Dr. Nafis Sadik is currently Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General, with additional responsibilities as Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia, and former head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). She was first appointed as Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia by former Secretary-General Kofi Anna in 2002, and was renewed of the appointment by the current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2007. Dr. Sadik served as Executive Director of the UNFPA from 1987 to 2000. She joined the UNFPA in October 1971 and became Chief of the Programme Division in 1973. From 1977 until 1987, she was Assistant Executive Director.

Before joining the United Nations, Dr. Sadik was Director-General of the Pakistan Central Family Planning Council, the government agency charged with carrying out the national family planning program. She currently sits on the Advisory Board for the German Foundation for World Population, and is Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Pakistan Foundation. Dr Sadik is based in New York City.