Never has a woman occupied such a prestigious post on the international scene. Michaelle Jean is one of the few front-runners that give the international community a reason to believe women are as good as men.
The Secretary General of La Francophonie, Michaelle Jean who is to begin a four-day official visit to Cameroon this 13th April 2015 is a trained journalist.
She has been a programmes presenter, news anchor and film maker.
The 58-year old Catholic Christian who hails from Port-au-Prince, Haiti and daughter to Roger and Luce gained her Canadian nationality after her family migrated in 1968.
Amongst key positions held, Michaelle Jean has been Governor General of Canada, UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti and is Co-President of the Michaelle Jean Foundation (FMJF).
Her prowess and humanitarian activities did earn her a number of distinctions including:
- Amnesty International Canada Journalism Award (1995)
- The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Prix Gemeaux award in 2001 for Best Interview
- United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Canada Award (2009) for outstanding contribution in advancing gender equality
- The Board of Governors Recognition Achievement Award from the National Quality Institute (2009) for contribution to the quality of life of Canadians and humanity.
She is a mother of one, married to Jean-Daniel Lafond.
Michaelle Jean was elected during the La Francophonie Conference in Dakar, Senegal in November 2014, into the post of Secretary General, formerly occupied by Abdou Diouf.
