Mr. Pronk is the former Minister for International Development Cooperation, Government of The Netherlands. In his professional career, Jan Pronk has held prestigious positions such as the Minister for Environment in the Government of the Netherlands; the President of the United Nations Climate Conference (CoP 6); the Special Representative Secretary General of the United Nations for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa; the Assistant Secretary General United Nations, Deputy Secretary General United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); and Undersecretary General of The United Nations, Special Representative Of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Sudan, leading the United Nations Peace Mission in Sudan (UNMIS). Additionally, he was a Professor of Theory and Practice in International Development at the International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, and Visiting Professor at the University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and Amsterdam University College.