MICHAL KAPLAN

I am a diplomat and leader in sustainable development.

Currently, I am Deputy Director of the Czech Presidency Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, resposible for the strategic coordination of the Czech EU Presidency to be held in 2022.

As Deputy Permanent Representative at the Czech Mission to United Nations in Geneva, I was in charge of global health, human rights, humanitarian affairs and international trade. I contributed to the World Health Organisation response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017, I participated in the field mission to refugee camps in Bangladesh organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

As Director-General of the Czech Agency for International Development, I coordinated development cooperation with Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Mongolia, Palestine, Ukraine, Serbia and Zambia. Under my leadership, the Agency was succesfully audited by the PricewaterhouseCoopers and accredited by the European Commission.

I took an active part in the Czech Presidency in the European Union in 2009. During my posting to Brussels, I served as Deputy Ambassador to the EU Political and Security CommitteeEarlier in my diplomatic career, I represented Czechia at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris and participated as examiner in the OECD peer review of foreign aid of Portugal. 

I am an emphatic team leader who can drive change and turn words into deeds. I know how to achivee results, manage risks and take responsibility for resources. I have built multi-stakeholder partnerships across governments, civil society and the private sector. In 2017, I helped to launch Czech SDGs Awards, an advocacy campaign for Sustainable Development Goals.

Throughout my career, I have proved strategic thinking and excellent negotiation and networking skills. I have frequently published on diplomacy and sustainable development. I write a popular blog “Diplomacy is not a zero-sum game”. I play tennis, soccer and practice cross-country skiing. I like travelling and discovering other countries and cultures.

JOBS AND STUDY
2021-present

Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2017-2021

Czech Mission to UN in Geneva

2013-2017

Czech Development Agency

2009-2013

Czech Representation to EU in Brussels

2002-2006

Czech Delegation to OECD in Paris

2000-2009

Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs

1994-1999

University of Economics Prague