Interim Director-General of IRENA has been elected

Ms. Hélène Pelosse (France) becomes Interim Director-General

The Preparatory Commission designated Ms. Hélène Pelosse as the first head of the emerging Agency during its second session in Sharm El Sheikh on 29 June 2009.

Four candidates with outstanding profiles and strong backgrounds in the field of renewable energy were nominated by the Member States for the position. After a close and fair election, the French candidate Ms. Pelosse was appointed by the Signatories as the first Interim Director-General of IRENA.

Ms. Pelosse is currently Deputy Head of Staff in the Private Office of the French Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development, and Town and Country Planning in charge of international affairs. She also managed the French negotiations for the EU’s Climate and Energy package, focusing in particular on the Renewable Energy Directive, and was responsible for designing the Renewable Energy Plan for France. Moreover, she took part in several international climate negotiations and has been intimately engaged with international organisations in the field of energy during her career (e.g. IEA, UNEP, UNDP).

Ms. Pelosse has established a long record of outstanding experience and profound knowledge of the renewable sector as well as strong communication and representation skills. Her unique expertise provides IRENA with the ideal conditions to continue its promising start and to make IRENA a driving force for a new global energy paradigm that suits the needs of the 21st century.