Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF PANAMA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

The new Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations, Yavel Mireya Francis Lanuza, today presented her credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

At the time of her appointment, Ms. Francis was a partner in the law firm Anzola, Roble & Asociados and in the professional consultancy FL Francis & Co.  Beginning in 2005, she served as Ambassador and Adviser to the First Vice President and Minister for Foreign Affairs on multilateral affairs related to the General Assemblies of the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

She worked in the private sector from 1997 to 2004, practising as an associate attorney with prestigious law firms in Panama, and serving as Executive Vice President for Legal and Regulatory Affairs for Cable & Wireless Panama, S.A.

In 1996, Ms. Francis was appointed Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.  Later that year, she was named Executive Director of the Foreign Trade Council, the body responsible for developing the country’s foreign trade and international trade negotiations policy.

A Fulbright scholar, Ms. Francis earned a Bachelor’s degree in law and political science from Santa María La Antigua Catholic University in Panama and a Master of Law degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Born in Panama on 6 November 1967, she is single.

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For information media • not an official record