Maurice Strong

Maurice F. Strong, PC, CC, OM, FRSC ( born April 29, 1929 in Oak Lake, Manitoba ) is a Canadian entrepreneur and former Assistant Secretary of State.

In the early 1970s he was Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment before 1972 he was the first Director-General of the United Nations Environment Programme. He then moved into the private sector and was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Petro-Canada, where he worked from 1976 to 1978. After that, he was head of the power company, Ontario Hydro, and the water utility American Water Development Incorporated. Strong is now an active honorary professor at Peking University and Honorary Chairman of its Environmental Foundation. He is Chairman of Beratzungsgremiums the Institute for Research and Security and Sustainability for Northeast Asia. Strong is considered a leading figure in the international environmental movement. He was president of the United Nations Council for the University for Peace ( University for Peace ) By 1998 to 2006.

Awards

• 2009: Grand Gold Medal with Star for Services to the Republic of Austria
• 2010: Four Freedoms Award, in the category of freedom from want