Katy Thompson

Resident Representative

Prior to this role as Resident Representative, Ms. Thompson served as Co-Director of Governance, Rule of Law & Peacebuilding at the UNDP Headquarters in New York, where she led a global team focused on policy and positioning across a range of development priorities. These included institutional reform, access to justice, security sector reform, local governance, public sector reform, rule of law and human rights, and social cohesion. She collaborated closely with the United Nations (UN) system, UN Member States, development partners, private sector, global coalitions, and think-tanks to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ms. Thompson has held senior positions in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. With over 25 years of international experience, she has worked for the UNDP, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). She has supported strategic planning and programming in UNDP Country Offices, UN Missions, and UN Country Teams in more than 100 countries. She is recognized for scaling global and country programmes, building development partnerships, and investing in innovation to strengthen development frontiers.

Before joining the UN system, Ms. Thompson practiced law in England and Wales. She is a published expert and has worked in academia and civil society as a researcher and advocate for gender equality.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cambridge University (UK), a Master of Laws degree from Essex University (UK), and postgraduate diplomas in Law and Legal Practice from the College of Law (London). 

Resident Representative, Katy Thompson is based in Georgetown, Guyana. 

You can find her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter (@KatyThompson / @KathyThompsonROL).