United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Olga Algayerova of Slovakia as the next Executive Secretary of the UNECE. She will succeed Christian Friis Bach of Denmark to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and dedicated service to the organization. Mr. Bach’s term in office will end in May 2017.
Ms. Algayerova brings to the position a combination of leadership and diplomatic skills with deep knowledge of the region with its challenges and opportunities and a strong focus on building and nurturing partnerships among key stakeholders with the United Nations. She is currently Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the International Organizations in Vienna, Austria (since 2012). She was previously President, Slovak Millennium Development Goals (2010-2012); State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006-2010) and Corporate Export Manager, Zentiva International, a.s. (2004-2006).
Christian Friis Bach congratulated the Executive Secretary designate upon her appointment. “I warmly welcome Ms. Algayerova and wish her all success in her future responsibilities, at a time when UNECE and the other Regional Commissions will have an important role to play in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which will require accrued economic integration and cooperation”.
Mr. Bach invited Ms. Algayerova to participate in the 67th session of the Commission (26-27 April), which will reflect on what the region should look like by 2030. Ms. Algayerova has confirmed her participation and will also take an active part in the “Lunchtime Conversation with Former Executive Secretaries” (26 April, 13-14:30), organized as part of the celebrations of UNECE’s 70th anniversary.
Born in 1959, Ms. Algayerova holds a Master in Contemporary Diplomacy from Malta University, a Master in Business Administration from The Open University Business School, United Kingdom and a Dipl. in Engineer of Economy from the University of Economics Business Faculty, Bratislava.