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Gonzalo Castro de la Mata Chairs the World Bank Inspection Panel

November 3, 2014- The Inspection Panel is pleased to announce that Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata assumed office as the new Chairperson of the Inspection Panel, effective November 1, 2014, for one year. Dr. Castro de la Mata replaces Ms. Eimi Watanabe, whose term as Chairperson and Member of the Inspection Panel ended on October 31, 2014.

Dr. Gonzalo Castro de la Mata was appointed to the Inspection Panel in December 2013. A US and Peruvian national, he brings to the Panel more than twenty years of international development experience. His career includes roles across the private sector, government, and civil society. Having also worked in various thematic areas ranging from resource management to environmental protection, Dr. Castro de la Mata brings the needed balance of expertise, experience, and pragmatism to the Inspection Panel.

Dr. Castro de la Mata's early career included key roles at the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank, the World Wildlife Fund, and Wetlands for the Americas. Most recently as Chair of an Independent Advisory Panel in the Camisea Project for the Export-Import Bank of the US, he demonstrated his thorough knowledge and appreciation for the nuances of each stage of a project cycle, from policy creation to implementation.

He earned a Ph.D. in Ecology and Population Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and received his M.A. and B.A. from the Cayetano Heredia Universidad in Lima, Peru. Dr. Castro de la Mata previously served as Founder and Chairman, Ecosystem Services, LLC.

About the Inspection Panel: The Inspection Panel consists ofthree memberswho are appointed by the Board for nonrenewable periods of five years. As provided for in the Resolution that established the Panel, members are selected on the basis of their ability to deal thoroughly and fairly with the Requests brought to them, their integrity, their independence from Bank Management, and their exposure to developmental issues and to living conditions in developing countries. The Panel is functionally independent of Bank Management, and reports solely to the Board. In addition, Panel members are prohibited from working for the Bank after their term ends.

For more information about the Inspection Panel, please visit:www.inspectionpanel.org