PN woman snags top global role
For the first time in its 24-year history, the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres has its first female president. And she’s from Palmerston North.
Colonel Helen Cooper, acting deputy chief of the New Zealand Army, will head an international peacekeeping drive.
She was appointed president at the peacekeeping association’s
24th annual conference in Auckland recently.
The centres are designed to equip peacekeepers with skills, help communities maintain peaceful conditions and build from that foundation.
Cooper said being elected to the role was a highlight of her 28-year army career.
‘‘We are a small nation. This is a great way for the New Zealand Defence Force to be strongly involved in global peacekeeping training,’’ she said.
Cooper’s career has taken her around the world, including deployments in Cambodia, East Timor and Lebanon.
‘‘While working at the Cambodian Mine Action Centre as a technical adviser, I had no idea that 20 years later I would be running a conference with the theme of capacity building,’’ Cooper said.
‘‘I am most looking forward to working with our international partners, bringing their depth of experience to discussions on how we can continue to improve peacekeeping around the globe.’’
There are more than 130,000 individuals involved in peace operations around the world.
Of those, 110,000 civilians, police and military personnel are under the United Nations umbrella and this year is the UN’S 70th anniversary.
Cooper said they needed the highest possible level of training.
‘‘Every one of those civilian, police, and military personnel deserve the right to return home safe and sound.’’