Our Leadership

Samuel Rizk

Samuel Rizk assumed the position of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in July 2023. Prior to his appointment in Pakistan, Samuel Rizk served as Head of Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding & Responsive Institutions (CPPRI) at the UNDP Crisis Bureau in New York.

He has also served as the Manager of the UNDP/RBAS Sub-Regional Response Facility (SRF) based in Amman, Jordan, supporting the organization’s regional response to the crisis in Syria. From July 2015 to October 2017, Samuel was the UNDP Country Director in Syria, and before that, he served as Senior Programme Advisor with the Regional Bureau for Arab States in New York. Samuel also served as Peace and Development Advisor in Sudan and Conflict Prevention Advisor in Yemen for the UN System.

Samuel holds a PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University (2012), an MA in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo (AUC), and a BA in Political Science from Hanover College (Indiana, USA).

Follow him at @samuelrizk

 

 

Van Nguyen

Van Nguyen assumed the role of Deputy Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in August 2023. Her extensive career with the UNDP spans over two decades, during which she has worked in diverse country settings, including least-developed countries, middle-income countries (MIC), post-crisis and fragile states.

Van's UN journey began in her home country of Vietnam, and she has since made impactful contributions in various regions, including Papua New Guinea, Malawi, South Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. Prior to her assignment in Pakistan, she served as the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Bangladesh from 2019 to 2023.

Van Nguyen's academic achievements include a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Liverpool (UK), an MBA from Northcentral University (USA), a BA in International Law from Hanoi University of Law, and a BA in French Linguistics from Hanoi National University.

Her dedication to advancing international development, combined with her extensive experience, underscores her significant contribution to the UNDP's mission of creating positive global transformation.

Follow her at @van_ntn

 

 

Otgontsetseg Zundui

Ms. Otgontsetseg Zundui joined UNDP Pakistan as Operations Manager in September 2021.

She brings extensive experience and knowledge in business operations management with UN agencies and other reputable organizations. Before joining UNDP Pakistan, she worked as Common Premises/Services Coordinator with UNRCO in Myanmar, Operations Preparedness Specialist with UNDP Myanmar, and Operations Manager with UNDP Mongolia. She started her UN career with UNFPA Mongolia in 2008 after working with diplomatic and educational institutions for more than 15 years.

Ms. Zundui is Mongolian national and holds Master’s degree in International Affairs from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA, Bachelor’s in business administration and Linguistics from Institute of Finance of Economics and Foreign Languages Institute, Mongolia.

Follow her at @OtgontsetsegZun