Ugandan diplomat and UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has been appointed chairperson of the board of trustees of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), a research and policy organisation focused on climate change, nature loss and inequality.
Byanyima will assume the new position in January 2027, following the conclusion of her tenure at UNAIDS on December 31, 2026.
UNAIDS announced the appointment on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, congratulating Byanyima and acknowledging her leadership of the global HIV/AIDS programme during what it described as a period of profound challenges and transformation.
Byanyima announced her departure from UNAIDS at a special session of the organisation’s Programme Coordinating Board on October 26, 2026.
At the meeting, she reaffirmed her commitment to continue leading the organisation until the end of her mandate.
She pledged to serve with all her “energy and determination until the final day of my mandate”, which expires at the end of December.
In its statement, UNAIDS credited her with steering the organisation through difficult circumstances, strengthening its institutional foundations and sustaining the global response to HIV/AIDS.
The agency also highlighted her emphasis on evidence, data and human rights, with people living with HIV and affected communities at the centre of its work.
IIED is an independent policy and research organisation working on sustainable development, with a focus on addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and inequality.
Byanyima’s appointment marks a transition from her leadership of the global HIV/AIDS response to a new role in international environmental policy and sustainable development.
She previously held senior positions in international development and humanitarian work, including serving as Executive Director of Oxfam International before taking over at UNAIDS in 2019.