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	New Leadership for the GOPAC Global Secretariat "GOPAC is delighted to welcome Akaash Maharaj as our new Executive Director."
	Ottawa, Ontario - Wednesday, 10 April 2013
	The Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) is delighted to welcome Akaash Maharaj as our new Executive Director. He previously served as our Chief Operating Officer, but has now taken on overall leadership of the Global Secretariat as our most senior professional officer. "I am grateful to GOPAC's Board for their confidence," said Akaash, "and I will work tirelessly to justify their faith. I am sincerely honoured to serve the cause of public integrity alongside the GOPAC membership and staff." Akaash has a distinguished history in the global anti-corruption, pro-democracy, and human rights movements. A frequent contributor to international debate, his articles have been published by newspapers in every region of the world, and he has been decorated twice in Canada's national honours, for his work on peace in the Middle East and for his services to the integrity of Canadian and international sport. "I would like to extend my congratulations to Akaash Maharaj on his appointment as Executive Director of GOPAC," said Dimitri Vlassis, Chief of the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. "We have the pleasure of continuing to work with you and drawing on your insights on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. We are looking forward to our continuous collaboration with GOPAC under your leadership." Outside of his professional life, Akaash is an active international athlete, and was a triple gold medallist at the International Championships of Equestrian Skill-at-Arms. He earned his Master of Arts from Oxford University, in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, and was the first overseas student elected President of the student government in the history of the 900 year-old University. For additional information, please contact: Emilie Lemieux GOPAC Global Secretariat +1 (613) 366 3164 ext 305 emilie.lemieux@gopacnetwork.org Editors' Notes: Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) is a worldwide alliance of parliamentarians working together to combat corruption, strengthen good government, and uphold the rule of law. Based in Ottawa, Canada, GOPAC has 53 national chapters on 6 continents. GOPAC supports its members’ efforts through original research, global anti-corruption capacity building, and international peer support. GOPAC's web site is www.gopacnetwork.org