Satya S Tripathi has been appointed as the assistant secretary-general and head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The veteran Indian development economist with over 35 years of experience will succeed Elliott Harris of Trinidad and Tobago.
Since 1998, Tripathi has worked for the United Nations in Europe, Asia and Africa on strategic assignments in sustainable development, human rights, democratic governance and legal affairs.
He was previously the Director and Executive Head of the United Nations Office for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries Coordination in Indonesia, as well as for the United Nations Recovery Coordinator for the $7 billion post-tsunami and post-conflict recovery efforts in Aceh and Nias.
Earlier in his career he acted as a Senior Distinguished Fellow on Natural Resources Governance with the World Agroforestry Centre and on the World Economic Forum's Global Advisory Council on Forests.
Tripathi holds honours, bachelor's and master's degrees in commerce; and bachelor's and master's degrees in law from Berhampur University, India.
