Pollution, Chemicals, & Water Management

Hilda van der Veen (The Netherlands) recently joined UNDP as Senior Policy and Programme Advisor on Circular Economy. Before taking on this role she was Partnership Advisor (Positive Legacy) in the United Nations Department of Operational Support (UNDOS) where she focused on reducing the environmental footprint of UN peacekeeping operations. Hilda previously worked as a Programme Specialist (Chemicals Management) for UNDP, as well as an international expert to the GEF, ILO UNDP, UNEP and UNOPS on waste, chemical and environmental management assignments ranging from improving healthcare waste management practices to phasing out hazardous chemicals from supply chains. Hilda holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.

Marcia P. Joppert holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with a focus in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods from Claremont Graduate University. She also has a Master’s degree in Administration and Public Policy from the University Institute of Lisbon an Executive Master’s in Business Administration from the TSM Business School in the Netherlands; and a degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic School at the University of São Paulo. With over 30 years of experience, Marcia specializes in the planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation of programs, projects, and ventures. She is a co-founder and current Director of the Brazilian Monitoring and Evaluation Network, where she is dedicated to promoting the advancement of evaluation through research, collaboration, and leadership. She has served as an Executive Committee Member of ReLAC and an Executive Board Member of IOCE when the Evalpartners initiative was launched. She has been a member of the American Evaluation Association since 2009.

Monika Weber-Fahr is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at the Hertie School of Governance in Berlin and advises international organisations, multi-stakeholder partnerships and NGOs, businesses and governments on innovative approaches to network management, cooperation and result orientation. Until 2020, Monika served as CEO and Executive Secretary of the Global Water Partnership (GWP), following an assignment as COO at Sustainable Energy for All. For over 20 years, Monika worked with the World Bank Group, including as Chief Knowledge Officer at the Independent Evaluation Group and as Director for Knowledge, Learning and Results at the Sustainable Development Vice Presidency. For the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Monika built and led the Global Business Line for Sustainable Business Advisory. Monika serves as a member of the Board of the Austrian Development Bank (OeEB), of the Vienna Climate Lab Advisory Council, of the Deltares International Advisory Council, and of the Global Council of the Online Educa Berlin (OEB). She is a beekpeer and lives in Vienna/Austria with her family.

Sulan Chen is the Principal Technical Advisor and Global Lead, responsible for UNDP’s strategy and policy formulation, portfolio/program development, advocacy and knowledge management for UNDP’s plastics work. Prior to this, she was Programme Advisor for UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme providing financial and technical support to more than 26,000 communities around the world. From 2003-2006, she worked for the UNEP/GEF project on marine environmental protection in the South China Sea, based in Bangkok, Thailand. She started her international development career as a research assistant at the Global Environment Facility Secretariat from 2001-2002. She has served as Adjunct Professor at New York University Wagner School of Public Affairs. She has authored a number of UN technical publications and articles in journals such as Ocean and Coastal Management, Environmental Development, Development, and China Environment Series. She obtained a PhD and Master’s degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland and a BA degree from Nankai University, China.