Anne Anderson has had a forty-five year career in Irish diplomacy, including five postings as Ambassador.

She was born in Ireland (Clonmel, Co.Tipperary) in 1952. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Politics from University College, Dublin, and a Diploma in Legal Studies from Kings Inns, Dublin. She entered the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1972.

Following a range of assignments at home and abroad, she was promoted to the rank of Assistant Secretary General in 1991, with responsibility for Corporate Services. She took up her first posting as Ambassador in 1995.

She served as Ambassador to the United Nations, Geneva (’95-2001); to the European Union (2001-2005); to France (2005-2009); to the United Nations, New York (2009-2013); and to the United States (2013-2017.)

During her Washington assignment, she focussed on further strengthening Ireland-US economic, trade and investment links; highlighting Ireland’s interests in relation to reform of US immigration legislation; supporting US interest and engagement on key issues still to be fully addressed in Northern Ireland; and further deepening the vibrant cultural connections between the two countries.

Some highlights of her earlier multilateral work include chairing the WTO Trade Policy Review Body (1996), chairing the UN Commission on Human Rights (1999) and heading the Irish team in Brussels during Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2004 (she was awarded European Voice “Diplomat of the Year” in recognition of her Presidency role). Throughout her UN postings, her particular focus was on development/human rights/gender equality issues. During her New York assignment, she oversaw a review of the UN Peace-building machinery and was tasked by the President of the General Assembly with facilitating preparations for the 2013 UN Special Event on the Millennium Development Goals.

Following retirement from the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2017, Ms. Anderson joined a number of Boards. At the invitation of the UN Secretary General, she served for four years on his Advisory Group for the Peace-building Fund, including as Chair of the Group 2020/21. She was a Non-Executive Director of the Smurfit Kappa Group, a global packaging company, 2019-2024. She is currently Chair of the Advisory Board of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, Washington DC; a member of the Advisory Board of Glucksman Ireland House, NYU New York; and a Board member of Druid Theatre, Galway.

Ms. Anderson is a recipient of numerous awards, including an International Leadership Award from the Ireland Funds and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish-US Chamber of Commerce. She holds Honorary Doctorates from the National University of Ireland (2011), Fordham University, New York (2017), University of Limerick (2021), Queens University, Belfast (2022), and University College, Dublin (2023).

A collection of her speeches and reflections — “Thinking With My Pen: Speeches from a Life in Diplomacy” — was published in 2020.