Timothy
E. Wirth
(U.S.A.)
President, United Nations Foundation and Better
World Fund
Timothy Wirth is the President of the United
Nations Foundation and Better World Fund.
These organizations were founded in 1998 through
a major financial commitment from R.E. Turner
to support and strengthen the work of the
United Nations.
Wirth began his political career as a White
House Fellow under President Lyndon Johnson
and was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Education
in the Nixon Administration. Wirth then returned
to his home state and successfully ran for
the U.S. House of Representatives, representing
Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District from
1975-1987. In the House, he concentrated his
efforts in the areas of communications technology
and budget policy. In 1986, Wirth was elected
to the U.S. Senate where he focused on environmental
issues, especially global climate change and
population stabilization. Wirth chose not
to run for re-election.
Following those two decades of elected politics,
Wirth served in the U.S. Department of State
as the first Undersecretary for Global Affairs
from 1993 to 1997. In this position he coordinated
U.S. foreign policy in the areas of refugees,
population, environment, science, human rights
and narcotics.
As President of the UN Foundation since its
inception in early 1998, Wirth has organized
and led the formulation of the Foundation’s
mission and program priorities, which include
the environment, women and population, children’s
health and peace, security and human rights.
The Foundation also engages in extensive public
advocacy, resource mobilization, and institutional
strengthening efforts on behalf of the UN.
Prior to entering politics, Wirth was in private
business in Colorado. He is a graduate of
Harvard College and holds a PhD from Stanford
University. The recipient of numerous awards
and honorary degrees, he also served as a
member of the Harvard Board of Overseers.
Wirth is married to Wren Wirth, the President
of the Winslow Foundation; they have two grown
children and three grandchildren.
Kofi Annan(Ghana)
Former Secretary-General of the United Nations
2001 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Gro Harlem
Brundtland (Norway)
Director-General Emeritus, World Health Organization
Timothy
E. Wirth 
