David O'Connor is Permanent Observer of IUCN to the United Nations. From 2003 until 2015, he served as Chief of the Policy and Analysis Branch, Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, where he led and managed a team of policy researchers who provide the analytical direction and substance to the United Nations' work on sustainable development. In this capacity, he led the core UN Secretariat substantive team supporting the UN General Assembly Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.