Daniel Woker

Expert on strategic affairs, regularly publishing and lecturing on the Asia-Pacific, including the ASEAN and Australia, on the Gulf countries as well as the development of the EU

Co-founder and President of ‘Share-an-Ambassador/Geopolitical coaching’

Former Senior Lecturer at the University of St.Gallen/HSG on the nexus between the private and public sector and on the impact of geopolitics on business

Independent columnist on foreign affairs in Swiss and Australian web publications

Former Swiss Ambassador to Kuwait, Singapore and Australia

Professional career and education

Daniel Woker retired from the Diplomatic Service after having served as Ambassador in Australia (including the Melanesian islands), in Singapore (including Brunei) and in Kuwait (including Bahrain and Qatar). Prior to these missions Mr. Woker was first and founding director, with the rank of Ambassador, of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy GCSP. Earlier diplomatic postings included Deputy Chief of Mission in Paris, in Stockholm and as economic officer at the Swiss UN mission in New York.

At home office he accomplished missions as development cooperation officer in the Foreign Trade Division, including desk-duty for the Asian Development Bank, and as Deputy Head of the European Division during the crucial transition period of 1989-93 where he was responsible for the first aid packet for Eastern Europe and for crisis management during the violent break-up of Yugoslavia.

Daniel Woker, a Swiss national, was born 1948 in Zurich and studied law and international relations there, in Geneva and in the US. He holds a PhD (Dr. iur.) in international law from the University of Zurich. Before joining the Swiss Foreign Ministry, he worked as an auditor for then PMM, now KPMG in Geneva. He served in the Swiss Armed Forces as a First Lieutenant of the mountaineering infantry.

He is trilingual German/French/English. He is married to the former Myriam Thürler, an independent theatre producer from Fribourg (Switzerland). They live in Switzerland and in Paris. They have two adult children.

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Public Diplomacy activity by Ambassador Daniel Woker

  • Kuwait, 1998 – 2002:

‘Ice on Fire’, a Swiss-Kuwaiti cultural event with expositions, a play and a joint concert of Swiss and Kuwaiti jazz musicians.
The first ever Swiss Luxury Watch Fair in the Arab Gulf, together with ‘Fédération Horlogère’ (Swiss Watchmakers Association).
In cooperation with HH. Sheik Nasser Muhammed al Sabah, then Minister of the Amiri Diwan, later Prime Minister of Kuwait.

  • Singapore, 2002 – 2008:

‘Icons in Red and White’, largest Swiss-Singaporean ever to date, held in cooperation with the Swiss resort of Gstaad, with multiple events from the economy and the arts to sports and the culinary world.
‘Alberto Giacometti’, first ever public exposition in South-East Asia of originals by the Swiss artist, held together with the National Art Museum of Singapore and the Kunsthaus Zürich.
‘The Dürrenmatt Festival’, theatre plays, scenic writings, film scripts and paintings by the Swiss writer (and painter) Friedrich Dürrenmatt, performed by local artists and shown in Singaporean landmark buildings.
In cooperation with the National Youth Achievement Award of Singapore, the Swiss Business Association and the Swiss Club.

  • Australia, 2008 – 2012:

‘Swiss personality of the year in Australia’, creation of the award and respective ceremony.
Initiator and first host of a regular meeting in Canberra between the diplomatic corps and the Lowy Institute for International Policy, Sydney, the leading think-tank of Australia. Regular Lowy columnist to date.
In cooperation with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Australia and the Swiss Australian Academic Network.

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