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Michael John Powles (born 24 July 1939) is a retired New Zealand diplomat. He served as Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1996 to 2001 and as President of UNICEF in 1998.

• From 1962 to 1967 he exercised Private legal practice
• In 1967 he joined Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand), Wellington.
• From 1972 to 1975 he was clerk in the mission in Washington, D.C.
• From 1975 to 1977 he was deputy director of the External Aid department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand).
• From 1977 to 1979 he was head of Australia and Americas department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand).
• From 1980 to 1982 he was High Commissioner in Suva with commission in Tuvalu, Kiribati and Nauru.
• From 1982 to 1986 he was ambassador in Jakarta (Indonesia).
• From 1986 to 1989 he was Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand).
• From 1988 to 1989 he was Co-ord, Political, Security Affairs, department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand).
• From 1990 to 1993 he was ambassador in Beijing.
• From 1996 to 2001 he was Permanent Representative in at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York City.^[1]