Noeleen Heyzer

Noeleen Heyzer
Heyzer speaking at a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War
United Nations Special Envoy on Myanmar
In office
25 October 2021 – June 2023
Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres
Preceded byChristine Schraner Burgener
Succeeded byJulie Bishop
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
In office
2007–2015
Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon
Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
In office
January 2007 – January 2014
Preceded byKim Hak-Su
Succeeded byShamshad Akhtar
Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for East Timor
In office
2013–2015
Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon
Executive Director of the Development Fund for Women
In office
October 1994 – August 2007
Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan
Ban Ki-moon
Preceded bySharon Capeling-Alakija
Succeeded byInés Alberdi
Personal details
Born (1948-04-26) 26 April 1948 (age 76)
NationalitySingaporean
SpouseFan Yew Teng (died 2010)
Children2
EducationUniversity of Singapore (BA, MS)
University of Cambridge (PhD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Noeleen Heyzer (born 26 April 1948) is a Singaporean social scientist, diplomat, and United Nations official who was the United Nations Special Envoy on Myanmar from October 2021 until June 2023.[1]

During 2007 to 2015, Heyzer was an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). She was the first woman to hold the latter position since ESCAP's founding in 1947.[2] She was also the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Timor-Leste (East Timor) during 2013 to 2015, working to support peace-building, state-building, and sustainable development.[3] Heyzer was the Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) from 1994 to 2007. In 2005, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her struggle to improve the lives of women, while always promoting peace and justice.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bishop was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Former Executive Secretaries". United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Noeleen Heyzer of Singapore His Special Adviser for Timor-Leste". United Nations (Press release). 10 June 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Noeleen Heyzer, Global champion of sustainable development and women's rights". Singapore Women's Hall of Fame. Retrieved 14 December 2020.