Sarah Timpson

Sarah “Sally” Timpson, formerly with the UNDP, is a consultant with over 35 years executive experience in the United Nations, including in senior policy-making positions at UNDP headquarters, as well as in operational functions as manager of UNDP offices in developing countries and in establishing new initiatives. She is Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Equator Initiative and member of the UNDO/UNEP/IUCN SEED Prize Jury. Ms. Timpson has been a leader and manager of UNDP efforts to reorient its policies and programs to focus on people-centered development, environmental sustainability participation and equity. She headed the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF SGP) until January 2003. Her consultancies include with the MacArthur Foundation, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, Conservation International, Barefoot College as well as various UNDP units (Environment and Energy Group, Equator Initiative, Community Water Initiative, Civil Society Division), on community-based initiatives, as well as with UNIFEM and international environmental organizations. English is her mother tongue and she is also fluent in Spanish and French.