The new Permanent Representative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to the United Nations (Vienna), Renate Held, presented her credentials today to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), Ghada Waly.

Ms Held is Regional Director for IOM's office covering Southeastern Europe, Eatern Europe and Central Asia, and most recently worked at our Headquarters in Geneva as Director for Migration Management. Before that she was in Vienna for a first stint as Regional Director. She has also served as Regional Representative, IOM Mission with regional functions for the Andean States, Lima (2010-2011); Inspector General, responsible for oversight, project rapid assessment, audit, evaluation and investigation at the IOM Headquarters, Geneva (2000-2009); Regional Representative, IOM Mission with regional functions for the EU Member States and the Baltic States, Brussels (1998-1999); and various functions in the IOM Bonn field mission in Germany and participation in IOM operations in Turkey, Northern Iraq, Tanzania, Mozambique and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1987-1998).

“IOM has been part of the United Nations for almost four years, and we expect to deepen our cooperation still further through cooperation and coordination with the United Nations Office in Vienna", said Ms Held after today's event. "I am delighted to be in a position where I can assist in making this a reality”.

Ms. Held holds a Master’s degree in Social Science from Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelms University, Bonn and a Diploma in Business Administration from the Commercial College of Siegburg, Germany.

She speaks English, French, German and Spanish.

City of Dispatch: Vienna