So Director of the Gates Foundation, Sri Mulyani: Full of Challenges and Opportunities

JAKARTA - Former Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati has been officially appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Gates Foundation, a global philanthropic institution founded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Sri Mulyani expressed her pride at being entrusted to join the Gates Foundation Board at a time of both challenges and opportunities,

He added that with his experience, he hopes to provide as much impact as possible for those who need it most in the next 20 years.

"I am honored to join the Gates Foundation Board to contribute to this challenging and exciting moment," Sri Mulyani said on the Gates Foundation's official website, Tuesday, January 13.

Sri Mulyani's entry into the ranks of the foundation's leadership is considered an important step in the Gates Foundation's journey. In the previous year, Bill Gates had expressed his commitment to allocate all the foundation's endowment funds over the next 20 years with a focus on three main targets.

The three focuses include efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality, ensuring that future generations are free from deadly infectious diseases, and helping millions of people out of poverty to a more prosperous life.

"I am very motivated to bring my experience in global finance, economic policy and good governance into these important efforts to save lives and improve livelihoods," he said.

Sri Mulyani's track record as an economist who has played a major role in various reforms in international financial institutions is considered capable of enriching the perspective of governance and the direction of the foundation's policies.

In this role, Sri Mulyani will work with other members of the Board of Directors, namely Ashish Dhawan, Helene Gayle, Strive Masiyiwa, Thomas J. Tierney, Mark Suzman, and Bill Gates.

Meanwhile, Baroness Nemat (Minouche) Shafik is on leave while carrying out her duties as chief economic adviser to the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

CEO and member of the Gates Foundation Board of Trustees, Mark Suzman, said Sri Mulyani's experience was very relevant to the foundation's long-term goals.

"Sri Mulyani brings deep experience in shaping equitable economic outcomes - a skill that is critical to achieving the foundation's long-term goals," he said.

He added that Sri Mulyani's leadership will help ensure the optimal utilization of foundation resources to expand opportunities, promote inclusive economic growth, and improve the well-being of the global community.