DUSHANBE, April 7, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The United Nations General Assembly on March 31 unanimously approved Helen Clark of New Zealand as the new Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for a term of four years, press release issued by UNDP said.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon nominated Helen Clark week to replace outgoing Administrator Kemal Derviş of Turkey.

Helen Clark is expected to assume her post in late April.

Helen Clark has been a member of the New Zealand Parliament since 1981, and was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008.  Concurrently she held a number of other portfolios including Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage.

In government Helen Clark led her country’s policy debate on a wide range of economic, social, environmental, and cultural issues, including sustainability and climate change, and the development of an inclusive multicultural and multi faith society.  She was also a very active leader of her country’s international relations at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels.

Between 1984 and 1987 she served as Chair of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Select Committee.  From 1987 to 1990, she served as first Minister of Housing and Minister of Conservation, and then as Minister of Health, Minister of Labor, and Deputy Prime Minister.  In these capacities, she prioritized affordable housing, protection of New Zealand’s unique biodiversity, primary health care and public health, and gender equity in employment

Born in 1950 in New Zealand, Helen Clark is married to Professor Peter Davis.  Miss Clark was educated at Auckland University where she studied Political Studies and History.  She graduated with a BA in 1971 and MA (Hons) in 1974