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SIPRI welcomes new Deputy Director

SIPRI's new Deputy Director Charlotta Sparre
Photo credit: Kristian Pohl

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Charlotta Sparre as its new Deputy Director. She will assume the post on 2 September 2024.

Sparre has served as a Swedish diplomat for over three decades, including as Sweden’s Ambassador to Jordan (2008–2013) and Egypt (2013–17) and as Director of the Swedish Foreign Ministry’s Diplomatic Training Programme (2017–19).

Most recently (2019–24) Sparre served as Director of the Swedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa, a Swedish government agency responsible for promoting increased contact between Sweden and other European countries and countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Sparre oversaw the institute’s move to Amman, Jordan, and facilitated the launch of the new office with a work programme focused on dialogues on peace and security, sustainable development and inclusive participation.

‘It is a great privilege to join the impressive team at SIPRI. I very much look forward to working with colleagues towards the goal of contributing to an understanding of the conditions for a peaceful solution of international conflicts and sustainable peace,’ said Charlotta Sparre.

Welcoming the appointment, Chair of the SIPRI Governing Board, Stefan Löfven, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Charlotta Sparre as the new Deputy Director of SIPRI. Her considerable experience and background in dialogue work, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, align well with SIPRI’s vision, and we are excited about the insights she will bring to the Institute.’

Löfven added: ‘I want to convey my sincere thanks to the outgoing Deputy Director Joakim Vaverka for his valuable contributions to SIPRI’s work. I warmly congratulate him on his new appointment as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.’

For editors

Charlotta Sparre (Sweden) will be SIPRI’s 19th Deputy Director since the Institute’s founding in 1966. She replaces Deputy Director Joakim Vaverka, who will, as of autumn 2024, assume his new post as Swedish Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Media contacts

For information or interview requests contact Mimmi Shen (mimmi.shen@sipri.org, +46 76 628 61 33) or Stephanie Blenckner (blenckner@sipri.org, +46 8 655 97 47).