Millennium Magazine_3rdEd

179 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine B elieving in the potential of sustainable development, Irena Zubcevic has always desired to change the world in terms of planet health, prosperity and the wellbeing of humanity. Serving as chief of the Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch, Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development in the IRENA ZUBCEVIC CHIEF OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL POLICY AND REVIEW BRANCH Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations New York, NY SOCIAL SERVICES AND NONPROFIT United Nation’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs since 2018, she first started with the UN in 2008 as a senior sustainable development officer and then as chief of the SIDS, Ocean and Climate Branch in the Division for Sustainable Development. Finding enrichment in the cultural backgrounds of her colleagues, her interest in and appreciation for the future of the world has deepened significantly during her tenure. Among thehighlightsof her career,Ms. Zubcevic cites a crowning achievement to be when the UN worked with various countries culminating at the conference in June 2012, where the programme on sustainable development prepared the ground for a historic and transformational 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. It has 17 goals establishing a framework for countries to grow economically, improve socially, respect human rights of all, empower women and girls, protect all children, and preserve the planet for current and future generations. Discovering the power behind these unanimous agreements to make the world a safer place to live, she has always delved into her field with the equity of people at the forefront. Ms. Zubcevic earned a Bachelor of Science in humanities and linguistics and Master of Science in humanities and social sciences from the University of Zagreb before becoming an adviser to the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Croatia. Thereafter, she served as head of English News Service for the Croatian News Agency for one year before becoming a minister plenipotentiary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Speaking 10 languages, she has been an asset to every organization with which she has worked, and has contributed her plethora of expertise to several written publications. As a testament to her success, Ms. Zubcevic received a Certificate of Appreciation for Dedicated Service to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012.