
Senior Vice President for Global Strategy and United Nations Affairs and Executive Director, The USCIB Foundation
Tel: 212.703.5052
As USCIB’s Senior VP, Global Strategy and UN Affairs, Norine Kennedy leads USCIB’s global engagement in influential multilateral institutions in New York and elsewhere, and its relations with the United Nations. She also serves as Executive Director of The USCIB Foundation.
Kennedy spearheads USCIB’s ongoing emphasis on meaningful business engagement, partnership, and regulatory diplomacy in inter-governmental organizations.
She is the architect of USCIB’s participation at the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) and is managing USCIB’s involvement in UN reform efforts. She currently serves as Co-Chair for Business and Industry at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).
Prior to this role, Kennedy co-led USCIB’s policy department, and pioneered USCIB’s environment, climate change, and sustainability practices.
With over 30 years’ experience working with seven White Houses and their Administrations, she is a recognized and trusted expert and spokesperson for American business at the UN. Kennedy has represented US business at the UN Rio, Johannesburg, and Rio+20 sustainability conferences, at UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council and UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) meetings, all Conferences of the Parties of the UN Climate Convention up until COP28 and at the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), as well as at the OECD. She has often served as private sector advisor on US delegations to these and other meetings.
Kennedy has also designed and implemented USCIB involvement in key UN meetings, such as the UN Summit of the Future, the 4th UN Finance for Development Conference and numerous high-level opening weeks of the UN General Assembly.
She holds degrees from Wellesley College and the Claremont Graduate School.
Relevant Articles
The USCIB Foundation and UN Foundation Co-Host Discussion on UN Procurement Opportunities | The USCIB Foundation and the United Nations Foundation’s Better World Campaign hosted US Business & the United Nations: UN Procurement Opportunities on October 8 in New York. The working lunch explored domestic job creation opportunities for US companies and featured remarks from Ambassador Jeff Bartos, US Representative for UN Management[...]
USCIB at the 81st United Nations General Assembly | At this year’s 81st United Nations General Assembly, USCIB advanced US business priorities through advocacy and engagement across UN reform, technology, health, e-commerce, and sustainable development. Our policy experts and members joined high-level discussions, showcases, receptions, and private roundtables through High-Level Week (HLW). Below, please find a summary of USCIB[...]
UN High-Level Political Forum 2026 Round Up | The UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), held July 7–15, 2026, reviewed action in key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for business on: Water, Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities, and Partnerships. The Forum included a three-day Ministerial Segment and adopted the 2026 Ministerial Declaration. The most influential discussions took place[...]
USCIB Highlights Enabling Conditions for Mutually Beneficial Private Sector Partnerships With Developing Countries at the US Trade Over Aid Forum | USCIB members and staff participated in the Trade Over Aid (TOA) Forum in New York on July 13. Based on the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s vision of development that is based on economic growth, the initiative shifts emphasis from government-to-government development grants to mutually beneficial commercial partnerships with[...]
USCIB Strengthens Private Sector Role at the United Nations Through “New York UN Week” | Building on the success of USCIB’s annual Geneva Week, USCIB held a “mini” New York UN Week June 9-11 to strengthen lines of communication between the private sector and key UN agencies and missions based in New York. Discussions focused on UN80 Reform, the upcoming UN High Level Week, the Post 2030 Agenda, the Pact for the Future, business access to the UN, and new Secretary General candidates and the selection process.
