New Permanent Observer of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Presents Letter of Appointment

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

The new Permanent Observer for the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to the United Nations, David Chadwick O’Connor, presented his letter of appointment to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. O’Connor was Chief of the Policy and Analysis Branch of the Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations, having served in that capacity since 2003.

During his tenure, from August 2014, he led a team providing substantive support to General Assembly negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda.  Between 2013 and 2014, he headed the core United Nations Secretariat substantive team supporting the General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.  From 2010 to 2012, he led a team providing analytical and technical support to intergovernmental negotiations that culminated in the adoption of “The Future We Want” outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

In previous experience, from 1989 to 2003, Mr. O’Connor was Principal Economist at the Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, where he designed and directed a programme on building adaptive capacity in developing countries.  He also headed up a research programme on responding to global and environmental challenges in developing countries.

From 1987 to 1989, he was Visiting Assistant Professor at Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines, and from 1986 to 1987, Visiting Professorial Lecturer at the University of the Philippines.

Mr. O’Connor received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from University College London, School of Public Policy at the University of London.  He received a Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.