Secretary-General Designates Cihan Sultanoğlu as Commissioner-General for United Nations Participation in Expo 2017

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has designated Cihan Sultanoğlu as United Nations Commissioner-General for the Organization’s participation in Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan.  Ms. Sultanoğlu is Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The theme of Expo 2017, “Future Energy”, relates closely to United Nations efforts in the areas of energy, food security, women and nutrition, sustainable development and climate change, among others.  The exposition runs from 10 June to 10 September 2017.

“Ms. Sultanoğlu’s wide-ranging experience, coupled with the efforts of UN colleagues in Kazakhstan, will result in the effective participation of the UN system in Expo 2017,” the Secretary-General said.  “This Expo’s focus on energy is particularly timely; it will take place as humankind seeks to accelerate its collective efforts towards climate action.”

Prior to her role as Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Ms. Sultanoğlu worked in a series of senior roles within the United Nations system, including as the Director of Human Resources in UNDP’s Bureau of Management.  Prior to that, she served as Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director, Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (2007-2010), United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus (2004-2007), United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Lithuania (2000-2005), Deputy Resident Representative in Morocco (1995-2000), and Deputy Director, Office of the Administrator (1993-1995).

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1326-BIO/4359-DEV/2935 of 22 February 2012.