Chair of the UN Foundation Board of Directors; Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Netherlands
Sigrid Kaag has led a distinguished career that has spanned public service, international diplomacy, trade, and finance.
Working at the highest levels of the Dutch Government and the United Nations, Ms. Kaag’s more than three-decade career has been dedicated to high-level diplomacy, sustainable development, and international finance. She served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Netherlands, the first woman to hold the post, and previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. As leader of the social liberal party D66, she helped shape Dutch politics at a time of seismic global challenges.
At the United Nations, Ms. Kaag held senior leadership positions on the frontlines of some of the world’s most difficult crises. She was the Secretary-General’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, as well as Special Coordinator for Lebanon, and led the joint UN-OPCW mission to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons. Earlier, she served as Assistant Secretary-General at UNDP, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at UNICEF, as well as with other UN organizations.
Beyond government and international affairs, Ms. Kaag is engaged in strategic advisory roles and holds leadership positions with non-profit organizations. Fluent in six languages and with academic training from Oxford, Exeter, and The American University in Cairo, Ms. Kaag is widely recognized as a pragmatic and values-driven leader, bringing clarity and resolve to some of the world’s most complex challenges.