Carolyn Rodrigues - Birkett

The selection process for the next United Nations Secretary-General is now underway, with the new Secretary-General expected to take office in 2027. In the organization's eighty-year history, a woman has yet to hold the position. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is one of four women seeking the role among six candidates.

Born in the Barima-Waini region of Guyana, Rodrigues-Birkett studied social work at the University of Guyana and later completed a certificate in business administration at the University of Regina in Canada. Rodrigues-Birkett has held several ministerial and diplomatic roles throughout her career. She served as Guyana's Minister of Amerindian Affairs from 2001 to 2008 and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2015. Since 2020, she has served as Guyana's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. She previously held senior UN positions at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), including Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva and Special Coordinator of Parliamentary Alliances.

If appointed UNSG, Rodrigues-Birkett pledges to prioritize strengthening multilateral cooperation among nations and maintaining confidence in the UN as a force for global good. She likewise seeks to improve the organization's effectiveness and responsiveness in addressing emerging global challenges while advancing sustainable development and international cooperation.