New Delhi, 5 December 2019 – Sarah Goulding, Assistant Secretary, Education, Social Protection and Human Development Finance at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), was appointed by the Gavi Board as its new Vice Chair effective as of 1st January 2020.

“It is an honour to be appointed Vice Chair of the Gavi Board, at a time when Gavi is embarking on its new strategy for 2021-2025”, said Sarah Goulding. “I look forward to supporting the Board Chair at this critical time for the Vaccine Alliance, focusing on leaving no one without immunisation. Gavi’s mission to protect millions against life-threatening diseases is critically important for the most vulnerable children in the world’s poorest countries. This year, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases including measles in places as diverse as DRC, Pakistan and Samoa shows the ongoing importance of vaccination globally."

Sarah Goulding is currently the Gavi Board member for the United States, Australia, Japan and Republic of Korea constituency. She brings deep experience in health, education, gender, climate and environment multilateral finance, as well as longstanding engagement in the Pacific region to her new role at Gavi. She looks forward to engaging with the diverse views of all stakeholders on the Gavi Board, including developing countries, implementing partners, the pharmaceutical industry, civil society, research organisations, independent experts and donors.

Ms Goulding replaces Mr Bill Roedy, Global Health Ambassador and Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MTV Networks International (MTVNI), who joined Gavi in 2010 as its first envoy.

“Considering Australia’s leadership in immunisation, I’m delighted that Sarah Goulding has accepted the role of Vice Chair,” said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Gavi Board. “I would also like to thank Bill Roedy who is stepping down at the end of this year. He has been a tireless advocate for children’s health for many years, an exceptional leader in Health and a dedicated Vice-Chair. The commitment he has personally demonstrated to Gavi has been greatly appreciated.”

As Vice Chair of the Board, Ms Goulding will also become chair of the Gavi Governance Committee.

Notes to editors

About Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate half the world’s children against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped to immunise a whole generation – over 760 million children – and prevented more than 13 million deaths, helping to halve child mortality in 73 developing countries. Gavi also plays a key role in improving global health security by supporting health systems as well as funding global stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningitis and yellow fever vaccines. After two decades of progress, Gavi is now focused on protecting the next generation and reaching the unvaccinated children still being left behind, employing innovative finance and the latest technology – from drones to biometrics – to save millions more lives, prevent outbreaks before they can spread and help countries on the road to self-sufficiency. Learn more at www.gavi.org and connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Vaccine Alliance brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners. View the full list of donor governments and other leading organizations that fund Gavi’s work here.

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