Blog / May 6, 2022
GENEVA – 6 May 2022 – The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat has made three senior appointments to strengthen the community’s work to improve the availability, accessibility and use of Earth observations.
Madeeha Bajwa took office as the Chief Work Programme Coordinator on May 1, 2022. Ms. Bajwa managed the portfolio and partnerships of a fast-growing global UN fund hosted at UNECE. Previously, she was with the UN Environment, working on technical assistance and capacity building in the newly established Minamata Convention Secretariat. As Chief of UNCTAD's Evaluation and Monitoring Unit, Ms. Bajwa managed efforts to enhance the impact of its programme in response to the SG reform agenda.
Ernest Acheampong took office as Capacity Development Coordinator on May 1, 2022. He has extensive experience in managing and coordinating multiple development programmes and capacity building projects in priority areas such as bamboo livelihoods, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, sustainable agriculture, technology and innovation in many African countries. Dr. Acheampong was previously the Director of the West Africa Regional Office of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR) based in Ghana and Programme Manager of the Intra-Africa Bamboo Livelihood Development Project in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana and Madagascar.
Sam Nuttall will move from UNICEF to the GEO Secretariat as Strategic Communications Officer on 20 May 2022. At UNICEF, he managed communications for global partnerships with private sector companies, foundations, and philanthropies. Previously, he led communications for a UK Government programme called Partnerships for Forests, which encourages investments in sustainable land use in Southeast Asia and East and West Africa. As communications officer for the Stop TB Partnership, hosted by the World Health Organization, Sam supported a multisector response to tuberculosis.
“Our new colleagues are joining at a critical time for GEO and the planet,” said Yana Gevorgyan, Director of the GEO Secretariat. “As we plan for the future, we must increase our ability to provide decision makers with the intelligence they need to avert systems collapse, head off systemic risk and invest in sustainable societies. To do this, we need to step up our efforts to deliver operational fit-for-purpose results, engage global and local stakeholders to reach end users, and effectively communicate the value and impact of our collective work. This team of professionals will help us accelerate our journey towards these goals.”
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