Jacques Forster

Jacques Forster was born in 1940 and holds a doctorate in economics. After working in the area of international development cooperation – especially in Latin America – within the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, he was appointed professor at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies in Geneva, which he headed from 1980 to 1992.

Elected a member of the ICRC in 1988, Mr Forster became a member of the Executive Board (now the Assembly Council) in 1992. He has been permanent vice-president of the ICRC since 1999, in which capacity he has paid special attention to the ICRC’s relations with the other components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. He also headed the Steering Committee of the Avenir project (1996-1997).

Mr Forster is married to Simone Forster. The couple have two children.

Author's website: International Committee of the Red Cross