Last Monday, I had lunch with Michael Elliott. We gossiped about Brexit and who would end up in Theresa May’s cabinet. I bemoaned the foolishness of Prime Ministers past. Michael was angry, too—but he had a lot of good words to say about the many things that David Cameron had done for development. He was right, of course.
Based on a sample of far too few meetings, it was typical: I learned a lot, there was plenty of laughter, he was forgiving and kind, and despite the storm clouds of the moment his optimism for the future seemed intact. Not even two years of cancer would stand in the way of that. I associate Michael with a good meal. But even more, I always came away from meetings with him feeling happier and more generous of spirit.
Michael, alongside all of his colleagues at ONE and its supporters around the world, helped David Cameron and his government shape their development agenda—from the legislation on 0.7 percent of GDP to aid through action on beneficial ownership and greater transparency. That is only a small part of the legacy of Michael’s leadership at ONE. Take the focus on food security and energy, for example, that has seen the US Congress pass honest-to-goodness bipartisan legislation on those issues. But it is also about the approach ONE has taken to get this change accomplished. Relentlessly positive, building a truly global coalition. Not us helping them that can’t help themselves, but a partnership—and one built on the belief that people want to work together to do the right thing. Michael’s openness and optimism was never naïve—and the successes of ONE while he was in charge shows that it can work to deliver results.
There was a retirement party for Michael last Tuesday. He gave a speech that was a tour of just parts of a life so very well lived. And, to make sure everyone was still listening closely to the most important bit, he said, he started with thanks to his family—Emma, Roxana and Gina. Their loss is incomparably the greatest, but it is a measure of the man that so many others feel it so deeply. Those of us lucky to have met him have lost an entertaining, incisive, thoughtful and kind friend and colleague. We have all lost a great champion for global progress, understanding and decency. But I will still and always come away from thinking about Michael feeling a little more generous of spirit, and I’m sure I’m not alone.
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CGD blog posts reflect the views of the authors, drawing on prior research and experience in their areas of expertise. CGD is a nonpartisan, independent organization and does not take institutional positions.