Prof. Robin van Puyenbroeck (Belgian national, based in the United States) is a senior international administrator, diplomat, and academic with extensive expertise in global partnerships, economic diplomacy, international law, and multilateral institutional leadership. He serves as Deputy Secretary-General of EUCLID (Euclid University)—a treaty-based intergovernmental university established under United Nations Treaty Series 49006/49007—and as Special Representative of the Secretary-General in New York with the rank of Under-Secretary-General. He is also a Professor of Practice in Global Affairs at EUCLID and holds leadership roles at the affiliated EULER institution.
In these senior capacities, he provides high-level diplomatic representation, strategic partnership development, and operational support to advance EUCLID's mission of capacity-building, sustainable development, and quality higher education for civil servants and government-sponsored students across participating states.
Key Qualifications in International Administration & Diplomacy
- Deputy Secretary-General and Special Representative (Under-Secretary-General rank) in New York since 2013, responsible for diplomatic outreach, UN relations, and global network building on behalf of the intergovernmental university.
- Professor of Practice in Global Affairs, teaching courses at the intersection of international law, trade, geopolitics, public-private partnerships, and development.
- Extensive leadership in multilateral and public-private platforms, including prior roles as Executive Director at the Global Partnerships Forum and International Coordinator for the Pearl Initiative (corporate governance and transparency in the Gulf region).
- Current Executive Director of Business Development at the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), where he drives global trade networks, investment promotion, and economic diplomacy initiatives.
- Active contributor to UN-related bodies, serving as Executive Vice President & Treasurer of the United Nations Association of New York and as Co-Chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States Advisory Council on Small Business.
Academic and Professional Background
Prof. van Puyenbroeck holds a J.D. (Hons.) from the University of Ghent (Belgium) and an LL.M. in International Law (Hons.) from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He also studied European Law at the Universidad de Valencia (Spain) and holds a Certificate in Global Affairs (Hons.) from New York University. He is a doctoral candidate in Diplomacy and International Affairs. He is fluent in Flemish, English, French, Spanish, and some German.
His professional career spans law, finance, and global strategy:
- Attorney at Ernst & Young Law (Brussels).
- Senior roles at ING Group across Brussels, Amsterdam, Toronto, and New York (Vice President, Global Clients).
- Leadership positions in international business development, including at Ethan Allen Global.
His unique blend of high-level diplomatic representation for an intergovernmental organization, practical expertise in global trade and partnerships, academic teaching in international affairs, and extensive UN/NGO engagement positions him as a senior official exceptionally well-qualified for multilateral institutions focused on diplomacy, sustainable development, and global governance. He is based in the greater New York City area.
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