Ms. Haiyan Qian

IMG_7544 Ms. Haiyan Qian, devoted wife, loving mother, and dedicated International Civil Servant for the United Nations, died on the morning of 18 February 2013 at the age of 57 after a heroic battle with cancer.

During the past 33 years, Ms. Qian dedicated her career to global public policy, governance, public administration and development. Since joining the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), Ms. Qian has served as Chief Manager of the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN),  Chief of the e-Government Branch (formerly known as Knowledge Management Branch) before becoming the Director of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) on 1 February 2009. Prior to joining UNDESA, Ms. Qian worked for other United Nations agencies, such as the Centre for Science and Technology for Development and UNEP’s Centre on Environmentally Sound Technology in Japan. Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Qian worked for  the Chinese Government in the area of science and technology for development and served in the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations based in New York, covering the United Nations Second Committee on Economic and Social Affairs.

At the United Nations, Ms. Qian has left behind a legacy founded on hard work, dedicated service and loyalty. Ms. Qian was a visionary leader that was admired and respected by all her colleagues and others in the field of public administration around the world.

Ms. Qian received her Bachelor of Arts in Beijing, China and her Master in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA.

[click here to read this text in Chinese]

[click here to read the thank you letter from Ms. Haiyan Qian’s family]

332 Responses

  1. P. K. Basu
    P. K. Basu
    at · Reply

    I am indeed very sorry and grieved to learn of the passing away of Ms.Haiyan Qian. Please convey my deep condolences to the members of her bereaved family.

  2. Dong
    Dong
    at · Reply

    与钱女士有一面之缘,她是一个可亲可敬的人,听闻噩耗非常震惊,愿她安息!

  3. Seema Hafeez, DPADM
    Seema Hafeez, DPADM
    at · Reply

    Haiyan was a wonderful colleague and friend. We went back as for more than a decade since I joined DPADM. We would discuss things laugh and chat together. She brought so many ideas to DPADM’s workings and was always giving in life.
    I know that Haiyan will continue to participate in the actions and thoughts of DPADM staff. I share comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering.
    My thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time. We will never forget her.
    May she rest in peace. Amen.

  4. Panos Liverakos
    Panos Liverakos
    at · Reply

    Farewell to a good old colleague. I am deeply shocked!

  5. Hiroichi Kawashima
    Hiroichi Kawashima
    at · Reply

    I am deeply shocked with this news. Her smiles and advices have always encouraged me to keep challenging in the public services. My deepest condolence and sympathy to your family.

    Hiroichi Kawashima
    The Gov. of Saga, Japan

  6. 徐颖
    徐颖
    at · Reply

    忽闻惊天霹雳,难抑心头伤悲。昔日同窗风华,瞬间过往如电。你远远地走,早早地去,让我们如何放得下。愿你象海燕蓝天飞翔,愿你象天使遨游天际。

    徐颖2013年2月23日

  7. pingfeng
    pingfeng
    at · Reply

    为有这样的同学和朋友感到骄傲,更为她的离去感到惋惜。愿她在天堂得到安息。

  8. 秦佐
    秦佐
    at · Reply

    怀念我们少年时代的好友和学姐钱海燕!

    秦佐 2013年2月23日

  9. 汪洪 wanghong
    汪洪 wanghong
    at · Reply

    上联:冰清玉洁显铮骨 下联:霾阴风浊寓真情
    横批:思君不尽
    汪洪 2012.2.23

  10. santoshi Ram
    santoshi Ram
    at · Reply

    The Bible conveys a message that death is not the end of life; it is only the body that perishes, the spirit can never die … it continues to live. This thought brings a lot of comfort during the time of sorrow. When the heart weeps for the end of a dear one’s life, the mind tells you that this is not the end, but a new beginning of the journey with God. Nonetheless, when grief over death, strikes us, it becomes difficult to be able to think rationally. The fact that we will not be able to speak to the person again, to hold, touch, smile, or even argue with him or her, is enough to make us feel vulnerable and helpless. Life would never be the same without their presence, but it is important to move on, as they too have moved on from this journey of life to the next.

  11. 马兰
    马兰
    at · Reply

    钱海燕同学我们永远怀念你!
    干校同学:马兰
    2013年2月23日

  12. Minampati Venkat Ram Reddy
    Minampati Venkat Ram Reddy
    at · Reply

    I know that no words can help ease the pain and loss that we are feeling right now. You are in our every prayer and thought.

  13. 胡桦 huhua
    胡桦 huhua
    at · Reply

    海燕,一路走好!

  14. Gao Danfei
    Gao Danfei
    at · Reply

    钱海燕(钱小平)的发小在北京的校友录也上传了一些她过去年轻时的照片和转载了一些联合国网站上的照片。现在北京发小“校友录”临时开放一周,欢迎钱海燕的所有朋友们前来怀念追思。网址为: http://class.chinaren.com/~class/index.do?cid=2817034545009528506#/~class/index.do?cid=2817034545009528506

  15. 朱小兵 xiaobingzhu
    朱小兵 xiaobingzhu
    at · Reply

    为她的离去感到非常惋惜。为她的成就感到非常骄傲。
    同学 朱小兵 2012.2.23

  16. Zhang Guozhong
    Zhang Guozhong
    at · Reply

    DEAR HAIYAN,

    I STILL COULD NOT BELIEVE IT IS TRUE. RECALLING OUR MEETING BEFORE END OF THE YEAR AND OUR BRIEF TALK WITH EACH OHTERS ON A POSSIBLE COOPERATION BETWEEN OUR TWO DIVISIONS. I AM SO SHOCKED AND SAD – WE LOST A DEAREST COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. AND MY
    DEEPEST CONDOLENCE AND SYMPATHY TO YOUR FAMILY.

    ZHANG GUOZHONG
    DESA
    NEW YORK

  17. 朱美玲 meilingzhu
    朱美玲 meilingzhu
    at · Reply

    惊悉海燕离世心痛不已,泪洒衣衫!忆往事,海燕的音容笑貌就在眼前,她的一生是灿烂的,我为有这样的同学而骄傲!安息吧,海燕!一路走好!
    你的同学 朱美玲 2013-02-23

  18. 沙磊 shalei
    沙磊 shalei
    at · Reply

    凌云海燕,展翅翱翔,英姿笑貌,千古留长。
    沉痛悼念好同学钱海燕!
    沙磊 2013-02-23

  19. 朱小华 xioahuazhu
    朱小华 xioahuazhu
    at · Reply

    惊悉恶耗,甚为震愕!
    愿携九天之悲风、满穹之哀雪,共同静肃:
    为我们失去一位爽朗率真的发小钱小平、
    为世界失去一位杰出睿智的女士钱海燕
    惋惜!默哀!
    朱小华
    2013年2月23日

  20. 许真 xuzhen
    许真 xuzhen
    at · Reply

    惊悉老同学钱海燕去世,倍感悲伤!黄湖干校我们是同窗好友,分别四十年,无缘相聚,不想竟成终身遗憾!她的聪慧好学,活力热情,深深留在我的记忆中,我会永远怀念她!
    愿她的家人不要过度悲伤!愿她的福德感动上天!保佑她回归天堂得到安息!

    同学:许真
    2013.2.22

  21. Yi Gong
    Yi Gong
    at · Reply

    I was shocked to hear it and still could not believe it. I met several times last year with Ms. Qian and her energy and smile always inspired and encouraged me. I am sure Ms. Qian will be missed by all of her friends and colleagues.

    Yi Gong
    Director of Institutional Assessment
    Keene State College

  22. Jane Fountain
    Jane Fountain
    at · Reply

    On behalf of the National Center for Digital Government, our deepfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of dear Haiyan Qian. I first worked with Haiyan as part the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Future of Government. She was a superbly professional, probing, positive, and energetic member of our Council. Her knowledge base and experience were remarkable. Her energy was infectious. Such a great loss! She was an inspiration to so many of us who crossed paths with her. We are so saddened by this loss.

  23. Jie Wei
    Jie Wei
    at · Reply

    I met Ms. Qian once during my internship at the UN. She was very nice, kind and helpful. I was very shocked by Ms. Qian’s passing. Please accept my deepest condolences…

  24. Vincenzo Aquaro
    Vincenzo Aquaro
    at · Reply

    Dear Haiyan
    I am still trying to figure out that this terrible news is true, but my mind seems to reject this thought. I will definitely miss your huge personality, your strong leadership, your great respect of the others and your warm and sincere friendship. As chief of EGB I have had the privilege and the lucky to work closely to you and you have tough me so much during these 3 years, with you daily basis behaviour at professional and personal level and I will never forget your immense generosity, sense of duty and loyalty for your work and for the Organization you have served so well for 33 years. During this long journey you never gave up my dear Haiyan, never, and I will always remember you as the greatest warrior I have never met in my life, despite to your cute and fragile aspect. Please rest in peace my dear Haiyan, you really deserve it.
    Vincenzo

  25. Gregorio Montero, Secretary General, Latin American Centre for Development Administration (CLAD)
    at · Reply

    On behalf of Latin American Centre for Development Administration (CLAD), we express our sadness, heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy for the loss of our beloved friend Mrs. Haiyan Qian.

    As Chief Manager of the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN), she worked tirelessly on our side since the beginning of CLAD’s participation in this important and collective effort, in order to exchange information and share experiences to contribute with the strengthening and improvement of public administration around the world.

    Our thoughts are with her family, relatives, friends and loved ones at this difficult time. She will be greatly missed and dearly remembered by many. We hope that her soul rests in peace.

    As an UNPAN Partner, CLAD will continue with its contributions and collaboration to the Network, honoring the memory of Mrs. Qian.

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