People
Winnie Byanyima appointed chair of UK’s IIED Board of Trustees
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has been appointed chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the UK-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), effective January 2027, following the end of her UNAIDS tenure in December 2026.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. (Courtesy)
By: Wilfred Sanya, Journalist @New Vision
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UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has been appointed chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), effective January 2027.
She will take up the new role after completing her tenure at UNAIDS on December 31, 2026.
Based in the United Kingdom, IIED is an independent policy and research organisation that focuses on climate change, nature loss, poverty, and sustainable development.
The appointment was announced in a press release dated November 3.
UNAIDS staff praised Byanyima’s leadership, saying, "She has steered the Joint Programme through turbulent times, strengthened its foundations and sustained a strong global AIDS response, based on evidence, data, and human rights, with people living with HIV and communities at the center."
Byanyima said she shared IIED’s belief in working with communities, policymakers, and civil society organisations to achieve lasting change.
“I look forward to working with the IIED team in their mission to promote sustainable and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing development challenges,” she said.
Byanyima has led UNAIDS since 2019. Before that, she served as executive director of Oxfam International from 2013 to 2019.
She also held leadership positions at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union Commission, where she served as director of the Directorate of Women, Gender and Development.
Byanyima said she shared IIED’s belief in working with communities, policymakers, and civil society organisations to achieve lasting change.
“I look forward to working with the IIED team in their mission to promote sustainable and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing development challenges,” she said.
Byanyima has led UNAIDS since 2019. Before that, she served as executive director of Oxfam International from 2013 to 2019.
She also held leadership positions at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union Commission, where she served as director of the Directorate of Women, Gender and Development.
A trained aeronautical engineer, Byanyima began her career with Uganda Airlines before joining politics. She served as a Member of Parliament representing Mbarara Municipality for 11 years.
Upon her appointment as UNAIDS executive director in 2019, Byanyima said she accepted the responsibility with humility, passion, and the conviction that the AIDS pandemic could be ended by 2030.
She pledged to work with the UNAIDS team, co-sponsors, and partners to remove barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and care.
She also acknowledged the support of people living with HIV, activists, global health advocates, women's rights campaigners, and the African and global women's movements.
Byanyima thanked the Government of Uganda for supporting her candidature for the UNAIDS position, saying she had received encouragement and expressions of support from several government leaders.
She also singled out Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, for his diplomatic support and advice during the recruitment process.
Upon her appointment as UNAIDS executive director in 2019, Byanyima said she accepted the responsibility with humility, passion, and the conviction that the AIDS pandemic could be ended by 2030.
She pledged to work with the UNAIDS team, co-sponsors, and partners to remove barriers to HIV prevention, treatment, and care.
She also acknowledged the support of people living with HIV, activists, global health advocates, women's rights campaigners, and the African and global women's movements.
Byanyima thanked the Government of Uganda for supporting her candidature for the UNAIDS position, saying she had received encouragement and expressions of support from several government leaders.
She also singled out Uganda's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, for his diplomatic support and advice during the recruitment process.