Dr Christopher Briggs appointed as new Ramsar Convention Secretary General

In its 46th meeting held in Gland, Switzerland from 8-12 April 2013, the Ramsar Convention Standing Committee approved the appointment of Dr Christopher Briggs as new Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention. In July 2013, Dr Briggs succeeded Mr Anada Tiega who had served the Convention for the last six years.

On the left: Dr Briggs, new Ramsar Secretary General. On the right: Mr Tiega, Ramsar Secretary General for the last six years

On the left: Dr Briggs, new Ramsar Secretary General. On the right: Mr Tiega, Ramsar Secretary General for the last six years

Dr Briggs has worked on wetland and development issues in several places around the world like England, Mexico, Former Yugoslavia and Brazil. He has worked for both the UNDP as Coordinator of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Environment team and UNEP in the UNEP-Global Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF) Biosafety Unit among other posts. Before his appointment as secretary general of the Ramsar Convention he worked as regional team leader for UNDP for the Latin American and Caribbean region based in Panama, with an almost half a billion dollar portfolio of projects across all aspects of climate change, land use, biodiversity and chemical management including wetland projects. More detailed information available on the Ramsar website.

In the MedWet secretariat we would like to welcome Dr Briggs and wish him an interesting and productive period in the Ramsar Convention Secretariat. At the same time we would like to extend a warm goodbye to Mr Tiega and recognise his consistent and very substantial support to the MedWet Initiative throughout his years as Secretary General. Mr Tiega not only supported us with his presence in various MedWet meetings and provided his guidance on important matters but also defended and protected the MedWet initiative and what it stands for, when necessary.