IUCN - The World Conversation Union

Sven Sandström, Sweden, was born in northern Sweden in 1941 and graduated from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (Dr.Sc. in civil engineering), Stockholm School of Economics (M.B.A.), and the University of Stockholm (B.A.).

From 1969 to 1972, he worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Business School in USA. Over the next 30 years, he worked at the World Bank, the last ten as Managing Director. From 1972 to 1986, he worked in the transport, water and sanitation, and urban development sectors. From 1987 to 1990, he was Director of the Bank’s Southern Africa Department.

As Managing Director from 1991 to 2001, Sven had at various times, oversight responsibility for most of the Bank’s vice-presidential units, including the Environment and Socially Sustainable Development vice-presidency. He also had overall responsibility for the International Development Association and chaired the Bank’s Operations Committee. In the absence of the Bank’s President, he served as Acting President and Chairman of the Board.

Sven Sandström is now an adviser and director at several private corporations and public institutions in Europe, Africa and USA.