Mr. David Shearer of New Zealand, the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), succeeds Ellen Margrethe Loej of Denmark, who completed her assignment at the end of November 2016.

Mr. Shearer, till recently (31 December 2016) a Member of Parliament in New Zealand, brings to this position extensive political and humanitarian experience. Prior to taking up elected  office in New Zealand (2009}, Mr. Shearer  served  as the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the United Nations Assistance  Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (2007-2009).  

Previously, he held several senior positions with the United Nations, including head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, senior humanitarian adviser to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Chief of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Belgrade.   

In addition, Mr. Shearer has conducted various assignments with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Save the Children Fund, and the International Crisis Group, and is the author of numerous publications in the areas of conflict resolution, effective interventions for peace and humanitarian affairs.

Mr. Shearer holds a master's degree in resource management from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Born in 1957, he is married and has two children.