Nicolai Ruge

Nicolai Ruge began their work experience in 1993 as a Junior Professional Officer at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Papua New Guinea. Nicolai then joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark in 1995, where they worked as the Head of Section for the Department for Southern Africa and later as the Private Secretary to the Minister for Development Cooperation. In 1997, they transitioned to the UNDP as a Special Assistant to the UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam. In 1999, they joined The World Bank as a Special Assistant to the World Bank Country Director in Vietnam.

In 2003, Ruge returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and took on various roles including Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Denmark in Tanzania, Head of Section for the Department for Trade Policy, and later, as the Head of Department for Quality Assurance of Development Assistance. From 2012 to 2017, they served as the Ambassador to Malaysia and the Philippines until August 2014. In 2017, they were appointed as the Ambassador-at-Large for Migration.

Most recently, Ruge has been working at the World Economic Forum since November 2022 as the Lead for the Geopolitical Agenda and Trade Investment Platform.

Nicolai Ruge pursued their education in the field of social sciences. In 1984, they obtained an Introductory Year Certificate in Social Sciences from Aalborg University, Denmark. Nicolai then attended Aarhus University, Denmark from 1986 to 1992, where they completed their Master's degree in Political Science. In 1990, they briefly studied Public Administration Studies at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.