Institutional Leadership
Governing Board & Executive Leadership
The Global Institute of Administration is governed by a Governing Board of member state representatives and led by a Secretary-General appointed by the General Assembly. The executive leadership team oversees the Institute's operational mandate across all regional offices.
Office of the Secretary-General
Ambassador Helena Voss
Secretary-General
Appointed 2021 — Present
Ambassador Voss brings over three decades of multilateral diplomatic experience to the role of Secretary-General. Previously serving as Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as Deputy Director-General of the International Administrative Council, she has been a principal architect of the GIA's Transparency Mandate and the Digital Governance Standards framework adopted in 2023.
- Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations
- Deputy Director-General, International Administrative Council (2014–2021)
- Recipient of the Order of Institutional Merit, 2019
Executive Leadership
Dr. Kwame Asante
Deputy Secretary-General
Africa & Middle East
2019 — Present
Dr. Mei-Lin Zhao
Director-General, Governance Affairs
Asia-Pacific
2020 — Present
Mr. Aleksei Petrov
Director-General, Regulatory Compliance
Eastern Europe & Central Asia
2018 — Present
Ms. Catalina Reyes
Director-General, Member Relations
Americas
2022 — Present
Mr. Thomas Hargreaves
Chief Financial Officer
Western Europe
2017 — Present
Dr. Fatima Al-Rashid
Director, Institutional Transparency
Gulf Cooperation Council
2021 — Present
Governing Board
The Governing Board comprises one representative from each of the five regional blocs, elected by member states for renewable four-year terms. The Board sets institutional policy, approves the annual budget, and oversees the Secretary-General.
Standing Committees
Audit & Oversight Committee
Independent review of financial statements, internal controls, and institutional risk management.
Transparency & Disclosure Committee
Oversight of the GIA Transparency Mandate, disclosure repository, and public access policy.
Member Relations Committee
Coordination of member state engagement, dispute resolution, and accession procedures.