October Days for Sustainable Development

21 October 2021

Rethinking Cities: from Smart to Human

Maimunah Mohd Sharif

Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme

Undersecretary-General of the United Nations

Maimunah Mohd Sharif is the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), appointed at the level of Under-Secretary-General by the Secretary-General. As the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Maimunah has focused on reforming and rejuvenating the agency, mobilising internal and external support for the organization’s restructuring and new Strategic Plan 2020–2023. Key initiatives undertaken by Maimunah Mohd Sharif as the Executive Director of UN-Habitat include the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution 73/539 after 14 years of negotiation, which established a new governance structure with universal membership, governed by the UN-Habitat Assembly.

Prior to this appointment, Maimunah was the Mayor of the City Council of Penang Island, Malaysia. In 2011, she was the first woman to be appointed President of the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai. As mayor of a local authority, she led the Municipal Council of Seberang Perai to achieve its vision of a “cleaner, greener, safer and healthier place to work, live, invest and play.” Maimunah Mohd Sharif began her career as a Town Planner at the Municipal Council of Penang Island in 1985. In 2003, she was promoted to Director of Planning and Development, a position she held until November 2009.

Maimunah Mohd Sharif holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Town Planning Studies from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, UK and a Master of Science in Planning Studies from the Malaysia Science University.