Joke Waller-Hunter joined the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change based in Bonn, Germany, as its Executive Secretary on 1 May 2002.

Before joining the UNFCCC, from 1998 to 2002, she was the Director of the Environment Directorate of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD in Paris.

From 1994 to 1998, Joke Waller-Hunter was the United Nations' first Director for Sustainable Development, leading the division that provides the secretariat to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, and co-ordinates the work of the UN in the field of sustainable development.

From 1984 to 1994 she worked for the Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. As Deputy Director for International Environmental Affairs, she was actively involved in the preparations of the UN Conference in Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992). 

From 1992 to 1994 she was Director for Strategic Planning, responsible for the preparations for the second National Environmental Policy Plan of the Netherlands.

Joke Waller-Hunter started her professional career in 1973 with the Provincial Government of North Holland where she worked as Environmental Information Officer and Co-ordinator for Environmental Planning.

Shortly before her death, Joke was awarded a doctorate honoris causa by Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.

Born 15 November 1946, Joke Waller was a national of the Netherlands.  Her academic background was in French linguistics and literature and in public information.