His Excellency, Ralf Heckner recently presented his credentials to President Joe Biden at the White House, officially beginning his role as Switzerland’s Ambassador to the United States. Heckner expressed appreciation for the enduring partnership between the two countries and his commitment to strengthening their cooperation.
Born in Davos in 1967, Heckner joined the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in 1997. He started in the Economic and Financial Affairs Division before serving at the Swiss Embassy in Rome.
Back in Berne, Heckner worked on International Geneva issues and coordinated bilateral relations with North America and Northern Europe in the FDFA’s Political Affairs Directorate.
From 2003 to 2007, Heckner worked at the Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C., handling U.S. foreign policy on Europe, security, and multilateral institutions. He also managed Switzerland’s role representing U.S. interests in Iran, collaborating closely with the State Department.
As Office Director of Human Rights Policy at the FDFA, Heckner spearheaded a multi-stakeholder initiative for an International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. This 2010 initiative, developed with U.S. input, aimed to establish global human rights standards and oversight mechanisms for the industry.
Heckner then became Deputy Head of the United Nations and Other International Organizations Division, serving as the Swiss government’s primary liaison with the UN and developing coherent policies for international organizations.
From 2013 to 2015, Heckner led the Crisis Management Center, reporting directly to the State Secretary. The center responds to emergencies affecting Swiss citizens abroad, including natural disasters, conflicts, and terrorist incidents.
Heckner served as Ambassador to Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda from 2015 to 2020, also representing Switzerland at the UN Office in Nairobi. During this time, he helped establish the Framework for the Return of Assets from Corruption and Crime in Kenya (FRACCK), promoting transparency in asset recovery and sustainable development.
Before his current role, Heckner was Ambassador to India and Bhutan. In New Delhi, he focused on negotiating a Free Trade Agreement and enhancing innovation partnerships. He also oversaw Switzerland’s largest visa center, processing 200,000 visas annually.
Heckner holds a Ph.D. in Contemporary History from the University of Fribourg, where he worked as a research assistant before joining the foreign service.
He is married to Dr. Ilaria Macconi Heckner, and they have two children. Heckner speaks German, Italian, French, and English, with additional Latin studies.
