1978, Master's in International Affairs, Columbia University, US; diplomas, Université de Haute Bretagne, Rennes, France and Harvard University, US. Formerly: UN Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, overseeing global UNHCR operations; Director, World Food Programme (WFP) Office, New York; 1997-2000, Director, WFP's Asia and Eastern Europe region, managing large and complex emergency operations; with UN Development Programme: 1982-88, in Zambia; 1988-92, in Kenya; and 2002-03, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Africa. Since August 2009, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, United Nations Peacekeeping. Awards: first Malaysian to be recognized in Forbes magazine's list of 10 Most Powerful Women at the UN.