Princess Mabel takes job with 'The Elders'

Princess Mabel will serve as the first Chief Executive of The Elders, Desmond Tutu, Chair of the Elders, announced on Wednesday. She will oversee the day-to-day operations for the Elders, a group of eminent individuals convened by Nelson Mandela to use their wisdom, independent leadership and experience to tackle some of the world’s toughest problems.

"My fellow Elders and I are delighted to have found such an accomplished and dynamic individual to steer the operations of our group," said Tutu, "Mabel brings a strong background of work on some of the most challenging issues and a global perspective to this position, and I believe she will be instrumental in helping the Elders fulfill our mission."

Princess Mabel, 39, wife of Dutch Prince Friso, second son of Queen Beatrix, assumes the position on July 1 and will be based in London. The Princess currently serves as the international advocacy director of the Open Society Institute, which is part of the Soros Foundations Network.

She is also a founder and co-chair, together with Martti Ahtisaari and Joschka Fischer, of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, she was the executive director of the Open Society Institute-Brussels (1997-2003), the representative office of the Soros Foundations Network in Western Europe.

She founded and was the executive director from 1993 through 1997 of the European Action Council for Peace in the Balkans, a West-European non-governmental organization dedicated to establishing peace, democracy and stability in the Balkans. In 2005. The World Economic Forum elected her a Young Global Leader.

Nelson Mandela announced the formation of The Elders, July 18th, 2007 in Johannesburg, South Africa on the occasion of his 89th birthday. Founding members of The Elders are: Graça Machel, Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Li Zhaoxing, Mary Robinson and Muhammad Yunus.

“This group can speak freely and boldly, working both publicly and behind the scenes on whatever actions need to be taken,” Mandela commented. “Together we will work to support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where there is conflict, and inspire hope where there is despair.”

The Elders will use their unique collective skills to catalyze peaceful resolutions to long-standing conflicts, articulate new approaches to global issues that are or may cause immense human suffering, and share wisdom by helping to connect voices all over the world.

© GPD; Source: The Elders; Photo By © GPD ANP Pool