Mariam Kakkar

Mariam Kakkar is the Director of Human Resources at the OSCE and brings more than 24 years of international experience across the United Nations system, where she has held positions with UNICEF, UNFPA, UNHCR and UNDP. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening organizational effectiveness, advancing people-centred leadership, and enabling institutions to navigate increasing complexity with clarity and purpose.

With a PhD in Educational Technology and a minor in Human Performance Improvement, she has led major initiatives in HR digital transformation, leadership and talent development, organizational design, cultural change and systemic HR reform. She has worked in the United States, Denmark and Hungary, with short field assignments in Madagascar, Senegal and Jordan, giving her both headquarters depth and operational breadth.

Fluent in English, French and Spanish, she brings a sophisticated understanding of the operational, cultural and political dynamics that shape international organizations. Her approach integrates long-term strategic vision with grounded, practical solutions that keep HR initiatives future-focused, relevant and responsive across both field and headquarters environments.

Her work is driven by a commitment to building resilient, adaptive and values-based organizations—strengthening people systems, cultivating healthy and ethical workplace cultures, and supporting institutional transformation in times of both stability and change.