Dr Noeleen Heyzer

Dr. Noeleen Heyzer is a social scientist and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General — the highest-ranking Singaporean in the UN system during her tenure (2007–2015).


Prior to her role at ESCAP, Dr. Heyzer was the first Executive Director from outside North America to lead the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) from 1994 to 2007. Under her leadership, UNIFEM advanced women’s economic security and rights, leadership and governance, peace and security, human rights, and the elimination of violence against women. She was widely recognized for her pivotal role in the Security Council’s adoption and implementation of the landmark Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, and for her missions to conflict-affected areas worldwide to promote women’s participation in peacebuilding and recovery.

Dr. Heyzer served under four UN Secretaries-General and was the UNSG’s Special Adviser for Timor-Leste (2013–2015), supporting peacebuilding, state-building, and sustainable development. She later served as a member of the UNSG’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation (2017–2021) and as the UNSG’s Special Envoy on Myanmar (2021–2023).

A founding member of several international women’s networks, Dr. Heyzer has served on numerous boards and advisory committees of international organizations, including the UNDP Human Development Report, the Asian Development Bank’s Eminent Persons Group, the Board of Trustees of the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Governing Board of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NUS). She was also a member of the Kofi Annan Global Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age, the Commonwealth High-Level Commission on Respect and Understanding chaired by Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen, and the jury for U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Innovation Award for Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment.

Dr. Heyzer is currently the Rector of Ridge View Residential College at the National University of Singapore, a member of the Amity Circle, and part of Global Women Leaders Voices—a network of former Women UN Under-Secretaries-General and Assistant Secretaries-General, Women Heads of State and Government, and Women Foreign Ministers. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the Asia Global Institute, chaired by Nobel Laureate in Economics, Professor Michael Spence.

Recognized for her thought leadership grounded in the principles and practice of the UN Charter, Dr. Heyzer is frequently invited as a distinguished keynote speaker at leading universities and international forums. She shares her insights on the defining issues of our time, including multilateralism, sustainable development, global cooperation, and ethical leadership.

Selected recent lectures:

• Rethinking Multilateral Governance: Securing Our Future”, Harvard University, September 2024

• “The Indo-Pacific Region Can Be a Multilateral Anchor in Our Turbulent World: Commemorating Beijing+30 and the 25th Anniversary of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security”, Monash University, December 2024

• “Ethical Leadership in Our Evolving New World Order: The Rule of Law and the Rules of War Are on Life Support”, Commencement Address, Singapore Management University School of Law, July 2025

• “Navigating Dilemmas, Harnessing Trends: The Future of Humanitarian Action in a Digital and Militarized World”, RSIS–Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, October 2025

Awards and Honours

• The Meritorious Service Medal, Singapore 60th Anniversary National Day Award 2025

• Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree, National University of Singapore 120th Anniversary highest form of recognition.

• Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (2014)

• First International Recipient of the Aletta Jacobs Prize, 400 Anniversary of University of Groningen, Netherlands (2014)

• First woman to receive the Eminent Alumni Award (2011), National University of Singapore.

• Honorary Professor (2011), Eurasian Economic Club of Scientists Association, Astana Economic Forum, Kazakhstan.

• Honorary Doctorate (2011), University of Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

• Order of the Polar Star (2011), Mongolia. Presented by the President of Mongolia.

• Women of the Year Award (2008), Singapore Press Holdings.

• Women’s Equality Award (2007), American National Council of Women’s Organization, Washington, USA.

• Global Leadership Award (2005), Global Summit of Women, Mexico

• Women Who Make a Difference Award (2005), American National Council for Research on Women, New York City, USA.

• UNA-Harvard Leadership Award (2004), Boston, USA.

• The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal (2004) given to “a person who has promoted, in action and spirit, the values that inspired Dag Hammarskjöld as Secretary-General of the United Nations and generally in his life: compassion, humanism and commitment to international solidarity and cooperation”. Uppsala, Sweden.

• The Woman of Distinction Award (2003) from the UN-NGO Committee on the Status of Women, United Nations, New York, USA.

• Spirit of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Award (2000) by the Institute for Leadership Development, York University, Canada.

• Global Tolerance Award for Humanitarian Service (2000), Friends of the United Nations, New York, USA.

Dr. Noeleen Heyzer was listed by the Earth Times in 2000 as one of the most influential voices in the UN system. Her leadership journey and insights received the highest rating by the 2012 and 2014 editions of the UN Leader’s Programme and described as “extremely inspiring”. In recognition of her contribution to women, peace and justice, Dr. Heyzer was among the women nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.