David Chikvaidze will reflect on his experience with some of the greatest leaders in recent history, from Gorbachev to Thatcher to his service with three Secretaries-General to the United Nations.
Read more about Mr. Chikvaidze...
Celebration of Leadership: A special pre-forum program and reception recognizing past CMC leadership, lifetime members, and legacy donors, open to the public. Be sure to register for the regular weekly forum featuring Mr. Chikvaidze which follows...
About David Chikvaidze
David Chikvaidze is currently serving as Chef de Cabinet to his third Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). During his fifteen years in Geneva, he has served at different times as Director of the UN Library at Geneva and Chairman of the UNOG Cultural Activities Committee, acting Senior Political Adviser to the Director-General of UNOG, Senior Adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Chief of Communications and NGO Partnerships, and spokesman for the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights.
During his time with the UN in New York, Dr. Chikvaidze was a part of several sensitive projects and envoys in Kosovo, North Korea, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Western Sahara. He was also tasked with coordinating assistance to the victims of the Chernobyl nuclear accident
Prior to joining the United Nations, Dr. Chikvaidze served as presidential protocol and advance officer, as well as deputy Chief of Office, for President Mikhail Gorbachev. He later served as presidential protocol officer for President Boris Yeltsin. A diplomat by training, he spent five years in Washington, D.C. (1985-1990), where, as special assistant to the Soviet Ambassador and Chief of Protocol of the Embassy, he worked with the White House, the Department of State, other Executive Departments, on US-Soviet Summits and Ministerial meetings.
Dr. Chikvaidze holds a Ph.D. in political science. He is vice president of the Swiss Forum for International Affairs, vice president of the Geneva Diplomatic Club, Associate Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, member of Rotary International, and founding member of the Georgian Association of Switzerland and of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation. Born in Tbilisi, Dr. Chikvaidze is a citizen of Georgia. He is married and has one son and three grandsons.