Ms. Soomi Ro has over 27 years of diverse experience in administration, corporate support services, urban design and global supply chain management, including a focus on strategic resource mobilization and stakeholder engagement with Member States, the private sector, and the UN system, including conflict zones and emerging countries.
Prior to this role, Ms. Ro served as the Director of Administration at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok, Thailand, from 2021 to 2024, where she managed key programmes covering supply chain management, financial and human resources management, conference/travel management and host country support services, ICT services, facilities and environmental management systems. She also spearheaded strategic and transformative resources management and mobilization strategy for the US$ 40 million complex Capital Infrastructure Project, securing significant contributions for the largest Common Premises in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ms. Ro led ESCAP’s greening efforts in sustainable business operation through cross-functional Innovation Team and Environmental Management System (EMS) group, fostering strong partnerships with the private sector. Further, as part of the UN Management and UN Development Reform initiatives, she led several inter-agency crisis management projects, including emergency procurement support activities for the Haiti Earthquake in 2010, Ebola Emergency Response in 2014, post-Sandy recovery and COVID-19 global supply chain support.
Ms. Ro started her career with the United Nations in 2004 in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations as an Engineering Officer based in the UN Secretariat in New York.
Ms. Soomi Ro holds a Master of Architecture degree in Urban Design, a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies from the National University of Singapore, and a Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS UK) Advance diploma. She is a national of the Republic of Korea and has two children.
Staff Position Level: D2
Region: Asia Pacific Group
