Louise Fréchette OC (born July 16, 1946) is a Canadian diplomat and public servant who served for eight years as United Nations Deputy Secretary-General. She also served a three-year term at the Centre for International Governance Innovation, an international relations and policy think-tank in Waterloo, Ontario, working on a major research project on nuclear energy and the world's security.
Louise Fréchette | |
|---|---|
 Fréchette in 2015 | |
| 1st United Nations Deputy Secretary-General | |
| In office 1 April 1997 – 1 April 2006 | |
| Secretary-General | Kofi Annan |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Mark Malloch-Brown |
| Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office January 1992 – December 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Yves Fortier |
| Succeeded by | Robert Fowler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 16, 1946 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Alma mater | Université de Montréal College of Europe |
Early life and education
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (March 2023) |
Born in Montreal, Fréchette graduated with a degree in history from the Université de Montréal in 1970 and from the College of Europe (Bruges) with a postgraduate Certificate of Advanced European Studies (equivalent to a master's degree) in 1978.
Career
editDiplomatic career
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (March 2023) |
Fréchette began her career in 1971 when she joined Canada's Department of External Affairs. She was posted to the Canadian embassy in Athens before joining Canada's UN delegation in Geneva in 1978.
In 1985, at the age of 39, Fréchette was named Canada's ambassador to Argentina. In 1989, she was sent on a secret mission to Cuba to lobby Fidel Castro to support the Gulf War. While unsuccessful, she impressed Ottawa with her efforts and was named Canada's ambassador to the United Nations in 1992.
In 1995, Fréchette left the foreign service to become assistant deputy minister of finance in Ottawa. She was later promoted to deputy minister of national defense, the first woman to hold that position.
Deputy Secretary General of the UN
editIn 1997, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced a series of reforms at the world body, including the creation of the position of deputy secretary-general to handle many of the administrative responsibilities which had previously been the responsibility of the secretary-general. Fréchette was offered the position and accepted and has been responsible for overseeing numerous reforms at the UN. While at the United Nations, Fréchette – working with her U.S. counterpart Madeleine K. Albright, among others – was pivotal in devising a peacekeeping operation for Haiti with the return from exile of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1994.[1]
In 2005, after being criticized by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker for failed management of the Iraq Oil-for-Food Program, Fréchette announced her resignation.[citation needed]
Later career
editFréchette is a Member of the Global Leadership Foundation and is a member of the International Advisory Board at the Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID) at McGill University. She was a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Commission of Eminent Persons on nuclear energy challenges which issued its report in April 2008.[2]
Other activities
editCorporate boards
edit- Essilor, Independent Member of the Board of Directors[3]
- Shell Canada, Independent Member of the Board of Directors (2006-2007)
Non-profit organizations
edit- CARE Canada, Chair of the Board (since 2011)
- CARE International, Chair of the Supervisory Board
- Global Leadership Foundation (GLF), Member[4]
- International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), Member of the Advisory Board[5]
- Montreal Centre for International Studies, Member of the Advisory Board[6]
- Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (MCFR), Member of the Board of Directors
Recognition
editIn 1998, Fréchette was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.
References
edit- ^ Barbara Crossette (January 13, 1998), French Canadian Is a U.N. Chief's First Right-Hand Woman New York Times.
- ^ Louise Fréchette appointed to Advisory Board of International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), press release of October 30, 2008.
- ^ Board of Directors Archived 2021-01-20 at the Wayback Machine Essilor.
- ^ Membership Archived 2019-03-06 at the Wayback Machine Global Leadership Foundation (GLF).
- ^ Louise Fréchette appointed to Advisory Board of International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), press release of October 30, 2008.
- ^ Advisory Board Archived 2020-06-30 at the Wayback Machine Montreal Centre for International Studies.
External links
edit- UN Deputy Secretary-General biography
- CIGI Distinguished Fellow biography
- C-SPAN appearances
