Dirk Jan Bruinsma, who had been serving as Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD since January 2006, died in The Hague on 22 April, following a brief illness. He was 56 years old.
Mr. Bruinsma, a Dutch national, joined UNCTAD following a distinguished career with the Dutch government. He was Director-General of Foreign Economic Relations in the Ministry of Economic Affairs from 2000 until his appointment with UNCTAD. He held various posts at the Ministry of Finance from 1976 to 1991, and also worked in the private sector.
During his tenure with UNCTAD, Mr. Bruinsma played a key role in efforts to strengthen the organization, chairing task forces on science and technology, technical cooperation and communications. He also headed the Division of Management, represented UNCTAD in a variety of international and UN meetings, and was closely involved in UN systemwide reform efforts.
"Dirk Bruinsma was with UNCTAD for just over a year", said Supachai Panitchpakdi, UNCTAD´s Secretary-General, who had recommended Mr. Bruinsma´s appointment by the then-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, in November 2005. "Within that short time, however, through his dynamism and his commitment to UNCTAD´s mission, he made his mark on the organization. He will be greatly missed".
Mr. Bruinsma held Master´s Degrees in Mathematics and Dutch and International Law from Leyden University. He was born in The Hague in 1950 and is survived by his brother, Jan, and his sister, Eva.
