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The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Namibia to the United States of America
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Namibia to theUnited States of America and non-resident Ambassador to the Bahamas, Canada,Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras isH.E Margaret Mensah-Williams. Her Excellency assumed her position asAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Namibia to theUnited States of America in Washington, DC on (date). She brings a unique combination of knowledge and experience in politics, public policy, regulation, governance, training and public administration.
Prior to her appointment, Her Excellency Margaret Mensah-Williams was a Member of Parliament in the National Council and National Assembly respectively. From 2015 to 2020 she was elected Fifth Chairperson of the National Council; the National Council is the Upper House of the Parliament of Namibia. During her time in legislature, she served as the first woman in the history of Namibia to hold the post of Deputy Chairperson and Chairperson of the National Council in 1999 till 2019, she was a Member of the National Assembly for the year 2020. Having been a member of the National Council since 1998 till 2019, she was the Chairperson of the Committee on Women Caucus, Committee on Standing Rules and Orders, Committee on Privileges and Immunities and the Steering Committee Chairperson. In the National Assembly, she was the Chairperson of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Member of the Gender Committee, Member of the Economic Committee and the Standing Rules and Orders Committee in 2020.
Ambassador Margaret Mensah-Williams has also been a leading public voice for positive global change throughout her career. Due to her extensive legislative experience, she has been a member of the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Executive Committee which is the international organisation of national parliaments that promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development around the world. In March 2014, she took up the role as President of the IPU’s Women’s Coordinating Committee. 2012 to 2014 she then served the Inter Parliamentary Union Executive Committee as the Vice President. During the 137th IPU Assembly in Russia, she was elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the IPU Working Group on Syria and served on IPU’s Committe on Middle East Questions. In 2018, Her Excellency Mensah-Williams was elected as first woman and African to be Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (PCWTO) aimed at promoting common parliamentary action on international trade. Her Excellency Margaret Mensah-Williams has presented her critical yet visionary thoughts at various international forums such as the Global Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, iKNOW Politics and several events by the United Nations as an international expert.