A banker with a heart of gold

Annette Dixon is the Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank Group, overseeing the Global Practices for education; health, nutrition, and population; gender; and social protection and jobs. She was previously the Bank’s Vice President for the South Asia Region. In managing the World Bank’s engagement in South Asia to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity, Annette led relations with eight countries, including India - the institution’s biggest client. She also oversaw lending operations and trust-funded projects worth more than $10 billion a year. Before joining the region, Annette was Director, Strategic Planning in the Budget, Performance Review and Strategic Planning Vice Presidency and Country Director to Central Asia, then South East Asia. She joined the Bank in 1999 and worked as Sector Director to Human Development in the ECA region.Annette is a long-standing champion on gender issues. In South Asia, she has set a target to deliver 100 per cent gender-informed projects and interventions, going beyond the global corporate requirements. Under her leadership, the regional priority for South Asia is to support countries to improve Women’s Labor Force Participation.Prior to joining the World Bank, Annette Dixon worked for the Government of New Zealand as Chief Executive of the Ministry of Youth Affairs. She also served as General Manager, Sector Policy; Deputy Director-General in the Ministry of Health; Director of Health Policy, Department of the Prime Minister; and Manager Policy Division, Ministry of Women’s Affairs.Born in New Zealand (NZ), Annette holds a Master of Public Policy. She was also awarded the Harkness Fellowship in Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University in 1994-1995. Recently, Annette was in Pakistan on a short visit to attend Human Capital Summit , in Islamabad. You! got an opportunity to meet this amazing woman who is doing incredible work for women empowerment around the globe. Here are some excerpts from her interview... You :What made you decide to choose a career in banking?Annette Dixon: I never chose to be a banker. As a child growing up in New Zealand, I always wanted to do something to help people. I always thought that I might be a psychologist or doctor. I never thought I would go into the development sector. Circumstances led me to World Bank. I was a civil servant in NZ and I had the opportunity to go to Washington DC for one year on a fellowship to George Washington University. While I was at the university, I met people at the World Bank and they were interested in the work we were doing in NZ at that time. I went back to my country after my fellowship and then they asked me to apply for a job at World Bank. So, I joined the World Bank about 20 years ago. Let me tell you, I am a world banker which is a bit different from a regular banker. The World Bank has a very special banking as our job is to try to eliminate poverty in the world and to bring prosperity.You: You’ve also worked in the South Asian region. How did your extensive geographical experience help you with your current role?AD: South Asia region is very vibrant, very dynamic and also diverse. In South Asia, you see many different development situations - countries that are doing well while some countries are still struggling with other countries. So the diversity, the experience really helped me working in other regions of the world.You: You have been with World Bank since 1999, during this time, what do you consider to be your greatest achievement? AD: I am really proud of just about everything that I have done. One of the things that I am proud of is that when I first joined the Bank in Eastern Europe, these were countries that were going through transition. They were really struggling to join to move from centre planning, very autocratic system to a much more civilised system. Most of their population was very poor and at that time the Bank worked with the countries to help them understand the situation of poorest and largest minority in Europe, commonly called gypsies. Their children were still going to segregated schools in many countries. And so the Bank helped them to improve their education system. I am proud of being the part of that setting. You: What kinds of challenges do you encounter and what has been the biggest one so far?AD: Biggest challenge is helping countries to stay committed to doing the right things. Biggest challenge for many countries is that there are political conflicts which get in the way of countries putting up places for policies and implementing them. You :Can you name some countries that progressed very quickly?AD: Well, there are number of countries that have done really well very quickly. Singapore is one country that is on top of human capital development. At the time of independence, it was a small island with no natural resources. And it just worked with the system and moved out of poverty. And there are many countries that are moving out of poverty. These are the countries who have improved their demographic dividend where they have improved their health and education and at the same time they have reduced population growth. You: What are your current areas of focus?AD: I am responsible for health, education, nutrition, population, social protection, jobs and gender. Fortunately, I have great team that has enabled me to do my work efficiently. One of the things I have learned over the years is that is just how important it is to build a strong team where we all bring our expertise, and we are committed to work together to help countries to solve their development problems.  You: What are your top three tips for being an effective professional?AD: 1. Do your home work. Really make sure you read everything regarding your work/assignment.2. Try to add value to what other people are doing. So I try to be helpful to everybody. I try not to look after my own area. Not to be tribal but to engage with everybody to achieve their goals. 3. Try to stay calm and cheerful. And try to be grounded. I travel all over the world. I go to different communities and I meet the poorest people and then I also meet heads of the government agencies and I try to be the same with everybody. You: You were here to attend Human Capital Summit; can you elaborate on World Bank’s report - ‘Pakistan @ 100’? AD: Yes, I was here to attend the Human Capital Summit. The World Bank has written a report titled ‘Pakistan @ 100: Shaping the Future’, so in 30 years from now what will Pakistan be like and what are the choices that Pakistan make today that will make the difference. The report argues that Pakistan’s young and growing population of 208 million is its greatest asset. Pakistan can and should turn its large youth bulge into a demographic dividend that drives economic transformation. The report builds on a comprehensive framework including essential elements for a growth strategy that other countries have successfully followed. Other countries such as China, South Korea, and Malaysia have achieved similar economic transformations. Accelerating and sustaining growth over a 30-year period is ambitious, particularly given Pakistan’s most recent track record, but it is possible. Pakistan has important decisions to make if it is to become an upper middle-income country by 2047, when it turns 100 years old.You: What are some of the perks of holding such a prestigious and powerful position?AD: Actually it gives me an opportunity to go all over the world. My job is the privilege to meet a range of people and by meeting people, I don’t just mean leaders of the countries, I also mean people who are doing something meaningful work in their respective communities. Sometimes I go to a school and I see a fabulous teacher doing wonderful job and it makes you think, ‘this person is changing the lives of these children’. You: How many countries have you visited and which is your favourite?AD: Probably more than 50 countries. In my career I have mainly worked in Asia - South East Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia. Now I cover the whole globe. However, I can’t choose the best country other than my own. In my work, I have come to appreciate that the countries that I have the toughest times dealing with tough issues are the countries that get close to my heart. You: What do you love most about Pakistan? AD: I have been to Pakistan 8 or 10 times. I love Pakistani food, people, culture, it’s very interesting. But what I actually love is its exquisite textiles. I am so inspired by Pakistan’s intricate embroideries, brilliant handicrafts, weaving of the cashmere shawls and beautiful tapestry. You: What do you enjoy most and the least about your work?AD: The thing I enjoy the most is actually the conversations that we have with policy makers that really makes a difference in the way they see a problem. What I enjoy least is jet lag. You: Have you ever experienced sexual harassment at your work place?AD: Not at work place but I have in life. People are now talking about sexual harassment which is actually a good thing because when you bring a problem out into the day light then you have a chance to start dealing with it. You: What are your views on women empowerment?AD: I think empowering girls and women is absolutely critical for countries. And I have a message for Pakistan that empowering girls is one of the keys to unlocking the development. If you keep your girls in schools, those girls will be more productive, their children will also be better educated and healthier. So, it actually helps the whole family. You: How do you envisage gender equality? AD: Gender equality requires not just more equitable laws and regulations, but also safe and inclusive education and health services, facilities, and social norms - so that women can be empowered to make the necessary choices for themselves and their families.You: What do you think are the challenges being faced by women today?AD: In some respect, if you look at the progress, things are getting better. However, in too many countries, though safe and inclusive, access to these opportunities is out of reach: Education, for example, may be available, but access is often unsafe or not inclusive because roads to secondary school are dangerous for young girls. Women may also have difficulty accessing safe and inclusive health services, such as in South Sudan, one of the most dangerous places for women to give birth, where 86 per cent of deliveries occur at home and nearly 10 per cent of children do not survive to age five.The barriers are considerable: too many girls, for example, marry or have children before the age of 18, when they are physically and emotionally unready to become wives and mothers. Ensuring that girls stay in school is one of the best ways to ensure this is delayed. Women and girls also face higher risks of gender-based violence in their homes, at work, and in public spaces. The prevalence of violence against women and girls in some countries is so high that it discourages families from sending their girls to school and women from working. Children of young and uneducated mothers are often more likely to be malnourished, do poorly in school, and die before the age of five.Moreover, Pakistan’s population is growing faster than the economy is growing that means living standards are not getting better for people. If you want to improve the living standards, you need to control population growth. Encouraging girls to delay start of their family and to give them an opportunity to plan their family is imperative. Girls who get married under 18 have an average of six children, that’s too much for a young girl to be able to handle as they are mostly malnourished. In my view, low nourishment of pregnant girl is also a big challenge here. You :Tell us about some of your most defining projects with regard to women empowerment in Pakistan and in different countries?AD: The projects that I am very proud of are the ones where we are supporting women to improve their livelihood. And we have been long term supporters of Benazir Income Support Programme which is really a good model of women empowerment. On an average social development projects increase earnings by 25 per cent so that’s the big boost to the income of the family. I am very proud of the work that the World Bank does in conflict countries. We are continuing to support programmes such as social safety net programmes; health and education programmes in Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan and other countries. You :What is the most important advice you can give to women?AD: Dream big. Neither of my parents went to high school. My parents didn’t ever dream that I would work in the World Bank. They thought that the best I could be would be a school teacher. I didn’t go to the university until I was in my late 20s. Luckily as a young person I had opportunities to join youth organisations like YWCA. I learned leadership skills early. My advice to women is to push yourself for leadership roles and you will learn a lot of skills that will be useful later. You: What does a typical day look like for you?AD: Well, I have days where I am in Washington - meeting lots of heads of govt ministers of finance. Then other typical day is to fly across the world and to meet with policy makers and talk about our financial support. On another typical day, I would go and visit communities’ projects and see how they work. When I am in Washington I have typical days but not when I am travelling. Washington is our headquarters and it is where the bureaucratic part of the job is done. But the real job is done in countries where we are helping countries, where we are partners with the countries. You: How do you keep a balance between your family life and professional life?AD: I am lucky to have an incredibly supportive husband who is willing to come with me to different parts of the world. I have three stepchildren and three grandchildren. I don’t have children of my own. However, one thing that’s very difficult for World Bank staff is when their parents are old and they are living in different countries and it becomes a challenge for them to take care for their parents. That’s the challenge I have had to deal with. You: What subject is close to your heart?AD: I am passionate about helping empower girls and women. Not just because I am a feminist but because it’s very clear that the key to helping countries is to get women into the work force that really improves the living standard of families. You :How do you unwind? AD: I sew and I knit. I stitch my own clothes. I find sewing and knitting very relaxing. I like the feeling of making something that I see. In my job it takes a long time to see the results!

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