United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Main Management Team:

  1. Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNEP: Inger Andersen

  Inger Andersen, born in 1958, is a Danish national and currently serves as United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNEP. She holds a Bachelors from the London Metropolitan University North and a Masters in Development Economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She has more than 30 years of experience in international development economics, environmental sustainability, strategy and operations. She has led work on a range of issues including agriculture, environmental management, biodiversity conservation, climate change, infrastructure, energy, transport, and water resources management and hydro-diplomacy.

  Between 2015 and 2019, Ms. Andersen was the Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

  Between 1999 and 2014, Ms. Andersen held several leadership positions at the World Bank including Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa; Vice President for Sustainable Development and Head of the CGIAR Fund Council.

  Between 1992 and 1999, she served as the Arab States Coordinator for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

  Between 1987 and 1992, she held positions including Junior Professional Officer and Programme Officer at the United Nations Sudano-Sahelian Office (based at UN Headquarters in New York).

  2. Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP: Elizabeth Mrema

  Elizabeth Mrema, a national of the United Republic of Tanzania, is United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UNEP. She is a lawyer and career diplomat, holding a Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomacy.

  On 1 December 2019, she assumed office as Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and in 2025 was formally appointed as Executive Secretary of the Convention. In this role, Ms. Mrema shepherded global consensus on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a landmark agreement to protect and restore the natural world on which humanity depends..

  For over two decades, Ms. Mrema served in various capacities in UNEP, including as the Director of the Law Division and the Deputy Director of the Ecosystems Division. Between 2009 to 2012, she served as the Executive Secretary of the Secretariat for the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Acting Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (UNEP/ASCOBANS), and Interim Executive Secretary of the UNEP/Gorilla Agreement, all based in Bonn, Germany.

  Prior to joining UNEP, she worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Republic of Tanzania as a Senior Legal Adviser, and served as a part-time lecturer at the Centre for Foreign Relations, introducing international law and diplomatic practice. She currently serves as a visiting lecturer at the University of Nairobi School of Law.

  A lawyer and career diplomat Ms. Mrema has received several awards, including the Nicolas Robinson Award for Excellence in Environmental Law from the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law in 2021; and the Kew International Award in 2022. In 2023, Ms. Mrema was included in Time magazine's 100 most influential people's list and the Financial Times 25 most influential women list.

  3. UN Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of UNEP: Ligia Noronha

  Ligia Noronha, an Indian national, is UN Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of UNEP She holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Economics and has more than 30 years of international experience in the field of sustainable development. She assumed her current position on 1 April 2021 and previously served as Director of the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE).

  In 2004-2005, she was Team Leader, Ecosystem Approaches to Human Health, at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada.

  From 2005 to 2011, she served as Secretary of the Asian Energy Institute.

  From 2005 to 2009, she served as Coordinator of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnerships (REEEP) South Asia.

  From 2009 to 2011, she was a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for International Security Studies, University of Sydney.

  She has worked with India's National Security Advisory Board and contributed to several expert committees in India, including the Expert Committee on Climate Change, the Ecological Expert Committee, and the National Resource Commission. She is also a member of Shell's International External Review Committee on Sustainability. She has published extensively in India and internationally on energy, resources, climate change, and India's environmental policies.

  4. Chief of Staff: Nicolas Bertrand

  Nicolas Bertrand is a national of France, Switzerland and the UK and was appointed Chief of Staff of UNEP in June 2023. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Economics, as well as a Master's degree in Philosophy.

  From 2015-2019 he was Chief of Staff at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), where he managed the Director General's Office and provided advisory support. In conjunction with this role, he served in 2017-18 as Acting Head, Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation.

  From 2009 to 2015, he worked at UNEP primarily on on green economy, international payments for ecosystem services, corporate ecosystem valuation and natural capital accounting.

  From 2006 to 2008, he managed the business engagement portfolio at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. And, prior to this, worked on economics and business at IUCN, where he contributed to the creation of the first programme on business and biodiversity.

  5. Chief Scientist and Director of the Office of Science: Andrea Hinwood

  Andrea Hinwood, an Australian national, serves as Chief Scientist and Director of the office of Science. She holds a PhD in Environmental Epidemiology and is an environmental scientist specializing in environmental exposures and the impacts on human health who has conducted research on a wide range of local, regional and international environmental issues.

  She has served as a member of the TEAP and co-chair of the Technical Options Committee for Aerosols Sterilants and miscellaneous uses supporting the Montreal Protocol. She served as the first Chief Environmental Scientist at the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in Victoria, Australia and was previously Head of School and Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University. She was appointed as Deputy Chair and A/Chair of the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia. Her career has included the provision of strategic advice to the governments on a wide variety of environmental matters.

  6. Chief Digital Officer: Golestan (Sally) Radwan

  Golestan (Sally) Radwan, an Egyptian national, serves as Chief Digital Officer. She is a computer scientist with expertise in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

  Prior to UNEP, Sally served as Advisor to the Egyptian Minister of ICT, where she led the development and implementation of Egypt's national AI strategy. During this time, she served as an expert and delegate of Egypt to several international organizations working on AI Policy and Regulation, including UNESCO, WIPO, ITU, and OECD. She also championed and led two working groups within the African Union and League of Arab States to unify regional efforts around Responsible AI. Sally previously held several executive positions in the technology industry for over 17 years, working for companies in Germany, Austria, the UK, and the US

  7. Director, Industry and Economy Division: Sheila Aggarwal-Khan

  Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, a Kenyan national, serves as Director of the Industry and Economy Division. She holds a PhD in Development Studies, as well as Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the United States.

  She was the Director of the Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility operations at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). She has previously served as an Environmental Specialist at a U.S. State Department of Environmental Protection and at the Environment Liaison Centre International and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. At UNEP, she held positions ranging from Senior Advisor in the organization's Strategic Implementation Team to Acting Director of the Policy and Programme Division and Deputy Director of the Global Environment Facility Coordination Division.

  8. Director, Communication Division: Daniel Cooney

  Daniel Cooney, a New Zealand national, serves as Director of the Communication Division. He holds a Master's degree in Public Policy. He joined UNEP in 2015 as Deputy Director of the Communication Division and was subsequently promoted to Director.

  His career began as a journalist with The Associated Press in Indonesia. His last post with the agency was as its award-winning chief correspondent in Afghanistan, where he was responsible for its coverage of the war. He has been a communication adviser to the Afghan government, countering the propaganda of the Taliban. He worked for the Asian Development Bank, where he began focusing on how communication and advocacy could strengthen climate change projects and impact policy.

  9. Director, Ecosystems Division: Susan Gardner

  Susan Gardner, a Mexican-American national, serves as Director of the Ecosystems Division. She holds a PhD in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, a Master's degree in Toxicology, and a Bachelor's degree in Marine Sciences. She has 30 years of experience in international environmental policy.

  Before joining UNEP, she served as a senior official at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), worked at the U.S. Department of State in the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation and the Office of Environmental Policy, and previously held a position as a Research Professor at the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR) in Mexico.

  10. Director, Law Division: Patricia Kameri-Mbote

  Patricia Kameri-Mbote, a Kenyan national, serves as Director of the Law Division. She holds holds doctorate and Masters’ degrees in law from Stanford University and a higher doctorate from the University of Nairobi. She has extensive knowledge and experience in environmental law at local, national, regional and international levels.

  Patricia was Founding Research Director of the International Environmental Law Research Centre (IELRC), and was the Programme Director for Africa for over 20 years. Since 2007, shhe has been engaged in the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme and is a member of the Governing Board of the International Council on Environmental Law (ICEL). Patricia is a member of the Senior Counsel Bar in Kenya and has been a Professor of Law at the School of Law, University of Nairobi, where she has taught for over 30 years and served as Dean. She has also taught environmental law at Kansas University, University of Zimbabwe and Stellenbosch University. She served as chair of the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in African Universities and has contributed to the development of similar initiatives for North Africa and Middle East and for judges.

  11. Director, Climate Change Division: Martin Krause

  Martin Krause, a German national, serves as Director of the Climate Change Division. He holds an MSc in Geography from the Free University of Berlin, a postgraduate diploma in Development Policy from the German Development Institute, and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science/International Relations. He has been working within the United Nations system for 30 years on climate, environment and energy issues, living in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe.

  Prior to joining UNEP, Mr. Krause served as the Director in the Technical Cooperation Department at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where he was the substantive senior advisor on climate adaptation and responsible for quality assurance, communication and finance.

  From 2002 to 2015, Mr. Krause led the regional teams of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on environment, climate, and energy, based in Pretoria, Bangkok, and Istanbul.

  Krause began his career as a Junior Professional Officer in UNDP's Argentina office in 1994. In 1997, he relocated to New York, where he served as the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator of the Environment Unit within UNDP.

  12. Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution: Jyoti Mathur-Filipp

  Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, an Indian national, serves as Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution. She holds a Master of Science degree in Urban Planning and an MBA degree. She has 30 years of experience across the United Nations system, environmental conventions and the Global Environment Facility, as well as extensive experience working with the private sector.

  She has held positions at the Secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity, with UNEP, UNDP, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Global Environment Facility, the Adaptation Fund and the Green Climate Fund.

  13. Director, Government Affairs Office: Radhika Ochalik

  Radhika Ochalik, a Fijian national, serves as Director of Government Affairs Office. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree and has more than 20 years of experience working at the United Nations, mostly supporting intergovernmental meetings, including the meetings of the General Assembly and its Main Committees, the Economic and Social Council and its subsidiary bodies, as well as many international conferences convened under the auspices of the General Assembly.

  Prior to joining UNEP, she worked as a Senior Intergovernmental Affairs Officer in the General Assembly Affairs Branch in the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. She was also the Deputy Chief of the NGO Branch in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and had field experience as a Best Practices and Planning Officer at the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste.

  14. Director, Corporate Services Division: Soomi Ro

  Soomi Ro, a national of the Republic of Korea, serves as Director of the Corporate Services Division. She holds a Master's degree in Architecture in Urban Design, a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies from the National University of Singapore, and a Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS UK) Advance diploma. She has over 27 years of diverse experience in administration, corporate support services, urban design and global supply chain management.

  Prior to this role, Ms. Ro served as the Director of Administration at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok, Thailand, from 2021 to 2024.

  Ms. Ro started her career with the United Nations in 2004 in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations as an Engineering Officer based in the UN Secretariat in New York.

  15. Director, Policy and Programme Division: Jyotsna Puri

  Jyotsna Puri, an Indian national, serves as Director of the Policy and Programme Division. She holds a PhD and an MSc in Agriculture and Resource Economics. She is an expert in international development, climate finance and impact evaluation, with close to 27 years of experience in the multilateral/development sector.

  Prior to joining UNEP, between 2017 and 2020, Ms. Puri was the inaugural head of the Independent Evaluation Office of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)From 2020 to 2024, she served as the Associate Vice President of Strategy and Knowledge at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

  She is also an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where she teaches development effectiveness. She is also a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC.

  From 2022 to 2024, she served as Co-Chair of the International Land Coalition.

  16.Director, Evaluation Office: Janet Wildish

  Janet Wildish, a British national, who holds a PhD in International Policy for Development and an MSc in Impact Evaluation for Development. She has been working in the development sector for 30 years on a wide range of social and developmental issues, including governance, livelihoods, health, education, natural resource-based conflict resolution and gender equality/gender-based violence. Most of this work has taken place in Africa and has had a strong behaviour change focus. She has been a member of UNEP Evaluation Office for the past 10 years.

  Before taking on a specialist role in evaluation, Janet designed, secured funding for, implemented and monitored projects in partnership with many founders, including the Electoral Commission, Department for International Development (replaced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), Danish International Development Agency, and World Bank. She has also worked for several international organisations as an external evaluation consultant.