Winnie Byanyima Swears In As UNAIDS New Boss.

Winnie Byanyima was on Thursday morning sworn in as UNAIDS Executive Director by UN Secretary-General António Guterres during an oath ceremony at the United Nations in New York following a comprehensive selection process that involved a search committee constituted by members of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board.

“I am excited to be joining UNAIDS and am looking forward to working with all our partners to help drive the HIV response forward and to build fairer, healthier and happier societies, particularly for women and girls and for all groups of people shut out and left behind,” said Ms Byanyima on appointment.

Ms Byanyima holds an advanced degree in mechanical engineering (in energy conservation and the environment) from the Cranfield Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Manchester.

Before getting the new post, Byanyima held the post of Executive Director of Oxfam International. She also served for seven years as the Director of Gender and Development at the United Nations Development Programme.