The Singapore Management University (SMU) is pleased to announce that Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Social Scientist, Former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and SMU’s Lee Kong Chian Distinguished Fellow, has been presented the World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award.
Established in 2011 to honour individuals who have made significant fundamental contributions in their respective field of work, the Award Recipient must have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to ‘make a difference’ and have provided outstanding contributions over a sustained period of years to the regional and global community.
Dr Noeleen Heyzer, a member of the United Nations Secretary General’s High Level Advisory Board on Mediation, was an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (2007 - 2015). She was the first woman to serve as the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) since its founding in 1947. Under her leadership (Aug 2007 - Jan 2014), the commission focused on regional co-operation for a more resilient Asia-Pacific, founded on shared prosperity, social equity, and sustainable development. Responding to the global financial crisis, she developed ESCAP as the platform for the region to rethink new drivers of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development based on four pillars: regional trade and connectivity; closing the infrastructure and development gaps; developing a new regional financial architecture; and addressing shared vulnerability.
Among the many significant achievements of the region under her tenure have been groundbreaking intergovernmental agreements on a regional intermodal transport and logistical system, especially for landlocked developing countries; and initiatives such as Regional Connectivity including assistance in the formulation of ASEAN's Connectivity Master Plan, exploration of an Asia-Pacific Energy Highway, an ICT super-highway, and the negotiation supporting the new Silk Route of economic development in Central Asia. She was at the forefront of many innovations including for regional disaster preparedness, inclusive green growth and social protection, sustainable agriculture and urbanisation.
She was the first United Nations leader to be invited to address the East Asian Summit in 2009 where she presented the concept paper on ‘Promoting Regional Connectivity and Development to 16 Head of States.
As the previous Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for Women, she was widely recognised for the formulation and implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. She was also the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Adviser for Timor-Leste, working to support peace-building, state-building, and sustainable development in fragile states.
She has served on numerous boards and advisory committees of international organisations, including the UNDP Human Development Report; the Asian Development Bank’s Eminent Persons Group; the High-level Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding chaired by Nobel Laureate Prof. Amartya Sen. She has received numerous international awards for leadership.
For her significant and outstanding contributions, she was presented with the WCEF Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award at the WCEF 2018 Gala Dinner held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 9 November 2018. The Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to YB Lim Kit Siang, Adviser to DAP.
In addition, the WCEF presented its highest annual award - the Patron's Special Benevolent Award to YB Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The honour was in recognition of Anwar's contribution as a prominent poltilcal leader in Malaysia and international icon for democracy, freedom and human rights.
You can view photos of the WECF 2018 and gala dinner here
[Featured photo: Dr Noeleen Heyzer receiving her award on stage with Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew Co-Founder and Patron, World Chinese Economic Forum (Left) and The Hon. CY Leung Vice Chairman, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (Right)]