Deborah Lyons

Deborah Lyons Deborah Lyons joined the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) Board of Trustees in October 2023.

Ms. Lyons served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) from 2020 to 2022. A career diplomat, Ms. Lyons has over 25 years of professional experience in international relations, political affairs, security management, and development efforts. She served as Ambassador of Canada to Israel (2016 -2020), Ambassador of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2013 -2016), and Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy of Canada in Washington (2010 -2013).

She has held several senior positions with Canada’s Department of Global Affairs, including as Assistant Deputy Minister for Strategic Policy and Planning and Chief Strategist, Director-General for North America Commercial Affairs, and Director for International Finance. She also worked at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo and led relations with Japan in the high-tech sector. Previously, Ms. Lyons also worked with Canada’s Department of Natural Resources, the Privy Council Office, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Prior to joining the Government of Canada, Ms. Lyons owned and managed a consulting company in energy management.

In 2016, the Community of Democracies awarded Ms. Lyons the Mark Palmer Prize in recognition of her work in Afghanistan.

Ambassador Lyons holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Brunswick and is a graduate of the Canadian National Defense College.