Anna García Sans

What brought you to a career in technology at the United Nations?

My passion for ICT for development and innovation has been with me throughout my career. I have dedicated 20 years to digital communication projects and raising ICT competencies, from the private sector to academia, and the last 13 years at the UN. Working for the United Nations provides me with the opportunity to use my communication lens and my technical skills to make a real difference inside and outside the organization. I am eager to use my knowledge to help accelerate and drive positive change to make a meaningful impact on the lives of people around the globe.

What has been your favorite technology project or initiative at the United Nations and why? What was your contribution?

I want to highlight 2 projects:

• In my previous job at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), I coordinated the Web Unit on a large-scale project. Our goal was to transform 98 silo-based sites into a main one in Drupal and several subsites organized by type (projects, conferences and observatories). With a strategic vision, I managed the information architecture and user experience and led a team of 9 people. I was responsible for the budget, guidelines, client strategies, and data-driven approach. I also drove effective web governance with 50 focal points who were empowered to provide content and track their own segmented statistics using newly developed data analytics skills.
• In my current position as the Communications and Knowledge Management Officer at the Minamata Convention Secretariat, UNEP, I am proud to have played a key role in the success of the Secretariat, receiving the UNEP Kipepeo award for innovation in 2022. The prize was in recognition of the Secretariat's successful organization of COP-4, the first Conference of the Parties to a multilateral environmental agreement to be held in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing unique solutions for the meeting, including facilitating online participation for parties and delegates who were unable to travel. I managed, in collaboration with other great MEA colleagues, to ensure the entire COP experience—including the digital ecosystem created—felt intuitive, and was experienced as smooth, effective, and also enjoyable to our delegates.

What advice would you give women interested in pursuing a field in technology?

Never give up on your dreams of working in the tech field because the UN needs women like you and me. Invest in self-learning, network, challenge yourself to gain new skills, find a mentor and stay up to date with the latest trends. These steps will help you reach your goals and contribute to the UN mission to empower women.