Robert Mardini
Robert Mardini (born 1972) is Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Early life and education. Mardini was born and raised in Tripoli, Lebanon. He was educated at the Lycée Français in Tripoli and at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, where he was awarded a Master of Science in civil engineering and hydraulics in 1996. Professional career. Mardini joined the ICRC in 1997, coordinating water engineering programmes in Rwanda and Iraq, before leading the organization’s Water & Habitat Unit with projects in over 40 countries, improving access to water, sanitation and  hygiene services to around 14 million people per year. He went on to hold various senior positions within the organization, including Deputy Director General (2010-2012), Regional Director for the Near and Middle East (2012-2018) and Permanent Observer of the ICRC to the United Nations & Head of Delegation in New York (2018-2020). In this latter role, Mardini steered the ICRC’s diplomatic engagement with the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, Member States and UN entities to influence decisions on humanitarian issues across policy themes and geographic contexts. He has spoken and published on a broad range  of key issues such as armed conflict and humanitarian crisis in the Middle East; international humanitarian law; sexual violence in conflict; humanitarian action and counter-terrorism measures; and the future of humanitarian action. Mardini was appointed ICRC Director-General in October 2019 , and took up his position on 30 March 2020. In October 2020, he received the EPFL Alumni Award for his 'exceptional career'. Personal life. Mardini has Lebanese and Swiss citizenship. He is married and has two daughters.