The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is honoured to announce that Ms Sarah F. Cliffe, Ms Ameerah Haq, Ambassador Herman Schaper and Ambassador Pierre Vimont, have agreed to join its Foundation Board.

All four bring with them significant experience in their respective areas of expertise ranging from foreign affairs and diplomacy to crisis management, post-conflict reconstruction and transitional issues.

Their knowledge and skills will be invaluable to HD and will further contribute to its efforts to respond rapidly and flexibly to growing needs for mediation and dialogue internationally.

Ms Sarah F. Cliffe is a British citizen and the current Director of the Center on International Cooperation at the University of New York. She has more than 20 years’ experience in countries emerging from conflict and political transitions.

Ms Cliffe previously worked as Special Representative for the World Bank’s World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development, as well as Special Adviser and Assistant Secretary-General of Civilian Capacities at the United Nations (UN).

During her time with the World Bank, Ms Cliffe focused on post-conflict reconstruction, community-driven development, and civil society reform.

Ms Ameerah Haq is the Vice Chair of the High-level Independent Panel on UN Peace Operations. A Bangladeshi citizen, Ms Haq has served with the United Nations for over 39 years, both at its headquarters and in the field.

She has held the positions of Head of the Department of Field Support (2012-2014) as well as Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (2009-2012).

Prior to this, Ms Haq had served as Deputy SRSG and UN Resident Coordinator for Sudan, as well as Deputy SRSG and UN Resident Coordinator for Afghanistan. She is a mother to a son aged 32 and a daughter aged 30.

Ambassador Herman Schaper has had a distinguished career in diplomacy with the Dutch Foreign Ministry. He is currently the Chair for Peace, Law and Security at Leiden University in The Hague and a Member of the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament.

He previously held the positions of Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations in New York (2009-2013) and Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to NATO (2005-2009).

Ambassador Schaper has also held several positions at the Dutch Foreign Ministry including Deputy Director General for Political Affairs, Director of the Security Department, and Director of the European Department.

Ambassador Pierre Vimont of France is a Senior Associate at Carnegie Europe and the former Executive Secretary-General of the European Union’s External Action Service (2010-2015).

He has more than 38 years’ experience in diplomacy having served as Ambassador to the United States (2007-2010), Ambassador to the European Union (1999-2002), and Chief of Staff to three former Foreign Ministers. He holds the title of Ambassador of France, a dignity bestowed for life on only a few French diplomats.

“We are honoured to welcome four eminent personalities to HD’s Board. All four are internationally-recognised specialists in their respective fields and we feel privileged by their decision to join HD’s governing body” said Mr Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Chairman of the Board.

“Their strategic insight and experience will be extremely valuable in ensuring HD stays at the forefront of peacemaking and ahead of evolving trends within the field of armed conflict resolution”.