Vidar Helgesen is new Executive Secretary of UNESCO’s IOC

We are proud to announce that our board member, Vidar Helgesen, has been appointed as the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

Vidar's exceptional track record, from leading international climate negotiations as Norway's former Minister for Climate and the Environment to serving as Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation, makes him the perfect fit to spearhead global oceanographic efforts.

From UNESCO’s press release:

A former Norwegian Minister for Climate and the Environment, Vidar Helgesen led international climate negotiations on behalf of Norway, before being appointed Special Representative for the Ocean to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this capacity, he steered Norway's integration into European climate policies and legislation, and launched the world's first national commission on the risks related to climate change. Before joining UNESCO, he held the positions of Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, and co-chairman of the advisory board of the Decade of Ocean Sciences.

 
Vidar brings a wealth of experience and a passion for environmental advocacy to his new role, and we look forward to seeing how his leadership will contribute to crucial efforts in preserving and healing our oceans.