Warren Buckingham III appointed new Chair of Frontline AIDS

Frontline AIDS works with partner organisations across 27 countries to strengthen community responses to those at greatest risk and most often overlooked in the response to HIV.

Mr Buckingham, better known as Buck, becomes Frontline AIDS Chair at a critical moment in the global HIV response. Despite progress over the past decade, new HIV infections remain stubbornly high and AIDS related illnesses still claim close to one million lives per year. Additionally, declines in political will and funding are hampering the response.

Despite the success we have achieved together over the past decade, global progress on HIV remains uneven and fragile. I’m honoured to chair an organisation working tirelessly to break down the barriers that marginalise people and increase their risk of acquiring HIV or dying from AIDS-related illness.Warren Buckingham III

The majority of Mr Buckingham’s career has been dedicated to public health, both in the US and overseas. He has lived with HIV since 1988 and is a public champion of the importance of those living with HIV contributing to solutions to the pandemic.

Mr Buckingham spent more than 20 years in the US Government, including two extended assignments to the Clinton White House and in senior positions at the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). During his time at PEPFAR, Mr Buckingham held the role of country coordinator in Kenya, the first overseas appointment made by the programme, and he was the recipient of the inaugural PEPFAR Life Achievement Award.

After leaving the US Government in 2013, Mr Buckingham founded buckingham global health LLC to work on strategy, communications and resource mobilisation with non-governmental organizations, private foundations, and public agencies.

Mr Buckingham joined the Frontline AIDS Board of Trustees in 2016. From today, he succeeds Martin Dinham as Board Chair. During his nine-year tenure, Mr Dinham helped guide the organisation through a significant period of change, including a rebrand that saw the International HIV/AIDS Alliance become Frontline AIDS.

“This is a moment of excitement and sadness for all of us at Frontline AIDS,” said Christine Stegling, Executive Director of Frontline AIDS. “We are looking forward to working with Buck in his new role and to benefitting from his vast expertise and experience. Equally, we say goodbye to Martin with heavy hearts. Martin’s calm guidance through a challenging period of change is one of the key reasons that we are ready to play a leadership role in the next phase of the epidemic response.”

At the Frontline AIDS Board meeting, held in Brighton on 14-15 May, Prasada Rao, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for HIV in Asia and the Pacific, also stepped down as a Trustee after nine years. Pauline Hayes, a former deputy director at the UK’s Department for International Development, was appointed to the Board and Marika Fahlen was appointed Vice Chair.