Ann M. Veneman assumed the leadership of UNICEF on May 1, 2005, becoming the fifth Executive Director to lead UNICEF in its 60-year history. Prior to joining UNICEF, Veneman served as the 27th Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture from 2001 to 2005.

As the children’s agency of the United Nations, UNICEF works on the ground in 156 developing and transitional countries to help children survive and thrive. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for poor countries, UNICEF works to advance the Millennium Development Goals by supporting child health and nutrition, quality basic education for all boys and girls, access to clean water and sanitation, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation and AIDS.

At UNICEF Veneman directs a global agency of nearly 10,000 staff and annual total resources of about $3 billion, funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of governments, businesses, foundations and individuals. Since assuming the position of Executive Director, she has travelled to more than 30 countries, witnessing firsthand the work of UNICEF, attending meetings and conferences, and visiting heads of state or government and other partners.

Veneman’s vision at UNICEF includes instilling a “sense of urgency” about the Millennium Development Goals and their 2015 deadline, as well as ensuring that the agency’s policies and programs are oriented around achieving them. She has stressed an integrated approach that focuses on scaling up a broad array of interventions to support children’s health and development. Veneman has also emphasized the importance of strong, effective partnerships that maximize resources and prevent duplication.

The editor of the Lancet medical journal in 2005 praised this vision, writing: “UNICEF … has emerged under new leadership as a crucial protagonist for child survival. This commitment was not always assured. Yet UNICEF's new executive director, Ann Veneman, has pledged the agency to what amounts to a second child survival revolution.”

Under her leadership, major, new partnerships have been launched, including the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; and the global “Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS” campaign. UNICEF is also working with the World Food Programme and other partners on an initiative aimed at ending child hunger and undernutrition.

Veneman currently chairs the United Nations’ Standing Committee on Nutrition and the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.

Strong, transparent management is a hallmark of Veneman’s career. At UNICEF, she has stressed a “culture of continuous improvement” to help achieve lasting results for children. Veneman has instituted several initiatives to improve business practices, management and partnerships, including a comprehensive, agency-wide organizational review.

At the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Veneman managed a department of 111,000 employees; a program level of $113 billion that would rank sixth-largest if it were a U.S. corporation; and one of the most diverse and challenging missions in government.

Much of Veneman’s career prior to UNICEF was focused on child nutrition, public health, international trade and development, and alleviating hunger, including major initiatives to help fight undernutrition around the world.

Veneman traveled extensively in developing countries before joining UNICEF, meeting with heads of state and visiting field projects in every region of the world. She worked closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Food Program, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, and numerous charitable groups and community organizations.

Veneman previously served in various positions at USDA and in state government. From 1991 to 1993, she was USDA’s Deputy Secretary, the Department’s second-highest position. She also served as Deputy Undersecretary of Agriculture for International Affairs and Commodity Programs from 1989 to 1991. Veneman joined the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service in 1986 and eventually served as Associate Administrator until 1989. From 1995 to 1999, she served as Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

She began her legal career as a staff attorney with the General Counsel’s office of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District in Oakland, California, in 1976. In 1978, she returned to her hometown of Modesto, where she served as a Deputy Public Defender. In 1980, she joined the Modesto law firm of Damrell, Damrell and Nelson, where she was an associate and later a partner.

She practiced law with the Washington, D.C., law firm of Patton Boggs from 1993 to 1995 before returning to California to serve as the state’s Secretary of Food and Agriculture, where she managed agricultural programs and services in the largest and most diverse agriculture-producing U.S. state. Before her appointment as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Veneman was with the California law firm of Nossaman, Guthner, Knox and Elliott.

Veneman earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Davis; a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley; and a juris doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. She has also been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (2001); Lincoln University of Missouri (2003); Delaware State University (2004); and Middlebury College (2006).

In a personal capacity, she serves as a board member of the Close Up Foundation, a nonpartisan civic education organization, and has served previously on a number of advisory councils and committees, particularly those involving higher education.

Veneman has received numerous awards and distinctions, including: Cal Aggie Alumni Award (1995); Kiwanis National Farm-City Week Award (1995); Outstanding Woman in International Trade Award (2001); UC Davis Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award (2001); Food Research and Action Center Award (2001); National 4-H Alumni Recognition Award (2002); Dutch American Heritage Award (2002); Junior Statesman Foundation Statesman of the Year Award (2002); United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Distinguished Service Award (2002); California Council for International Trade Golden State Award (2002); Goldman School of Public Policy Alumnus of the Year Award (2003); California Agriculturalist of the Year (2003); Sigma Alpha Sorority Award (2004); The History Channel’s Save Our History Leadership Award (2004); Main Street Partnership John Chafee Award for Distinguished Public Service (2004); American PVO Partners Award for Service to People in Need (2004); Richard E. Lyng Award for Public Service (2005); and Sesame Workshop’s Leadership Award for Children (2006).