World Bank names new Philippine country director

MANILA, Philippines - The World Bank yesterday announced the appointment of Mara Warwick as its new country director in the Philippines effective March 1.

Trained as an environmental engineer, Warwick has expertise in flood management, urban development, urban environmental services, and disaster risk management. She joined the World Bank in 2003.

Warwick, an Australian national and the first female country director for the Philippines-replaces Motoo Konishi, who retired recently after 35 years of service at the World Bank.

In the Philippines, she will manage 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.

From 2003 to 2009, Warwick managed water supply, wastewater, solid waste and flood management projects in China and the Philippines.

“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.”

Prior to her appointment as country director in the Philippines, Warwick served as the portfolio and operations manager for China, Mongolia and Korea, based in Beijing.

In her previous post, she 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.

From 2010 to 2012, Warwick was sector coordinator for sustainable development in Ankara, Turkey, and she also coordinated the World Bank’s development policy and investment lending in the energy, environment, urban and rural development, transport and social development (health, education) sectors in the Europe and Central Asia region.

Before joining the World Bank, Warwick 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 Environment Engineering and Stanford University in the US.