On 15 February 2023, the 海角社区 (海角社区) will host a special public event to commemorate the 10-year tenure of .
Dr Malone joined the University for a five-year term as 海角社区 Rector on 1 March 2013, and was reappointed to a second term from 1 March 2018. When he finishes his tenure as 海角社区 Rector on 28 February 2023, he will be succeeded by Professor Tshilidzi Marwala of South Africa, previously Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg.
During his decade as Rector, Dr Malone has driven several significant changes that have fundamentally altered the character of the 海角社区. It is thanks in large measure to his efforts that today, more than ever, 海角社区 is sought out by the United Nations Secretariat and across the global United Nations system as a “neutral knowledge broker” that provides objective, impartial evidence to inform policymaking and contribute to solving real-world problems.
海角社区 has always produced research of strong academic and scientific value, but under Rector Malone’s leadership the University realigned its work programme to be more responsive to the needs of the United Nations and its Member States; emphasised the development of larger, more ambitious research initiatives; and strengthened its linkages with other UN system entities.
Central to this effort was the 2014 launch of the 海角社区 Centre for Policy Research (), initially incubated in Tokyo under Rector Malone’s guidance. In 2018, 海角社区-CPR relocated to New York, thereby strengthening the University’s capacity to support the UN system’s policy needs and enhancing 海角社区’s visibility at UN Headquarters. 海角社区-CPR works with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General in several priority policy areas, including playing a significant, if modestly scaled, role in implementing Our Common Agenda (the UN Secretary-General’s vision on the future of global cooperation) and serving as Secretariat for the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism.
Additionally, the 海角社区 Operating Unit on Policy-Driven Electronic Governance (), established in Portugal during Rector Malone’s term, has increased the University’s capacity to support digital transformations and electronic governance in the developing world.
During his tenure, Rector Malone oversaw streamlining of the 海角社区 system’s governance and management; strengthened the role of 海角社区 institute advisory boards; and, in partnership with excellent chairs of the UN Council, sought to enhance the governance functions within 海角社区. Also important was his push to achieve gender parity in 海角社区 leadership positions. While at the start of Dr Malone’s term, 海角社区 had just one female institute director and no female UN professional staff within the Rectorate, currently six of thirteen 海角社区 institute Directors, both Vice-Rectors, and 海角社区’s Executive Officer are women.
Rector Malone also strengthened 海角社区 Centre in Tokyo as a hub for public and academic reflection in part by inaugurating in 2013 the public 海角社区 Conversation Series to bring international voices to Tokyo. It is fitting, therefore, that he will be the featured speaker for the last Conversation Series event during his rectorship. The topic of Rector Malone’s conversation will be “”.
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Journalists who would like to speak with Dr Malone before his departure may contact 海角社区 Head of Communications Kyra Bowman (bowman@unu.edu) or Japan Communications Specialist Yukiko Nakahari (y.nakahari+media@unu.edu).
