Habitat for Humanity International elects new members to its board of directors
Three board members retire and 11 are re-elected for additional two-year term
ATLANTA (March 03, 2011) – Habitat for Humanity International recently elected three members to its board of directors. The new board members will join Habitat for Humanity in its work to eradicate substandard housing worldwide.
“We look forward to the addition of the new board members,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. “Each brings to us great expertise in a number of areas related to affordable housing and will be invaluable in helping Habitat serve more families around the world. We also would like to thank those who were re-elected for their continued efforts, and those who retired for their service.”
Newly elected board members include Anna Tibaijuka, Sen. Mel Martinez and Fernando Zobel de Ayala.
Tibaijuka recently returned to Tanzania and was elected to Parliament, where she was appointed Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development. Prior to her election, she was the first African woman elected by the UN General Assembly as Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT). During her tenure, she oversaw and directed the strategic partnership between Habitat for Humanity International and the United Nations. Tibaijuka was also appointed as a Habitat for Humanity delegate representative to a multiyear World Urban Campaign on sustainable development.
Martinez is chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co. for Florida, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. He served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush. He led HUD in expanding homeownership opportunities to more Americans, particularly low-income and minority families, through budget proposals and collaborations with community-based housing providers.
Zobel de Ayala is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Ayala Corporation and Chairman of Ayala Land Inc. and Manila Water Co. He is the Chairman of the Habitat for Humanity Asia Pacific Capital Campaign and the INSEAD East Asia Council. Zobel de Ayala’s long-time dedication to Habitat for Humanity traces back to 1998, when he first served as a volunteer for Habitat’s Jimmy Carter Work Project 1999 Advisory Council in the Philippines. He also served as a member of Habitat for Humanity International’s Board of Directors from 2001 to 2008.
In addition to the new board members, three Habitat for Humanity International board members retired and 11 were re-elected to serve an additional two-year term.
Juel Shannon Smith of Tampa, Fla; John Stack of South Africa; and Chainarong Monthienvichienchai of Thailand retired from the board.
The 11 board members who were re-elected are: Nabil Abadir of Egypt; Archbishop Vicken Aykasian and Gladys Gary Vaughn of Washington D.C.; Ed Bastian and Renee Glover of Atlanta, Ga.; Henry Cisneros of San Antonio, Texas; Ted Dosch of Glenview, Ill.; Mary Kazunga of Zambia; Ken Klein of Tulsa, Okla.; Anugerah Pekerti of Indonesia; and Ed Schreyer of Canada.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built, rehabilitated, repaired or improved more than 400,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 2 million people. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org.