Dr David M. Malone, former Rector of the United Nations University (UNU), was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Government of Japan at the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the highest decoration given by the Japanese Government, was awarded to Dr Malone for his outstanding contribution to strengthening the relationship between Japan and UNU and advancing academic research.
Dr Malone joined the University for a five-year term as UNU Rector on 1 March 2013, and was reappointed to a second term from 1 March 2018 to 28 February 2023. During his decade as Rector, Dr Malone drove several significant changes that fundamentally altered the character of the UNU. His achievements include realigning UNU’s work programme to be more responsive to the needs of the United Nations and its Member States; strengthening the University’s linkages with other UN system entities; and streamlining the global UNU system’s governance and management. He is succeeded by Professor Tshilidzi Marwala of South Africa, previously Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg.
For further information, please contact:
Kyra Bowman
Head of Communications, UNU
bowman@unu.edu
Yukiko Nakahari
Japan Communications Specialist, UNU
y.nakahari@unu.edu
