Nii Allotey Odunton
Encyclopedia
Nii Allotey Odunton, a mining engineer from Ghana, is Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority
, serving a four-year term from January 1, 2009.
Odunton has had more than 20 years of experience in the International Civil Service, with progressively increased responsibilities in marine resource policy formulation, particularly marine mineral resources. Since the establishment of the Authority in 1996 he has concurrently held several positions there at the policy-making level, as Deputy to the Secretary-General, head of the ISA Office of Resources and Environmental Monitoring, Interim Director-General of the Enterprise (the Authority’s seabed mining arm, not yet operational) and Secretary of the Authority’s Assembly. He has conceptualized and convened technical workshops of the Authority, on topics such as deep-seabed polymetallic nodule exploration, the development of environmental guidelines, and proposed technologies for deep-seabed mining of nodules.
He earned a Master of Science degree in Mineral Economics and Mine Finance from the Henry Krumb School of Mines
(1974), Columbia University. He then had a brief stint with private industry, spending a year (1974-75) as a Mine Planning Officer with the Bethlehem Steel
Corporation at its Rose Mine, Morgantown, Pennsylvania
.
Odunton first became associated with the United Nations in 1974, when he and two university colleagues were requested to prepare a paper on resource assessment of the polymetallic nodule deposits in the international sea-bed area to aid the work of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which was developing an international legal framework for the sea-bed and oceans as a whole. He later helped prepare background papers for the First Committee of the Conference, which elaborated the sea-bed provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
, completed in 1982.
At the United Nations Secretariat
in New York he served as an Economic Affairs Officer in its Department of International Economic Social Affairs (1980-1983), where he helped draw up an International Ocean Institute programme on management and use of seabed resources. Odunton subsequently (1984-88) held several other positions in the Department, including Chief of the Mineral Resources Section, Ocean Economics and Technology Branch. As head of this section he was responsible for reports to United Nations meetings on marine mineral resource development.
Odunton was adviser to the Minerals Commission of the government of Ghana (1984-87), providing advice on national minerals policy, a revamping of the national mining code and on investment promotion in the gold sector. He also helped the government with procedural changes in the exploitation and marketing of gold and diamonds.
As work went forward on the establishment of institutions envisaged by the Law of the Sea Convention, Odunton worked in the office of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary- General for the Law of the Sea, Satya Nandan
. Assigned to the Preparatory Commission for the International Seabed Authority and for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, he served as Deputy Secretary of Special Commission 3 on the mining code for polymetallic nodules and Secretary of Special Commission 2 on the Enterprise.
In 1988, he became the first Officer in charge of the United Nations Office for the Law of the Sea in Kingston, Jamaica
, where the Preparatory Commission met and the Seabed Authority was to establish its headquarters. He has been with the Authority continuously since it came into being in 1996. In June 2008 the Assembly of the Authority elected him by acclamation as the second Secretary-General of the Authority, succeeding Satya Nandan.
Born on 14 June 1951, Odunton was married to Naa Jama Odunton (deceased) and has four children.
• Statement upon Election as Secretary-General of the ISA. ISA, 5 June 2008.
International Seabed Authority
The International Seabed Authority is an intergovernmental body based in Kingston, Jamaica, that was established to organize and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, an area underlying most of the world’s oceans...
, serving a four-year term from January 1, 2009.
Odunton has had more than 20 years of experience in the International Civil Service, with progressively increased responsibilities in marine resource policy formulation, particularly marine mineral resources. Since the establishment of the Authority in 1996 he has concurrently held several positions there at the policy-making level, as Deputy to the Secretary-General, head of the ISA Office of Resources and Environmental Monitoring, Interim Director-General of the Enterprise (the Authority’s seabed mining arm, not yet operational) and Secretary of the Authority’s Assembly. He has conceptualized and convened technical workshops of the Authority, on topics such as deep-seabed polymetallic nodule exploration, the development of environmental guidelines, and proposed technologies for deep-seabed mining of nodules.
He earned a Master of Science degree in Mineral Economics and Mine Finance from the Henry Krumb School of Mines
Henry Krumb School of Mines
Henry Krumb School of Mines encompasses the Earth and Environmental Engineering department of Columbia University's School of Engineering and Applied Science. The school is named in honor of Henry Krumb, an American mining engineer and innovator....
(1974), Columbia University. He then had a brief stint with private industry, spending a year (1974-75) as a Mine Planning Officer with the Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
Corporation at its Rose Mine, Morgantown, Pennsylvania
Morgantown, Pennsylvania
Morgantown is a populated place in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with a zip code of 19543. It is at an elevation of 597 ft at 40° 9' 18"N and 75°53' 23"W.-General History:...
.
Odunton first became associated with the United Nations in 1974, when he and two university colleagues were requested to prepare a paper on resource assessment of the polymetallic nodule deposits in the international sea-bed area to aid the work of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which was developing an international legal framework for the sea-bed and oceans as a whole. He later helped prepare background papers for the First Committee of the Conference, which elaborated the sea-bed provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea , which took place from 1973 through 1982...
, completed in 1982.
At the United Nations Secretariat
United Nations Secretariat
The United Nations Secretariat is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and it is headed by the United Nations Secretary-General, assisted by a staff of international civil servants worldwide. It provides studies, information, and facilities needed by United Nations bodies for...
in New York he served as an Economic Affairs Officer in its Department of International Economic Social Affairs (1980-1983), where he helped draw up an International Ocean Institute programme on management and use of seabed resources. Odunton subsequently (1984-88) held several other positions in the Department, including Chief of the Mineral Resources Section, Ocean Economics and Technology Branch. As head of this section he was responsible for reports to United Nations meetings on marine mineral resource development.
Odunton was adviser to the Minerals Commission of the government of Ghana (1984-87), providing advice on national minerals policy, a revamping of the national mining code and on investment promotion in the gold sector. He also helped the government with procedural changes in the exploitation and marketing of gold and diamonds.
As work went forward on the establishment of institutions envisaged by the Law of the Sea Convention, Odunton worked in the office of the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary- General for the Law of the Sea, Satya Nandan
Satya Nandan
Satya N. Nandan, CF, CBE, a diplomat and lawyer from Fiji specializing in ocean affairs, is Chairman of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, where he began a two-year term on 1 January 2009....
. Assigned to the Preparatory Commission for the International Seabed Authority and for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, he served as Deputy Secretary of Special Commission 3 on the mining code for polymetallic nodules and Secretary of Special Commission 2 on the Enterprise.
In 1988, he became the first Officer in charge of the United Nations Office for the Law of the Sea in Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, where the Preparatory Commission met and the Seabed Authority was to establish its headquarters. He has been with the Authority continuously since it came into being in 1996. In June 2008 the Assembly of the Authority elected him by acclamation as the second Secretary-General of the Authority, succeeding Satya Nandan.
Born on 14 June 1951, Odunton was married to Naa Jama Odunton (deceased) and has four children.
External links
• Biographical Note: Nii Allotey Odunton. International Seabed Authority, Press Release SB/14/17, 5 June 2008.• Statement upon Election as Secretary-General of the ISA. ISA, 5 June 2008.