Neil Walsh

Neil Walsh joined the United Nations in January 2016 and, since December 2021, is Regional Representative for UNODC in Eastern Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya. Neil is Head of Mission for 13 countries in the East Africa and Western Indian Ocean Region. He and his staff deliver the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s Strategic Vision for Africa's response to crime, terrorism, security and health threats.From 2016-2021, Neil led UNODC's global Cybercrime, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism Department in Vienna.Prior to joining UNDOC, Neil served for over 15 years within covert operations in the UK National Crime Agency countering international serious organised crime and terrorism including long-term postings to Europol HQ in The Hague and the British High Commission in Malta.Neil is 42, comes from Belfast, Northern Ireland and is married with 4 young children. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology & Criminology and an M.Sc. in Criminal Investigation. He is also an experienced Emergency Medical Technician. In his spare time, Neil advocates for bowel cancer (colorectal cancer), brain hemorrhage, sepsis, pulmonary embolism, and crohn’s disease awareness (having survived all of these conditions).