Margot Wallström, former Swedish foreign minister, joins HD’s Board

The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is pleased to announce that Margot Wallström, former Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, agreed to join its Foundation Board.

Wallström began her political career in 1979 when she was elected to the Swedish parliament. She then served as Minister for Youth, Local Authorities and Consumer Affairs from 1988 to 1991, Minister of Culture from 1994 to 1996, and Minister of Social Affairs from 1996 to 1998.

Before taking up her appointment as EU Commissioner in 1999, she was Executive Vice-President of Worldview Global Media in Colombo, Sri Lanka. From 1999 to 2004, Wallström served as the European Commissioner for the Environment. She then served as first Vice President of the European Commission from 2004 to 2010.

In 2007, Wallström became Chair of the Ministerial Initiative of the Council for Women World Leaders. In 2010, former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon appointed her the first Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict until 2012. She then served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden from 2014-2019.

“I am delighted to welcome Margot Wallström to the Board. She brings a wealth of experience from a wide range of areas relevant to HD’s line of work,” said the Chair of the Board, Espen Barth Eide.

“Beyond a stellar foreign affairs background from the UN, the European Union and her native Sweden, her experience in environment, social justice and gender politics makes her a very valuable contribution to the Board as we take HD into its third decade.”  

“Margot Wallström joins the Board at a time of global pandemic, which is making war worse, and making inequality worse,” said David Harland, HD’s Executive Director. “Margot has devoted her life to being an advocate for fairer and more peaceful and inclusive societies, which is needed now more than ever.”