Melisa T.S. Lim

Melisa Lim is responsible for implementing activities aimed at promoting reduced reliance on and the elimination of chemicals newly listed under the Stockholm Convention, with a focus on industrial POPs (brominated diphenyl ethers and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid). She implements the work programme on new POPs and facilitates the development of technical guidelines to assist parties in the sound management of newly listed POPs. To support the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee, she coordinates its intersessional work on industrial POPs and the evaluation of candidate POPs and of proposals for the listing of new chemicals. She contributes to synergy activities aimed at coordination among the scientific subsidiary bodies and the inclusion of newly listed POPs in technical guidelines mandated by the Basel Convention.

Prior to joining UNEP, Melisa served with the Secretariat of the International Narcotics Control Board, the UN body mandated to promote the implementation of the international drug control conventions. Her work centred around the regulation of psychoactive substances and promoting access to narcotics for pain treatment. Melisa has extensive experience as a research scientist and has led projects on subjects ranging from plant immunity to the toxicity of heavy metals. Melisa holds a Ph.D in biology from Washington University in St Louis. Her undergraduate degree is in biology and environmental science. Melisa is a national of Mauritius.