Laurel Patterson

Laurel Patterson (Canada) is the Director of the SDG Integration portfolio in UNDP’s Global Policy Network. Laurel was previously Senior Global Advisor for development policy in fragile and conflict affected settings. Prior to joining BPPS, Laurel was Deputy Director of the UN System Affairs Group leading on UN reform, and previously the Deputy Director of the Partnerships Group in UNDP’s Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy. 

Laurel held several field-based assignments, including as Chief of Planning in Somalia, and Policy Advisor, Social Cohesion for a sub-regional peacebuilding initiative in the Great Lakes of Africa. Before UNDP, she was the Associate Director of International Affairs at Simon Fraser University in Canada, where she led the university's international development portfolio, focused on primary education in Africa and Southeast Asia. Laurel started her career with the UN on assignment with UN Women in Zimbabwe and Angola, as part of their flagship women, peace and security portfolio.

Laurel has a MPhil Degree in International Relations, Cambridge University, UK. She lives in New York with her husband and three children.