Dr Elena Manaenkova has been serving as WMO Deputy Secretary-General since 2016. Prior to this she served as Assistant Secretary-General (2010-2016), Director of Cabinet of the Secretary-General and External Relations Department (2006-2010) and Director of Atmospheric Research and Environment Department (2003-2006). 

She holds master’s degree in hydrology and meteorology from the Moscow State University (1986) and a Ph.D. in physics and mathematics from the Doctorate of Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia (1993) with specialization in meteorology, climatology and satellite meteorology.

From 2011 to 2016 Dr Manaenkova chaired the UN system-wide inter-agency group on climate change, leading the UN system flagship initiatives to assist Member States in climate action.

As part of the WMO Executive Management, Dr Manaenkova oversees WMO strategic planning, science and innovations, and services departments. She serves as secretary of the World Meteorological Congress and Executive Council and provides leadership in WMO governance reform.