Structure and Staff

NGLS Structure

The UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) was established in 1975 by several UN agencies as an inter-agency programme to promote and develop constructive relations between the United Nations and civil society organizations. Since its creation, the Service’s original sponsors have been joined by additional UN agencies, funds and programmes, private foundations and several donor country governments.

In 2008, the work of NGLS was supported by:

United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA)-Lead Agency

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)- Administering Agency

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

International Labour Office (ILO)

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

United Nations Human Settlements Programme (HABITAT)

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

World Food Programme (WFP)

World Health Organization (WHO)

NGLS also received financial support for its activities from the Governments of Canada, France, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and Norway, as well as the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), and the Ford Foundation.

NGLS Staff

NEW YORK OFFICE

Elisa Peter, Officer-in-Charge and Chief of the New York office
Ms. Peter is the Deputy Coordinator and Chief of the New York office of the UN-NGLS (and Officer in Charge of the Service since 1 October 2007). Prior to joining NGLS, she worked for FAO as a policy analyst and for several NGOs as manager, coordinator and consultant on issues ranging from global environmental issues to organizational development and advocacy campaigns. She holds an MSc degree in agronomy from the National Superior School of Agronomy in Toulouse, France.

Zak Bleicher, Programme Associate
Mr. Bleicher joined NGLS in New York, April 2006. Prior to joining NGLS, Zak served as an aide to Michigan State Senator Robert Emerson before crossing over to the NGO sector as an editor and programme consultant for a variety of organizations in the U.S. and the U.K. Zak attended the James Madison College at Michigan State University (US) where he earned a dual BA in International Relations and Political Theory/Constitutional Democracy. Zak’s studies took him to Beijing, China as well where he studied US-China relations with Chinese graduate students at Renmin University.

Flore-Anne Bourgeois, Associate Programme Officer
Ms. Bourgeois joined NGLS in November 2007 as an Associate Programme Officer. She is in charge, among other things, of the development and strengthening of NGLS’s outreach to French-speaking countries and civil society groups. Prior to joining the NGLS, she worked as Junior External Relations Officer at the World Trade Organization and as a research and programme assistant for several non-governmental organizations, including the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. She also served as a teaching assistant, for three years, at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. She holds a B.A. from the Strasbourg Institute of Political Studies in France and a M.A. in International Relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva.

Tomas Gonzalez, Information Technology Expert

Lawrence de Laubadère, Programme and Office Assistant
Mr. de Laubadère joined NGLS in New York, January 2008, as Programme and Office Assistant, and works to ensure the well-functioning of NGLS’ logistical and administrative areas. Before joining NGLS, Lawrence was an Executive Assistant Store Manager at Walgreen’s Co. in Los Angeles, California. He graduated with an International Business B.A. and Psychology Minor from The Ohio State University, and is currently studying towards a Professional Global Affairs Certificate at NYU’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies. His academic path has allowed him to live in France, England, and the United States. He speaks French, English, Spanish, and is currently learning Mandarin Chinese. Lawrence’s two beloved hobbies, when time and weather permit, are snowboarding and skydiving.

GENEVA OFFICE

Jolanda Groen, Associate Programme Officer
Ms. Groen joined NGLS in Geneva in October 2008 as an Associate Programme Officer. Prior to joining NGLS, she worked as a Junior Professor at Utrecht University, teaching writing and research skills, human geography and international development. She holds a B.A. in International Tourism Management and Consultancy and a M.A. in International Development Studies - with a specialization in decentralization and participatory governance processes.

Hamish Jenkins, Programme Officer

Beth Peoch, Editor
Ms. Peoch joined NGLS in Geneva in September 2001 as editor of NGLS’s publications. Prior to that, she worked for Smithsonian Magazine in Washington DC as advertising production manager, and in the Economics and Trade Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme in Geneva. She enjoys the fast work pace NGLS provides, which helps keep her in shape for when she finds time to run marathons. She holds a BA in journalism and creative writing from Oklahoma State University (US).