Mariam Claeson, M.D., M.P.H. has been the Director of the GFF since October 2016. She is a recognized expert on global health issues, with deep experience in addressing the particular challenges faced by women, newborns and children.

She previously served as the Director for Maternal Newborn and Child Health at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which she joined in July 2012.  Prior to that, she was the Regional Program Coordinator for AIDS in the South Asia Region of the World Bank (2005- 2012) and the Lead Public Health Specialist in the Health, Nutrition and Population, Human Development Network of the World Bank (1996- 2004).  

Before joining the World Bank, Dr. Claeson worked with the Global Program for the Control of Diarrheal Diseases, World Health Organization (1987-1995). She has worked in clinical practice at the rural district level (Tanzania, Bangladesh and Bhutan); in national immunization and diarrheal disease control (Ethiopia 1984-1986); and, for the World Bank in health sector development programs in middle- and low-income countries, including in Egypt, Jordan, Uzbekistan, China and the Philippines and in national HIV/AIDS programs, including in Afghanistan and India.