Bience Gawanas is a lawyer by profession and former member of Namibia's Public Service Commission, where she played a pivotal role in reforming the governance model of public service delivery post-Independence. As Namibia's first Ombudswoman, she later became the inaugural Commissioner for Social Affairs at the African Union Commission. Bience also served as a Special Advisor to two Namibian Cabinet Ministers before her appointment as the UN Under-Secretary General and Special Advisor for Africa. She currently serves on several boards, including as Vice Chair of the Global Fund Board and member of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board. She has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential Africans by the New African Publication.  Notably, the President of Namibia conferred on her Namibia’s second highest Order, “Grand Commander of the Most Brilliant Order of the Sun, First Class”.  She holds an LLB Honours from the University of Warwick, an Utter Barrister Degree from Lincoln’s Inn, an Executive MBA from the University of Cape Town, and honorary Doctorates from both the University of Warwick and the University of Western Cape. Bience will become Chancellor of the University of Warwick in January 2025.