Jean Claude Knebeler -Global geopolitics-It Turns out knowing history really matters.

Jean Claude knows a good bit about geopolitics, being a diplomat for many years. We've known each other for over 10 years. This was a fun and enlightening conversation.

Roles before recently entering the commercial sector:

-Ambassador of Luxembourg to the Russian Federation

-Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan (non-resident)

-Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus (non-resident)

-Consul General of Luxembourg, New York, USA

-Executive Director, Luxembourg Trade & Investment Office in New York

Full BIO

Private Sector:

2023 – present: Equity Partner & Responsible Officer, Admiralty Asset Management Limited, Hong Kong SAR

2022 – present: Executive Director, Red Sands Consulting & Investments FZCO, Dubai, UAE

2020-2024: Head, Sustainable Development Department,

International & Comparative Law Research Centre, Russia

2020-2024: Advisor to the Chairman of the Management Board Gazprombank, Russia

Civil Service:

2016 – 2020: Ambassador of Luxembourg to the Russian Federation

Ambassador to the Republic of Kazakhstan (non-resident)

Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus (non-resident)

2012-2016: Consul General of Luxembourg, New York, USA

Executive Director, Luxembourg Trade & Investment Office in New York

2004-2012 : Director General for Trade & Investment Promotion, Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister

Member of the Ministry’s Management Board,

Ministry of the Economy & Foreign Trade, Luxembourg

2002-2004: Attaché, Department for International Economic Relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Luxembourg

Non-executive positions:

2023 – present: Non-executive Director, Red Sands Trading DMCC, Dubai, UAE

2023 – present: Overseas Advisor, Belt & Road Trading Platform, Beijing, PRC

2023 – present: Independent Non-executive Director, Zeelta OY, Finland

2022 – present: Non-executive Director, Red Earth Consulting Limited, HKSAR

2021 – present: Independent Non-executive Director, SODRU S.A, Luxembourg

2021 – present: Chairman, ExactFarming Inc., USA

2021- present: Advisor to the Chairman, China Biodiversity & Green Development Foundation, China

2020 – 2022 :Member, Gazprombank Group Sustainability Council, Russia

2008-2010: Cargolux Airlines International S.A.

2009-2013: Enovos International S.A. (now Encevo S.A.)

2009-2012: Luxembourg for Business G.I.E.

2006-2011: Luxembourg@Shanghai2010 G.I.E.

2005-2012: Chairman, Committee for the Promotion of Luxembourg Exports

2005-2012: Office du Ducroire – Public Export Credit & Insurance Agency,

2005-2009: Lux-Development S.A.

Education:

2024: Global Directorship Programme Hong Kong Institute of Directors, HKSAR

2024 : Specialist Certificate in Asset Management

Hong Kong Securities & Investment Institute, HKSAR

2021 : Certificate in Sustainable Finance

Luxembourg Stock Exchange Academy, Luxembourg

2012 : Certificate for Senior Managers

Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA

2002: Post-graduate Diploma in Public Administration

École Nationale d’Administration, France

2000 : BSc (Hons.) Government & Law,

London School of Economics, United Kingdom

Honours & Awards:

Knight with Crown of the Order of Civil Merit Adolphe de Nassau (Luxembourg), Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands). Officer of the Order of the Polar Star (Sweden), Officer of the Order of the Crown (Belgium), Officer of the Order of Civil Merit (Spain), Officer of the Order of Civil Merit (Portugal), Officer of the Cross of Recognition (Lithuania), Officer of the Order of the Lion of Finland, Officer of the Order of Merit (Norway).

Memberships:

Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Directors, Member of the Luxembourg Institute of Directors, Member of the GCC Board Director’s Institute.