 after 14 years of negotiation, which established a new governance structure with universal membership, governed by the UN-Habitat Assembly. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Sharif was the Mayor of the City Council of Penang Island, Malaysia. In 2011, she was the first woman to be appointed President of the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai. As mayor of a local authority, she led the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai to achieve its vision of a “cleaner, greener, safer and healthier place to work, live, invest and play.” Ms. Sharif began her career as a Town Planner at the Municipal Council of Penang Island in 1985. In 2003, she was promoted to Director of Planning and Development, a position she held until November 2009. Born in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, on 26 August 1961, Ms. Sharif holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Town Planning Studies from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, UK and a Master of Science in Planning Studies from the Malaysia Science University. Source : https://www.weforum.org/people/maimunah-mohd-sharif/ ARTICLE FROM WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM-WEFORUM.ORG 3/5
Malaysia welcomes the reappointment of YBhg. Dato’ Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif as the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Her reappointment takes effect on 20 January 2022 until 19 February 2024. Dato’ Seri Maimunah was first appointed as the Executive Director of UNHabitat in January 2018, upon the recommendation by the United Nations Secretary General, and received full support from the United Nations (UN) member states. During her first term, Dato’ Seri Maimunah played a leading role in enhancing the work of the UN-Habitat with UN member states together with partners and other stakeholders to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. She also made significant and important changes in the overall governance of UNHabitat. Dato’ Seri Maimunah has extensive experience spanning more than 30 years in town planning. Prior to her appointment, Dato’ Seri Maimunah served as the Mayor of the City Council of Penang Island, Malaysia in 2017. With the reappointment, Malaysia is confident that Dato’ Seri Maimunah will continue to lead the important work of the Programme, particularly in its planned activities and programmes in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Malaysia is committed to support and engage constructively with UN-Habitat under Dato’ Seri Maimunah’s stewardship, with the aim of implementing the New Urban Agenda and achieving SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. MALAYSIA WELCOMES THE REAPPOINTMENT OF YBHG. DATO’ SERI MAIMUNAH MOHD SHARIF AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME (UN-HABITAT) FOR THE TERM 2022-2024 by DATO’ SRI SAIFUDDIN ABDULLAH (22 January 2022) Source : https://www.kln.gov.my/ 4/5
Maimunah Sharif with the UN Secretary-General at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in July 2019. On 22 January 2018, Sharif assumed her post at UN-Habitat's Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. She succeeded Joan Clos of Spain. 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. She was replaced by incumbent Zainab Bangura, who was appointed on 30 December 2019. As Executive Director of UN-Habitat Sharif has focused on reforming and rejuvenating the agency, mobilizing for internal and external support for the organization's restructuring and new Strategic Plan 2020–2023. Her efforts seek to transform the organization into an agile and innovative leader on urban issues has been widely appreciated by stakeholders. Initiatives undertaken by Sharif as Executive Director of UN-Habitat include the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution 73/539 which established a new governance structure for UN-Habitat and initiated an internal restrengthening process. Sharif is overseeing the initiation of a blueprint for sustainable urban development, which brings together over 24 organizations for a system-wide United Nations strategy on sustainable urbanization. With the UN In May 2019, Sharif headed the first UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi. Under the theme, ‘Innovation for Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities’, with the sub-theme of ‘Accelerated Implementation of the New Urban Agenda towards Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals’, the Assembly brought together UN Member States, UN specialized agencies, local authorities and non-State actors, including civil society, youth and women, the private sector and academia. It established the Executive Board of UN-Habitat and elected its members, reviewed and approved the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan 2020– 2023, and reviewed progress in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA), among other actions. Sharif presided over the Ninth and Tenth sessions of the World Urban Forum; in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2018) and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2020), respectively. Convened by UNHabitat, the World Urban Forum is the world's premier conference on cities. It was established in 2001 to discuss and examine rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policy. Sharif is known for her people-centred approach to urban planning and she has said that "it is the people within cities that make them the vibrant places that they are. Young women and men flock to cities not for the infrastructure, but for the people and opportunities within that city." She places great importance on inclusivity in cities and works to promote the positions of marginalized individuals and communities, such as women and youth, whom she says are "traditionally left behind in governance, development and participatory processes". She is also a firm believer in positive thinking, saying, "if we practice positive thinking, 50% of the hurdles are solved and remaining 50% to be worked for". Source : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimunah_Mohd_Sharif EXCERPT FROM WIKIPEDIA.ORG 5/5
Source : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maimunah_Mohd_Sharif Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) Knight Commander of The Most Esteemed Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (DPNS) – Dato’ (2020) Commander of the Order of the Defender of the State (DGPN) – Dato’ Seri (2018) Officer of the Order of the Defender of the State (DSPN) – Dato’ (2014) Malaysian Institute of Planners - Planner of The Year 2014 Habitat III in Quito - 2016 Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award Malaysia Book of Records, January 2018 - first Asian woman to be appointed as Executive Director of UN-Habitat Honors and awards Maimunah Sharif as the Mayor of City Council of Penang Island, Malaysia Maimunah Sharif with the UN Secretary-General at the United Nations Office at Nairobi in July 2019
“Swearing In ceremony as Under- Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Habitat in front of HE Mr António Guterres @antonioguterres, Secretary General of United Nations. A historic day for me” Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif (right) speaks with Julie Yoo of Channel News Asia crew on the sidelines of the recent World Cities Summit. – Dato Maimunah Mohd Sharif Facebook pic, August 12, 2022