News Desk
Dr Pema Gyamtsho has been elected the new director-general of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).
“He will succeed Dr David Molden at his retirement from his current position as director-general in which he served for nearly a decade with his depth and breadth of intelligence, wisdom, and gracious people-oriented leadership,” ICIMOD board of governors announced the decision posted on its website on Thursday.
Dr Gyamtsho will take up the role on 15th October 2020.
Dr Zhang Yaping, the Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chairperson, the ICIMOD Board of Governors, said, we are delighted to welcome Dr Gyamtsho as ICIMOD’s new Director-General. “During these tumultuous times, we are confident that Dr Gyamtsho will bring to bear his keen acumen, gracious leadership style and ambitious vision for ICIMOD’s growth into the future,” noted Dr Zhang.
Dr Gyamtsho brings to the position a deep passion for and commitment to the peoples of the Himalaya-Hindu Kush (HKH) region.
He has also served as a cabinet member in the Government of Bhutan for over three decades in areas deeply relevant to ICIMOD working at the science-policy-practice interface in natural resources management and planning, rural development, agriculture, forestry, livestock and food production, rangeland management, livestock development, participatory approaches, research and extension institutional building, climate change and environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and organic farming.
Between 2002 and 2006, he served at ICIMOD, initially leading efforts in policy and partnerships and then for the regional rangeland management work.
Dr Gyamtsho holds a PhD in Natural Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
Dr Zhang said, “On behalf of ICIMOD’s eight regional member countries I welcome Dr Gyamtsho to his new role and look forward to working with him. We cannot let this current pandemic deter us from a clear focus on the climate crisis in this way.”
He went on to say, “we are confident that Dr Gyamtsho’s vision and dedication will add strength to strength and lead the institution into a future where prosperity permeates across the region”.
On his appointment, Dr Gyamtsho said, “ICIMOD is the key institution in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region to accelerate action to address the region’s shared concerns. I am delighted to be selected for this very important position that would give me an opportunity to pursue my passion to work for the HKH community”.