{{Short description|New Zealand diplomat}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|Deborah Geels at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, February 2014 '''Deborah Geels''' is a New Zealand diplomat.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/features/8387086/Viennese-pulse|title=Viennese pulse|website=Stuff|date=5 March 2013|language=en|access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref> In 2024, she was appointed Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.<ref name="h227">{{cite web |date=30 September 2024 |title=New diplomatic appointments |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-diplomatic-appointments-3 |access-date=20 November 2024 |website=The Beehive}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Geels was born in Timaru and attended Sacred Heart Primary School and Roncalli College. She then moved to Christchurch to study international politics and economics at the University of Canterbury.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == In 1986, Geels joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to work on New Zealand's aid programme, and later moved into diplomatic roles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.diplomatic-press.net/cd-splitter/welcome-to-vienna/detailansicht/beitrag/deborah-geels-ambassador-of-new.html|title=Deborah GEELS – Ambassador of New Zealand. - Welcome to Vienna - CD-Splitter - Diplomatischer Pressedienst - Informationen für und über das Diplomatische Corps in Wien|last=Service|first=Diplomatischer Pressedienst, Diplomatic Press|website=www.diplomatic-press.net|language=de|access-date=2018-05-11}}</ref> From 1993 to 1995, she was posted to Vanuatu, and from 1997 to 2002 she served as the New Zealand Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. From 2006 to 2008 Geels was Deputy Head of Mission to Beijing, China.<ref name=":1" />
From 2009 to 2012, Geels directed the Ministry's consular division. In 2013, she was appointed Ambassador to Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Vienna.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=State Secretary meets New Zealand Ambassador - News - Rádio RSI English - STVR |url=https://enrsi.stvr.sk/articles/news/33272/state-secretary-meets-new-zealand-ambassador |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=stvr.sk |language=en}}</ref> Returning to Wellington at the end of her term in 2017, Geels held deputy secretary roles at the Ministry.<ref name="w944">{{cite web |date=19 September 2022 |title=Deborah Geels |url=https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/our-people/deborah-geels |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713004321/https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/about-us/our-people/deborah-geels |archive-date=13 July 2024 |access-date=20 November 2024 |website=New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade}}</ref> In 2024, she was appointed New Zealand Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.<ref name="h227" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nealon |first=Kelly |date=2024-09-30 |title=New senior diplomatic appointments announced |url=https://insidegovernment.co.nz/new-diplomatic-appointments-announced-4/ |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Inside Government NZ |language=en-AU}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Geels, Deborah}} Category:Living people Category:People from Timaru Category:University of Canterbury alumni Category:Women ambassadors of New Zealand Category:Permanent representatives of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Vienna Category:Permanent representatives of New Zealand to the United Nations in Geneva Category:Ambassadors of New Zealand to Austria Category:Ambassadors of New Zealand to Hungary Category:Ambassadors to Slovakia Category:Ambassadors to Slovenia Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:People educated at Roncalli College Category:21st-century New Zealand diplomats Category:21st-century New Zealand women public servants