Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri[1] (born 1952) is a former assistant secretary-general at the United Nations and the former deputy executive director of UN Women.

[2][4] She also holds professional diplomas in history, public policy and administration, international relations and law, and economic development.

[4] Ambassador Puri joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1974 and served in Japan, Sri Lanka, and Switzerland (in Geneva).

[8] In 2017, for her role in ensuring that a specific gender equality and women's empowerment goal was adopted as part of the Sustainable Development Goals, Puri was recognized for her advocacy and leadership with the inaugural Diwali Power of One award from the Diwali Foundation USA, (in partnership with the Permanent Missions of India, Belarus, and Georgia to the United Nations).

Puri has one older sister, Indira Bhargava, a former Indian Civil Servant and a former chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, whom she credits as a major influence in her life.