Speaker: Helen Clark Chair: Dr Jonathan Leape Recorded on 21 January 2014 in Old Theatre, Old Building. 2015 was the date set for achieving most of the Millennium Development Goals' targets. United Nations member states have agreed that there should be a post-2015 development agenda aimed at poverty eradication in the context of sustainable development. With negotiations on a new agenda set to begin in late 2014, Helen Clark will reflect on the inputs to the debate thus far and on how consensus can be reached on sustainable development goals. Helen Clark (@HelenClarkUNDP) became the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in April 2009, and is the first woman to lead the organization. She is also the chair of the United Nations Development Group, a committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues. Prior to her appointment with UNDP, Helen Clark served for nine years as prime minister of New Zealand, serving three successive terms from 1999 - 2008. Helen Clark came to the role of prime minister after an extensive parliamentary and ministerial career. First elected to Parliament in 1981, Helen Clark was re-elected to her multicultural Auckland constituency for the tenth time in November 2008. Earlier in her career, she chaired parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. Between 1987 and 1990, she was a minister responsible for first, the portfolios of Conservation and Housing, and then Health and Labour. She was deputy prime minister between August 1989 and November 1990. From that date until December 1993 she served as deputy leader of the opposition, and then as leader of the opposition until winning the election in November 1999. Prior to entering the New Zealand Parliament, Helen Clark taught in the Political Studies Department of the University of Auckland. She graduated with a BA in 1971 and an MA with First Class Honours in 1974. She is married to Peter Davis, a professor at Auckland University.

• published: 22 Jan 2014
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