Natalia Kanem is a medical doctor who currently serves as the Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

[2] Kanem attended Harvard University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in history and science.

[5] From 2005 to 2011, she was the founding president of ELMA Philanthropies, a private institution focusing primarily on children and youth in Africa.

[9] On 3 October 2017, Kanem was appointed as Executive Director of UNFPA by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

[10] Under her leadership, UNFPA has focused on achieving three results: zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices.