New Executive Director for Stockholm Environment Institute
Press release: November 22, 2011
The SEI Board has appointed a new Executive Director who will lead the institute from April 2012. Johan Rockström will be leaving SEI after a successful eight-year tenure, as required by the statutes of the institute. Johan Kuylenstierna has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute after an extensive recruitment process led by the SEI Board.
“Johan Rockström’s outstanding leadership has developed SEI into one of the world’s leading institutes on environment and sustainable development. In Johan Kuylenstierna we get an Executive Director who is an excellent leader with experience from Swedish and international organizations, and with a solid background and interest in environmental science and sustainable development,” says Kerstin Niblaeus, Chair of the SEI Board.
Kuylenstierna has a strong background in both Swedish and international organizations and is currently the Stockholm Centre Director at SEI. Kuylenstierna has previously worked as the Chief Technical Advisor to the Chair of UN-Water, based at the Food and Agriculture Organizaton of the United Nations in Rome, and served in United Nations agencies in both New York and in Geneva.
“I feel honoured to be offered the position of Executive Director at an internationally recognized research institute, with centres in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. I intend to further build on the capacity of the organization to provide science-based support to policy- and decision-making processes to promote change towards sustainable development. SEI stands stronger than ever and will continue to be active in environment and development issues from the level of global policy to local implementation,” says Johan Kuylenstierna, incoming Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute.
Before joining the United Nations, Kuylenstierna served as Project Director at the Stockholm International Water Institute, with overall responsibility for the World Water Week in Stockholm. He also established the Swedish Water House initiative and served as its first manager. He holds an adjunct professorship in international water resources issues at the Stockholm University.
“I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Kuylenstierna over a long period of time. He is a very inspiring person with an extensive network. I congratulate both SEI and Johan on the new appointment and I look forward to continued and fruitful cooperation,” says Anders Berntell, Executive Director of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
The decision to recruit a new Executive Director results from SEI’s statutes, which state that a person can lead the institute for a maximum of eight consecutive years. Rockström will hand over the top post in April 2012, when he will focus on leading the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University.
“SEI plays a leading role in global sustainable development. With Johan Kuylenstierna the institute will get an Executive Director who will further strengthen SEI’s strategic research and its relevance in Sweden and in the world. I also look forward to further strengthening cooperation between the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Stockholm Resilience Centre, through my role as Executive Director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre,” says Johan Rockström.
For more information, please contact:
Ylva Rylander, Press and Communications Advisor, Stockholm Environment Institute
ylva.rylander@sei-international.org +46 731 50 33 84
Kerstin Niblaeus, Chair of the Board, Stockholm Environment Institute
kerstin.niblaeus@sei-international.org
Johan Kuylenstierna, incoming Executive Director, Stockholm Environment Institute
johan.kuylenstiernaSE@sei-international.org +46 73 460 4924
Read more about Johan Kuylenstierna and download photo
http://sei-international.org/staff?staffid=255
Stockholm Environment Institute is an independent international research institute. The institute has established a reputation for rigorous and objective scientific analysis in the field of environment and development. SEI aims to bring about change for sustainable development by bridging science and policy. www.sei-international.org
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