Story | 12 Nov, 2012

A tribute to Warren Waetford from IUCN Director General, Julia Marton-Lefèvre

We are stunned and deeply saddened by Warren Waetford’s tragic death. He joined the Environmental Law Centre (ELC) as Legal Officer only very recently, in September of this year, and got off to an exciting and fast-moving start through participating in the World Conservation Congress in Jeju, Republic of Korea. On that occasion Warren demonstrated his interpersonal skills in networking and building contacts with staff members, Commission members, and representatives of IUCN Members.

Warren was not only a very good lawyer, he also brought to IUCN his experience as Associate Observer Organizations Liaison Officer with the UN Climate Change Secretariat, as well as from his role as Legal Adviser with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and as New Zealand Deputy Permanent Representative in Vienna, Austria. He was immediately “adopted “ by the ELC staff, fitted well in the team, and was much appreciated for his professionalism and his generous and “fun” personality. He is sadly missed by those who had the pleasure to meet and work with him.