The World Bank on Monday appointed Mara Warwick, an Australian national, as the first female country director in the Philippines.
The bank said Warwick’s appointment took effect on March 1, as she replaced former country director Motoo Konishi who retired in December 2015, after 35 years of service at the World Bank.
Warwick was an environmental engineer and has expertise in flood management, urban development, urban environmental services and disaster risk management. She joined the World Bank in 2003.
“In the Philippines, she will be managing a growing portfolio of projects that support the country’s goal of promoting and sustaining inclusive growth—growth that reduces poverty and creates more and better jobs,” the World Bank said.
Warwick managed water supply, wastewater, solid waste and flood management projects in China and the Philippines from 2003 to 2009.
“It’s a great honor for me to return to the Philippines and be a part of the country’s steadfast efforts to address extreme poverty and promote prosperity that is shared by all Filipinos,” said Warwick.
“The World Bank remains a long-term and committed partner of the Philippines in this endeavor,” she said.
Prior to her appointment as country director in the Philippines, Warwick served as the portfolio and operations manager for China, Mongolia and Korea and was based in Beijing.
Warwick supported the Chinese government’s expansion into technically complex programs and projects including climate change mitigation and adaptation, rehabilitation of contaminated land and social service reform.
Warwick was sector coordinator for sustainable development in Ankara, Turkey from 2010 to 2012.
Before joining the World Bank, Warwick had worked in the private sector as a consultant engineer. She received her B.E. in Civil Engineering from the University of Adelaide, Australia and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University in the US.