LONDON – The Board of Supervisors at Oxfam International have hailed Ms Winnie Byanyima for transforming the British charity’s operators during her seven-year tenure.
In a farewell message, Dr Henrietta Campbell, the chairperson of Oxfam Board of Supervisors, said Ms Byanyima, who has been appointed UNAIDS Executive Director, helped in launching a significant organisational restructure that saw the British charity reach 22.3 million people across the world through their development programs and humanitarian interventions.
“On behalf of the Oxfam International Secretariat and our global confederation, I thank our International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima for her leadership, energy and commitment to our mission in tackling poverty and inequality. Whilst it is with much regret to us that Winnie is leaving Oxfam, we wish her every success in this new and highly prestigious role as UNAIDS Executive Director, which was announced today,” Dr Campbell said.
She added: “Winnie Byanyima joined Oxfam International as the Secretariat’s Executive Director in May 2013. Winnie has been a hugely influential figure during her tenure here, particularly in launching a significant organisational restructure that has helped to embed Oxfam’s work and our decision-making more firmly in the Global South, including relocating our International Secretariat to Nairobi, all to be closer to the people we exist to serve.”
Dr Campbell said Ms Byanyima has been a passionate and highly effective advocate for all Oxfam’s work, particularly around gender justice and in tackling inequality.
“Oxfam is on a journey of change. Last year we reached 22.3 million people through our long-term development programs and humanitarian interventions, including in partnerships with more than 3,700 local civil society organizations. The Board of Supervisors has launched a recruitment process for our next International Executive Director and Oxfam’s whole leadership and staff across the world look forward to work with Winnie’s successor to continue the vital, life-saving and life-changing work that we do,” she said.
