Judy Cheng-Hopkins : Malaysian among Forbes’ top ten powerful women in UN

PETALING JAYA: Judy Cheng-Hopkins, the assistant secretary-general of the United Nations for Peace-building Support, has become the first Malaysian to be listed in Forbes magazine's illustrious list of “The 10 Most Powerful Women at the UN”.

The list is a run-up to Forbes' selection of “The 100 Most Powerful Women 2011”, which will be released on Aug 24.

The top 10 women in the UN list have an unprecedented level of institutional power.



Hands-on approach: Cheng-Hopkins pumping water for residents in a
village in southern Chad in this file picture.

 They manage US$5bil (RM15bil) budgets and mobilise resources and over 100,000 staff worldwide.

They are responsible for the coordination of thousands of peacekeepers in conflict zones throughout the world.

“This recognition means a lot for someone who has worked through the ranks to reach this level,” said Cheng-Hopkins, 60, from the UN headquarters in New York via email.

“Most of the other women listed have had illustrious and powerful positions in their governments before joining the UN.

“So, I am privileged to be amongst them. I know them all personally and these are truly great women,” she added.

Penang-born Cheng-Hopkins is married to Dr Thomas Hopkins, a retired consultant in development work.

They have two daughters, Tara, 28, and Fiona, 23.

She is credited with turning around the US$340mil (RM1.02bil) UN Peace-building Fund infamous for being slow in disbursement and devoid of an identity into one of the United Nations' swiftest, most flexible and catalytic funds within two years.

The fund has earned praise from the British government, its largest donor and known for its strict evaluation system.

Prior to her appointment, from 2006 to 2009, she was the assistant High Commissioner for Refugees in charge of operations, active in over 118 countries.

p/s : Power jugak orang Malaysia ni kan!