Helen Clark is the Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. She is the first woman to lead the UNDP and is also the chair of the UN Development Group. As Prime Minister, she was also a member of the Council of Women World Leaders and advocated strongly for New Zealand’s comprehensive program for sustainability and for tackling the problems of climate change. Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Clark had an extensive parliamentary and ministerial career. She was first elected to parliament in 1981 and chaired that body’s foreign affairs committee. Prior to entering parliament, she taught in the Political Studies Department of the University of Auckland.