Biography

In October 2025, the Gavi Board appointed Rt Hon Helen Clark as its new Chair, beginning in January 2026.

Rt Hon Helen Clark was Prime Minister of New Zealand for three successive terms, from 1999–2008. Throughout her tenure as Prime Minister and as a Member of Parliament over 27 years, Helen engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international affairs, economic, social, environmental and cultural spheres. She advocated strongly for a comprehensive programme on sustainability for New Zealand and for tackling the challenges of climate change. Helen was a Member of Parliament from 1981–2009. She held a range of ministerial portfolios from 1987–1990, including as Minister of Health. Prior to entering Parliament, Helen taught in the University of Auckland’s Political Studies Department. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (Hons) degrees from the University of Auckland.

In April 2009, Helen became Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She was the first woman to lead the organisation and served two terms there. In that capacity, she was also Chair of the United Nations Development Group, which was comprised of all United Nations funds, programmes, agencies and departments working on development issues. As Administrator, she led UNDP to be ranked the most transparent global development organisation. She completed her tenure in April 2017.

Helen continues to be a strong voice on sustainable development, climate action, global health, gender equality and women’s leadership, and peace and justice. She serves on a number of boards and commissions, including as Chair of the Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Chair of the Board of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), Chair of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, and the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. She co-chaired the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, which was appointed in response to a World Health Assembly resolution in 2020. She is a member of The Elders.