Gillian Martin Sorensen

Ms. Sorensen, formerly United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations, now Senior Advisor at the United Nations Foundation, is a national advocate on matters related to the United Nations and its relationship with the United States. From 1997-2003 she served as Assistant Secretary-General for External Relations on appointment by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and from 1993-1996 served as Special Advisor for Public Policy on appointment from Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Mrs. Sorensen earlier served for over 12 years (1978-1990) as New York City Commissioner for the United Nations and Consular Corps, head of the City's liaison office with the world's largest diplomatic community. From 1990 to 1993, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the country's oldest human relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America. Mrs. Sorensen is a frequent speaker on United Nations issues, addressing audiences as diverse as Rotary International and the Air Force Academy; university students; members and staff of congress; and newspaper editorial writers and television correspondents. She is a graduate of Smith College and studied at the Sorbonne. She is married to Theodore C. Sorensen, attorney, writer, and former Special Counsel to president John F. Kennedy. They are parents of a daughter, Juliet.