Tim Sutton has assumed office as the new Representative for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka. Mr. Sutton presented his credentials to the Foreign Minister, Mangala Samaraweera at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“It is an honour and a privilege to serve the children and young people of Sri Lanka” said Mr. Sutton. “After years of progress in reducing poverty, promoting reconciliation and improving the lives of children, Sri Lanka now has a unique opportunity to build a peaceful future and a prosperous society. I believe that to deliver on this potential, Sri Lanka must invest in its children and find ever-more innovative ways to support its most vulnerable young people. As UNICEF Representative I look forward to working closely with the people and the Government of Sri Lanka to deliver sustainable, positive change for children.”

Mr. Sutton has been with UNICEF since 1996, serving in Bangladesh and Iraq, and as Deputy Representative in Bhutan, the Pacific sub region with responsibility for 14 Pacific Island countries, and most recently in China.

Mr. Sutton is a national of New Zealand and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Otago, New Zealand and a master’s degree from the University of Exeter, UK. He succeeds Ms. Una McCauley who has taken up a position as Resident Coordinator for the United Nations and the Resident Representative for UNDP in Sri Lanka.

With Sri Lanka’s transition from a post-conflict environment to one of recovery, development and middle income status, UNICEF is focused on ensuring a more equitable approach to advancing the rights of children across the country.