Executive Secretary

Rüdiger Strempel has been the Executive Secretary
of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission
(Helsinki Commission – HELCOM) since 1 August 2019.

Biography of Executive Secretary Rüdiger Strempel

An international lawyer by training, Rüdiger Strempel has been the Executive Secretary of HELCOM since 1 August 2019. He looks back on many years of experience of environmental law, policy, and diplomacy at the national and international levels, with a particular focus on international marine conservation.

Among his previous appointments are the positions of Executive Secretary of the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North-East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (UNEP/ASCOBANS) and of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS).

He has also worked as a consultant for a number of United Nations agencies, including the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Moreover, Rüdiger has a background as a journalist and professional communicator and he is the author or co-author of numerous articles and several books.

In addition to his work as Executive Secretary of ASCOBANS, his specific Baltic credentials include chairing the ASCOBANS Baltic Sea Steering Group (“Jastarnia Group”) from 2009 to 2017 and his membership in the Advisory Board of the Baltic Centre of Excellence for Development, Education and Research (BALTDER), University of Gdańsk, Poland from 2003 to 2005.

A German national, Rüdiger studied at the University of Bonn, Germany and obtained the First and Second German State Examinations in law in 1991 and 1995 respectively.

Statements by the Executive Secretary

View the statements here.