Bio

Anita Bhatia is a seasoned senior executive and leader with experience in gender equality, international development, sustainable finance and organizational transformation. She brings a unique combination of knowledge and experience of both government and the private sector having held senior leadership positions in the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, in addition to working as a strategy advisor to governments. She has a demonstrated track record of extremely successful fundraising and innovative partnerships with governments and corporates with whom she builds collaborative and trusting relationships. She has extensive experience in stakeholder management including Board relationships, as well as strategic communications and thought leadership to amplify the organization's vision and secure political support for the same. With more than three decades of work in global organizations under her belt, she has worked and lived in many different parts of the world, interacting with Heads of State, Ministers, CEOs, policy makers, civil society, women's rights organizations, refugees, entrepreneurs as well as corporates, banks, asset managers and institutional investors. She has an extremely broad global network which she leverages for the benefit of UN Women. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has delivered keynote speeches at various international fora including the Oxford Forum on International Development, the Annual Economist Impact Event and the European Business Angels Network Annual Congress. A frequent commentator and thought leader on gender equality issues, her writing and editorials have appeared in The Washington Post, Project Syndicate, Devex, The Independent, The Daily Trust (Nigeria), Nairobi Report, Bangkok Post, South China Morning Post, The Daily Star, among others. She has appeared regularly on and/or been featured in CNN, BBC, France 24, Deutsche Welle, Jeune Afrique, Digital Future Society, Channel News Asia, Vogue Arabia, Qazaq TV, The Telegraph, The News Forum, Delano, EFE, RTVE, MO4 Network and ARD German TV & Radio Network. Since August 2019, she has served as the Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women. Her responsibilities in this role encompass expanding and deepening UN Women’s resource base and partnerships with governments and corporates, financial sustainability, leading the strategic planning process, change management and improving the workplace.