Maxwell John Gaylard takes up duties as UNDP Somalia Resident Representative, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia

Nairobi (4 April 2002) - Maxwell John Gaylard this week officially began his term as the new UNDP Somalia Resident Representative and UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, as well as UN Designated Official for Somalia in charge of UN security.
"It is important to remember that we are all here to serve the Somali people," Mr. Gaylard said when addressing staff on Thursday after arriving at his new post.

Mr. Gaylard, who is a national of Australia, had since 1999 served in Sudan as Chief of the UN Office for the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), where he worked with UN Agencies, the Government of Sudan, and NGO partners in humanitarian assistance operations, including Operation Lifeline Sudan.

Prior to that, he was UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in northern Iraq from 1997-1999, where he coordinated the UN's inter-agency multi-sectoral humanitarian program, under the auspices of the "Oil-for-Food" program mandated by the UN Security Council.

Earlier, Mr. Gaylard was Director of Political Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London from 1988-1996. He was in charge of monitoring and evaluation of developments in Commonwealth countries; promotion of development, human rights and democracy in member countries; organization of electoral and observer missions; and organization of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.

Mr. Gaylard also served for 20 years in Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic Corps, where he was High Commissioner for Australia to the Solomon Islands from 1985-1988, and Deputy High Commissioner for Australia to Singapore from 1983-1985. Other postings with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs took him to Mexico and Burma, and he was Head of the Indonesia Desk at headquarters.

From 1968-1970 Mr. Gaylard served in the Australian Regular Army, which included service in Malaysia and Singapore. He was born in Nambour, Queensland, and received his degrees from the University of Queensland and the Australian National University.

For more Information:

United Nations
Somalia Office of the UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator
Telephone: +254 2 448434 Fax: +254 2 448439