Mr Xinsheng ZHANG

President, IUCN

Mr ZHANG Xinsheng is the President of IUCN, elected by its World Conservation Congress in 2012, and re-elected in 2016. He is also the Executive Chairman of Eco Forum Global (EFG), a public-private partnership organization committed to building consensus among all stakeholders for development of a sustainable future. He also serves as a member of the Advisory Commission of China State Council.

He was elected President of the Executive Board of UNESCO in 2005 and served as a member of the Board (2001-2009). He was also elected Chairman of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee. He has held positions in China’s central, provincial and municipal governments. He was elected for two consecutive terms as Mayor of metropolitan Suzhou city. As China’s Deputy Minister of Education (2001–2009), he was in charge of educational policy, regulations and international exchange and cooperation. Mr ZHANG obtained a Master’s in Design Studies with distinction from Harvard University.