SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Jyotsana Varma as the new Regional Director of its Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office (PLCO) in Sydney, where she will lead operations for Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
Ms. Varma, who begins Tuesday, will also oversee the implementation of the forthcoming Pacific Approach 2026–2030, which will serve as ADB’s overall country partnership strategy for those countries.
“I look forward to building on ADB’s strong, long-term partnership with the Government of Australia to help support quality infrastructure and private sector development across the region,” said Ms. Varma.
“We will continue to work closely with the governments of Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu to help support their development goals.”
A national of India, Ms. Varma has 33 years of development experience, including 16 years with ADB where she has held several leadership positions, including extensive experience working in Cambodia, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.
Before joining ADB, she led state teams in the Indian civil service to implement social sector projects and served in the policy advisory team of the Indian Finance Minister.
In addition to its programming, processing, and administration work in Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, ADB’s Sydney office is the bank’s sector hub for the development of private and finance sectors for the 14 Pacific developing member countries.
The office manages and implements two donor funds: the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative and the Pacific Partnership Facility.
PLCO’s location in Sydney enables ADB to work closely with key bilateral development partners, including Australia, New Zealand, the World Bank Group, and other multilateral institutions in the region.
Australia is a founding member of ADB and is one of the largest contributors to the Asian Development Fund (ADF), ADB’s largest special fund and main source of grants for the bank’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries.
ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific.
Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.
– ADB
