Secretary-General Appoints Kate Gilmore of Australia As Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Kate Gilmore of Australia as Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.  She will succeed Flavia Pansieri of Italy, to whom the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights are grateful for her dedicated service to the United Nations human rights programme during the past three years, following a long and distinguished career in the United Nations system around the world.

Ms. Gilmore, currently Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), brings to the position nearly 30 years of strategic leadership experience with the United Nations as well as with government and non‑governmental organizations.

Prior to joining UNFPA in 2012, she was Executive Deputy Secretary General of Amnesty International and National Director of Amnesty International Australia.  As the chief operating officer, she was responsible for directing and overseeing global financial and human resources, strategic planning and managing key human rights programming, including leading innovations in human rights policy.

Ms. Gilmore started her career as a social worker and policy officer for the Government of Australia, establishing the country’s first Centre Against Sexual Assault.  She has held honorary Government appointments to provincial and national public policy and law reform processes, including membership of Australia’s first national committee on violence against women.

She is the holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New England and a post-graduate degree in social work from the University of Melbourne.

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1323-BIO/4356-POP/1000 of 22 February 2012.