Ban appoints new head of UN Environment Programme’s New York office

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Elliott Harris of Trinidad and Tobago as the new Assistant Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) New York office, a spokesperson for the Organization announced today.

In his new role, Mr. Harris will play a central role in UNEP’s contribution to the post-2015 development agenda, the Rio+20 Summit outcomes as well as a number of inter-agency coordination mechanisms.

The Secretary-General’s spokesperson noted that Mr. Harris brings over 25 years of international experience in the fields of international economics and development policy analysis to his new UNEP position coupled with an already in-depth knowledge of the UN system, multilateral and inter-agency coordination processes.

Prior to joining the UN, Mr. Harris worked in the African Department and the Fiscal Affairs Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In 2002, he became an Advisor in the Policy Development and Review department and was appointed, in 2008, as Special Representative to the UN.