Ms. Judy Cheng-Hopkins (Malaysia), Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, was named as the United Nations Secretary-General’s representative on the Interpeace Governing Council in October 2009. Following six months of service, Judy Cheng-Hopkins, will be standing down from the organization’s Governing Council to pave the way for the two organizations to develop a more operational partnership.

Judy Cheng-Hopkins stated that she "admired Interpeace for the implementation of its peacebuilding work around the world - especially the identification and training of key local capacities, and the implementation of field initiatives through local teams."

Referring to her role on the Governing Council of Interpeace, she said she is "deeply honored to have represented the Secretary-General on the Governing Council along with such esteemed individuals."

The Governing Council is chaired by President John A. Kufour, former President of Ghana. Council members include Hind Bint Hamad Al-Thani, Director of the Office of the Emir of Qatar; Paddy Ashdown, member of the British House of Lords; Thomas Greminger, Head of Peace Policy for the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs; Joao Honwana, Director, Africa I Division of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs; Hisashi Owada, President of the International Court of Justice, The Hague; Jan Pronk, former Development Minister for the Dutch Government; Mohamed Sahnoun, former advisor to the UN Secretary-General for Africa; Matthias Stiefel, Founder of Interpeace, and Anthony Travis, former Senior Partner, PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

In a joint statement, President Kufuor, Chairman of the Interpeace Governing Council and Scott M. Weber, Director-General of Interpeace, thanked Judy Cheng-Hopkins for her input, drawing on her managerial and development experience which comes from over 30 years of serving in key United Nations positions. They also praised her vision as she pushes forward the United Nations’ peacebuilding agenda.

The United Nations Secretary-General’s office is now selecting a new representative to serve on the Interpeace Governing Council.