Joel Cohen

About Joel Cohen

A strategic and operational leader with over 20 years’ experience managing and leading diverse teams across the globe. With a proven track record of effective stakeholder management, inspiring leadership and managing large and complex organisations through ambiguity, challenging times and hostile environments, can align organisational values with strategic direction to achieve outstanding results. Having developed excellent interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to communicate professionally at all levels, enjoys being a key part of, and leading successful and productive teams.

Experience

1. Chief of Mission Support

   United Nations

   Apr 2016 — Present · Nicosia, CY

   Responsible for strategic direction and integrated management of operations and related support for the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus. Executive management of all logistics, supply chain, service delivery and administration of 1,100 personnel across the mission including effective stakeholder management of local, regional and international partners. The mission is budgeted at US$56m for the 2024/2025 financial year.Achievements:• As Chair of the UN Field Advisory Committee on Environment, lead field input into the development and implementation of the UN Field Support Environment Strategy; member of the UN Secretariat Steering Group on Environmental Sustainability Management, responsible for leadership and oversight across UN environmental sustainability efforts and implementation of UN Secretary-General’s Secretariat climate action plan (UNSCAP).• Drove capital investment programme in installation and upgrading of PV infrastructure across the mission, achieving short-term savings while building long-term value through reduction in environmental footprint – as of 31 December 2024, UNFICYP draws 28% of power from renewable sources.• Implemented comprehensive restructuring of the Mission Support component aligning resources and organization to strengthen and improve effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery to all client groups, resulting in increased levels of client satisfaction across the mission.• As inaugural Chair of the UN Kuwait Joint Support Office (KJSO) Client Board, I established a major governance structure to advise on strategic and operational issues and identify opportunities to improve service support to all 18 KJSO client missions/offices.• Commencing March 2020, as Chair of COVID-19 Committee for Cyprus was charged with leading all UN system organizations in planning and executing a fully harmonized response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Cyprus.

Education

• University of Western Australia

  Bachelor's degree