Mark Suzman

Mark Suzman leads the Gates Foundation in advancing its mission to ensure that every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. He is deeply committed to building partnerships and fostering a culture that contributes to meaningful impact. He is currently guiding an historic 20-year acceleration of the foundation’s work ahead of its planned closure in 2045. During this period, the foundation will spend US$200 billion toward its goal of ensuring that no mother or child dies of a preventable cause, the next generation grows up in a world without deadly infectious diseases, and hundreds of millions of people can break free from poverty, putting more countries on the path to prosperity.

Mark’s upbringing in apartheid South Africa instilled in him a desire to use the advantages afforded to him to help tackle injustice and inequality. He began his career as a journalist, writing for Johannesburg’s The Star and the Financial Times. In 2000, Mark went to work for the United Nations, where he helped implement the Millennium Development Goals under the leadership of Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He also served as senior advisor for policy and strategic communications in the Office of the Secretary-General and as policy director at the United Nations Development Programme.

Mark joined the Gates Foundation in 2007 as the director of global development policy, advocacy, and special initiatives. He went on to serve as managing director of the foundation’s country offices and then president of the Global Policy & Advocacy Division and chief strategy officer of the foundation. In the latter role, he oversaw expansion of the foundation’s work in India, China, Africa, and Europe and managed partnerships with governments, private philanthropies, and civil society organizations.

Mark has a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.