Director's Forum on "The Future of the United Nations" featured prominent Canadian

Louise Fréchette, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, was a panelist in a forum hosted by the Woodrow Wilson Center, and co-sponsored by the United Nations Association of the Capitol Area. Ms. Fréchette was born in Montréal and began her distinguished career in foreign service in the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Fréchette was the Deputy Minister of National Defence of Canada from 1995 to 1998. Prior to that, she was Associate Deputy Minister in the Department of Finance. She served as Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations from 1992 to 1995.

The Deputy Secretary-General assists the Secretary-General in the full range of his responsibilities and also may represent the United Nations at conferences and official functions. She chairs the Steering Committee on Reform and Management Policy and the Advisory Board of the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships (UNFIP), which handles relations with the foundation set up by Ted Turner in support of the United Nations.

The panel discussion also included

David Birenbaum (Moderator)
Senior Scholar in residence, Woodrow Wilson Center
Jean David Levitte
Ambassador of France to the United States
John Ruggie
Kirkpatrick Professor of International Affairs,
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Richard S. Williamson
Partner, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw and
former Ambassador to the UN for Special Political Affairs