Biographical Note

Secretary-General Welcomes Approval of His Nominee, Carman L. Lapointe (Canada),

 

as Under-Secretary-General for Internal Oversight Services

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes today’s action by the General Assembly to quickly approve Carman L. Lapointe of Canada as Under-Secretary-General for the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

Ms. Lapointe possesses the breadth and depth of experience and expertise required for this demanding position.  Since February 2009, she has been Director of the Office of Audit and Oversight at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).  From 2004 to 2009, she was Auditor General of the World Bank Group.

Ms. Lapointe has also held chief oversight positions in a number of Canadian crown corporations, including Corporate Auditor with the Canada Post Corporation; Auditor of the Bank of Canada; and Vice-President for Internal Audit and Evaluation with Export Development Canada.

She has served as Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and as Audit Committee Member for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

In 1994-1995, Ms. Lapointe was Chairperson of the Institute of Internal Auditors, the profession’s global organization, and has also served on the Criteria of Control Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants.  She is currently on a standards task force for the International Federation of Accountants.

Ms. Lapointe is a graduate of the financial management programme in internal auditing from Algonquin College in Ottawa, a Certified Internal Auditor, a Certified Fraud Examiner and the holder of a Business Ethics Certificate from Colorado State University in the United States.

A Canadian national born in Virden, Manitoba, in 1951, she has three children.

Transparency and accountability are essential to the work of the Organization, and OIOS is critical to advancing that effort.  That is why the Secretary-General acted as quickly as possible to propose an experienced, high-profile and able successor to this important post.  The new chief will be expected to build up the OIOS team, filling vacancies and taking on responsibilities that have unfortunately gone unmet in recent years.  The staff of OIOS have been working under difficult circumstances.

We are all committed to taking prompt action that will help the Office carry out its vital work.  The Secretary-General and the senior management team will continue to put the highest priority on strengthening the United Nations from within — a stronger UN for a better world.

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For information media • not an official record