CSRH hosted a one-month visit by Dr Purnima Mane, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Pathfinder International, during February and early March 2017.

Dr Purnima Mane

During her time at the Centre, Purnima held meetings with UNSW staff and with representatives of ACON, AFAO, APCOM, Family Planning New South Wales and Family Planning Victoria, sharing with them lessons learned from her international experience working in sexual and reproductive health and HIV. She gave a public lecture in Sydney as part of the UNSW Practical Justice lecture series and in Melbourne as part of ARCSHS 25th anniversary distinguished lecture series. Both talks highlighted the importance of creativity and forward thinking in difficult times, stressing the need to bring advocacy, research and policy making closer together.

Prior to her work with Pathfinder International, Purnima held senior positions within the UN system – as Director of Policy, Evidence and Partnership at UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva, and as Deputy Executive Director (Programmes) with UNFPA in New York.