Thomas Stelzer (diplomat)

This article is about the Austrian diplomat and ambassador. For the Governor of Upper Austria, see Thomas Stelzer (born 1967).

His Excellency Thomas Stelzer
Austrian Ambassador to Portugal
In office August 2013 – 2017
President	Heinz Fischer (2018-2016) Alexander Van der Bellen (2017-present)
Preceded by	Bernhard Wrabetz
Succeeded by	Christoph Meran
Austrian Ambassador to Cape Verde
In office August 2013 (2013-08) – 2017
Preceded by	Bernhard Wrabetz
Succeeded by	Christoph Meran
Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in Vienna
In office 24 July 2001 (2001-07-24) – 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01)
Preceded by	Ferdinand Mayrhofer-Grünbühel
Succeeded by	Helmut Böck
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs
In office 8 February 2008 (2008-02-08) – 30 June 2013 (2013-06-30)
UN Secretary-General	Ban Ki-moon
Preceded by	Patrizio Civili
Succeeded by	Thomas Gass
Personal details
Spouse	Vanda Stelzer Sequeira
Children	5
Alma mater	Vienna University Stanford University Johns Hopkins University

Thomas Stelzer (born June 19, 1955) is an Austrian diplomat, who served as the Dean and Executive Secretary of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) until July 2023, when he was suspended by the IACA board on suspicion of corruption.

Education

He holds a doctorate in law from Vienna University, a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies from Stanford University, and a diploma in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, Bologna Center.

Diplomatic career

Stelzer served in a variety of diplomatic and international positions in his early career. He was Deputy Director of the Austrian Cultural Institute in New York, Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission, and Minister-Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations in New York. He also serves as the Austrian Representative to the governing bodies of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Delegate to the Committee for Disarmament and International Security (First Committee) of the General Assembly.

Stelzer has been serving since August 2001 as Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations (Vienna), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Preparatory Commission.

From 2002 to 2007, he was Facilitator and Chair of the Vienna Terrorism Symposiums. In 2003, he was Chair of the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. Between 2005 and 2006, he served as President of the UNIDO Industrial Development Board. Most recently, he served as a Vice-Chair of the Second Conference of States Parties of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

From March 2008 to June 2013 he served as United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. He was appointed to this position by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in February 2008.

Family life

Stelzer is married to Portuguese fellow diplomat Vanda Stelzer Sequeira, with whom he has three of his children.

Decorations and awards

Stelzer has received the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria.