Prof. Hubert Gijzen holds a PhD in Environmental Biotechnology, and has an established career of over 34 years in both academics and in international cooperation. He has worked in academic institutions and universities, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Embassies abroad, in International Institutes and the United Nations (UNESCO). Throughout his career, he has lived and worked in various countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, in a range of senior functions as Full Professor and Chair in Universities, as a diplomat, Regional Representative, Team leader, and currently as UNESCO Regional Director and Representative. Besides his current work for UNESCO, he continues to hold positions as full Professor at UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education (since 1995) and at Wageningen University. Hubert has published over 400 articles and books.

Hubert Gijzen joined UNESCO in 2006 as the Director of the UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. Since 1 January 2015, Hubert was appointed as the Regional Director of the newly established UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa in Harare (Zimbabwe). He also serves on the UN Regional Directors team for Eastern and Southern Africa (UNDG-ESA).