By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Sydney Hushie, LLM, has been
appointed Chief of the Digital Centre of Excellence at the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) Headquarters in New York, where he will lead the
organisation’s digital transformation agenda.
Hushie announced the
appointment in a LinkedIn post, saying he would lead the Digital Centres of
Excellence in advancing digital innovation, data, emerging technologies and
institutional capabilities to support UNFPA’s global mission.
The role will focus on
strengthening how digital technologies and organisational capabilities
contribute to UNFPA’s work to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted,
every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Hushie said digital
transformation extends beyond technology to include enabling better decisions,
improving service delivery, expanding access and creating greater impact for
the women, girls and young people served by the organisation.
He expressed gratitude to
UNFPA Executive Director and United Nations Under-Secretary-General Ms. Diene
Keita and the organisation’s leadership for their confidence in him. He also
acknowledged colleagues, mentors, partners, friends and family who supported
his professional journey.
Hushie highlighted the
contribution of the UNFPA in East and Southern Africa team, where he said much
of the work underpinning his new role took root.
“I am not leaving the region
behind. A good part of what we built there is global by design, and I look
forward to keeping that partnership alive,” he said.
In his new role, Hushie said
he looks forward to working with colleagues across the United Nations system,
governments, development partners, the private sector and innovators to build
digital solutions that improve lives and advance sustainable development.
