Celebrating 10 years of the Yogyakarta Principles: What have we learnt and where to now?
Appendix 3: Biography of speakers
(In order of appearance)
H.E. Staffan Herrström
Ambassador of Sweden to the Kingdom of Thailand, Lao Peoples’ Democratic Republic and the Republic
of the Union of Myanmar
Staffan is currently the Ambassador of Sweden to the Kingdom of Thailand, Lao Peoples’ Democratic
Republic and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar since 2015 (residence in Bangkok). He is responsible
for promoting and protecting Swedish interests and to strengthen the relations between Sweden and the
countries of accreditation including between companies, organisations and individuals. An important task
is to promote interest in universal values close to the heart of the Swedish Government including human
rights and gender equality. The Embassy is under his leadership responsible for the implementation of
regional development cooperation in Asia and the Pacific and a bilateral development programme in
Myanmar. Prior to this position, the Ambassador has been posted as Swedish Ambassador in Poland
(2011 to 2015), Vietnam (2010 to 2011) and Tanzania (2007 to 2010). Before joining the Swedish Foreign
Ministry, he was Deputy Director General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
(Sida) (1995–2007). In addition, the Ambassador was State Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office
1991–1994. He has also worked as a journalist at the Swedish newspaper ‘Göteborgs-Posten’. Staffan
holds Bachelor of Arts (Russian, Eastern European Studies, and Political Science) degree from Uppsala
University in Sweden (1980).
Luc Stevens
UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand
Luc has over 25 years of experience in humanitarian aid and international development with the United
Nations. He started his international career as a volunteer development worker in Djibouti. He then joined
the United Nations where he was involved in humanitarian programmes and emergency management
with the UN Refugee Agency. Prior to his appointment to the Kingdom of Thailand he served for 5 years
as UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP/UNFPA Resident Representative in
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and as UNHCR’s Regional Support Hub Manager for West Africa/
Representative a.i. in Ghana.
Luc began his UN career with UNHCR in 1987 as a Junior Professional Officer in the Sudan. He also
served in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Tanzania and held various positions in UNHCR Headquarters
in Geneva. Luc is a Belgian national and holds a Master’s Degree in Criminology from the Belgian State
University. In addition to Flemish, his native language, he speaks English and French.
Caitlin Wiesen
Chief, Regional Policy and Programme, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub
Caitlin Wiesen has over 25 years’ experience in development, working on issues of poverty reduction,
governance, civil society empowerment, gender, sustainable human development, HIV, health and
strategic partnerships. Caitlin was Regional Manager of the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Center from
2013–2014. Prior to this she was the Country Director of UNDP India, and has held a variety of positions
at UNDP in policy, strategic partnership, Asia and Africa Bureaus. Before joining the India office in 2010,
Caitlin was Regional Practice Leader and Programme Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific on human
rights, gender inequality and the human development dimensions of HIV, based in Colombo Sri Lanka.
Prior to this, she was Senior Advisor on Poverty and Sustainable Human Development for Africa (1993–
1998) and Director, Civil Society Division in the Bureau of Strategic Partnerships (1999–2002). Between
2003 and 2006, Caitlin, was the Senior Advisor and Deputy Director HIV, in the Bureau of Development
Policy. Caitlin has worked in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, North America and Europe. She holds a Masters
in International Finance and Energy Policy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, United States.
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