Karin Sham Poo
Karin Elise Holmgrunn Sham Poo | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 18, 1943 Oslo, Norway |
| Other names | Karin Løkhaug |
| Occupation(s) | Diplomat, Banker |
| Years active | 1962–2010 |
| Known for | UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, UN Under Secretary-General |
Karin Elise Holmgrunn Sham Poo (née Karin Holmgrunn, born December 18, 1943, in Oslo), also recognized as Karin Løkhaug, is a distinguished Norwegian diplomat known for her high-ranking positions within the United Nations. She notably served as UNICEF's Deputy Executive Director and acted as the UN Secretary-General's Interim Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, holding the status of Under Secretary-General.
Career
Beginning her professional journey in 1962, Sham Poo held various leadership roles at Christiania Bank in Oslo, eventually ascending to the roles of marketing general manager and senior vice president by 1985. Her banking career also included appointments at Bergens Kreditbank and A/S Kjobmandsbanken. Transitioning to the international arena in 1985, she joined UNICEF's New York headquarters as comptroller and was elevated to deputy executive director (Operations) two years later, a position she maintained until her retirement in 2004, with the rank equivalent to Assistant Secretary-General.
In 2005, she assumed the role of interim special representative for Children and Armed Conflict at the Under Secretary-General level. Following her official retirement, Sham Poo continued contributing as UNICEF’s Special Envoy to the Caribbean until 2010.
Her affiliations extend to the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce, NGO Sustainability based in New York, Washington DC’s Foreign Policy Group, the Women's International Forum, and she has served on the Board of Trustees for the Norwegian Seamen's Church in New York.
A committed advocate for gender equality, she led the UN Secretary-General’s Steering Committee focused on enhancing women's status within the UN Secretariat from 1991 through 1996.
Sham Poo earned her degree from the Norwegian College of Banking, specializing in economics, law, and banking.
Publications
- On My Terms, AuthorHouse, 2018. ISBN 978-1546252382