Background
She was born and grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where she completed her elementary, secondary and tertiary education, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Education
executive development administrator
She was born and grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where she completed her elementary, secondary and tertiary education, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Education
University of Saskatchewan, Canada, BEd. Spoken languages: English, French.
From the University of Saskatchewan. In the early 1960s she taught history in Saskatoon, leaving Canada In the late 60s and early 70s to teach in Tanzania and Barbados. She became involved with Non-governmental organizations and enhancing their effectiveness, in particular playing a central role in CUSO (Canadian University Service Overseas).
Between 1989 and 1994 she was Director of UNIFEM and developed initiatives for UNIFEM in favour of the international women's movement to assist women at policy and grassroots levels.
From 1994 to 1997, she was Director of Evaluation and Strategic Planning at the United Nations Development Programme (United Nations Development Programme). From 1997 until her death in 2003, she was Executive Coordinator of United Nations Volunteers, spearheading the highly successful International Year of Volunteers in 2001 and the move of the Online Volunteering Service from NetAid.
She also oversaw the buildup of United Nations Volunteers"s largest single presence to date, in East Timor, during its transition towards independence. Some 3,000 United Nations Volunteers from more than 100 countries supported the East Timor Public Administration, including electoral processes.
At a memorial ceremony in December 2003 in New York City, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said,
At a time of unprecedented change in the world and in the role of the United Nations, Sharon had an instinctive grasp of the need for the Organization to reach out as widely as possible and engage people from all walks of life to join in our mission.
She brought that understanding to bear on all her work with us -- whether as Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers programme, Director of Evaluation and Strategic Planning at United Nations Development Programme, or Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women. The highly successful International Year of Volunteers she led in 2001 provided vivid testimony of the energy and enthusiasm she brought to that approach. From the day Sharon set out into the world as a young volunteer, to her final contribution as head of United Nations Volunteers, this courageous woman never stopped quilting in the name of solidarity, for the benefit of all in one world.
And I personally, shall miss hearing her call out “Uncle Kofi”.
Member Executive Board, North/South Institute, Canada. Society for International Development.