Zaheer Laher is the Chief Director: United Nations Political, Peace and Security at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa. He has served in the Foreign Service for over twenty six years in which he has mainly worked in the area of multilateral diplomacy.  This includes serving for over eight years at the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations in New York where he also coordinated South Africa’s participation at the  Security Council. His current responsibilities include working on South Africa’s engagements on global peace and security issues including multilateral peace and security, transnational organised crime, disarmament and non-proliferation. His academic qualifications consist of a BA LLB LLM (WITS) and a Certificate in Conflict and Dispute Resolution (NYU).  He is an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.