From its establishment in 2013 till the ceasing of its operation in early 2026, the Foundation for Global Governance and Sustainability (FOGGS) functioned as a think-and-do tank, advancing thinking, writing, exchanges and advocacy on key issues of global governance, sustainability and citizenship, with a special focus on the actual role and potential of the United Nations as central node of the multilateral system.
FOGGS was established as a Public Benefit Foundation under Belgian law. Its founders were inspired by the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability (2010–2012), which helped introduce the concept of Sustainable Development Goals. The original aspiration was to continue that work, including the sensitive economic dimension. In 2018, FOGGS refocused on building a new "Grand Narrative" for globalisation.
FOGGS was governed by its statutes, as originally published in the Moniteur Belge on 26 August 2013, and subsequently modified in July 2018, February 2020, June 2021, and March 2023.
The Executive Board provided strategic direction, supervised the Executive Director and Secretariat, and ensured delivery of the Foundation's objectives. Board members served renewable 3-year terms in their individual capacity. See membership of the Executive Board at the Foundation’s closure here. For the inaugural Executive Board and FOGGS’ Co-founders see here.
The Executive Director oversaw day-to-day activities, represented the Foundation, and led the Secretariat. See closing and past Secretariat members here.
The Advisory Board consisted of personalities of broadly recognised stature from academia, international or national civil service, civil society, and the private sector, who advised the FOGGS Executive Board, the Executive Director, and the Secretariat on a case-by-case basis, according to their expertise and availability, without bearing responsibility for the Foundation's management. See Advisory Board membership at the Foundation’s closure here.
Based in Bonn. Former UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary (2006–2017) with a career at the UN Climate Change Secretariat from its founding, leading support for the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement negotiations. Earlier served the Government of Canada on international environmental policy. Holds BA in political studies and MA in international relations.
Based in San Jose, Costa Rica. Over 35 years advancing inclusive development, human rights, and peace. Former UNFPA Regional Director for Asia-Pacific; UN Resident Coordinator in Bolivia and Costa Rica; UNICEF Associate Director for Policy and Representative in Mexico and Ecuador. Facilitated constitutional negotiations in Bolivia and education and indigenous rights initiatives in Latin America.
Athens–Brussels. Lawyer and economist with PhD in Economics (Kent). Associate professor of international economics at the University of Peloponnese. Founded Headway Economic Consultants and co-founded Four Assist Development Consulting. Led major Greek privatisation projects, including Olympic Airlines and regional airports.
Brussels-based international cooperation professional. Long experience in EU development policy, technical assistance design, capacity building, and public diplomacy. Coordinated multi-country monitoring and evaluation programmes and climate diplomacy assessments. Former FOGGS Policy and Advocacy Advisor and Managing Editor of Katoikos.world.
Brussels–Nairobi. Over 25 years shaping global, national, and local environmental policy, including 20 years in the UN system. Former UNDP Environment and Energy Director and UNEP leader who launched the Global Environment Outlook. Co-founder of the Global Sustainable Technology and Innovation Conference series; now develops financial mechanisms for sustainable asset classes. PhD in Biochemistry (University of Antwerp).
Based in Maine, USA. Former Chief of the New York Office of UNCTAD, Senior Officer for the first UN Financing for Development Conference, and Chief of the Environmental Unit of the UN Centre on Transnational Corporations. Three decades of research on multinational corporations, global environmental governance, and climate economics. PhD in Sociology (Brandeis University).
São Paulo-based professor of journalism and communication. Leads research on humanitarian journalism, climate change communication, and disaster risk reduction. Former UNESCO consultant on alert systems for Brazil's science ministry; veteran reporter of UN environment and climate conferences since 1992. Doctor in Public Health (University of São Paulo) and postdoctoral researcher in environmental and urban risk management.
Sparta, Greece. Nearly 30 years in international affairs, including 14 with the United Nations: elections in South Africa (1994), human rights in Haiti, UNGA committee roles, UN strategic planning in the SG's office, first high-level UN climate event (2007), system-wide climate coordination, groundwork for the Sustainable Development Goals (2010–2012), and support to the Paris Agreement (COP21). Former EU LIFE climate projects coordinator at NEEMO EEIG; holds MA and PhD in International Relations and an engineering degree.
Founder and first President of FOGGS. Former Acting Executive Director for Conservation at WWF International; previously Director for Policy and Science. Served as Executive Secretary of the UN Secretary-General's High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (2010–2012) and led the UN Secretary-General's Climate Change Support Team from 2008. Hungarian and Swiss national with BS and MS from MIT; more than 25 years in UN and NGO roles on energy, environment, and climate.
Co-Founder and Secretary of the Executive Board. Lawyer and economist with degrees from the University of Athens, Sussex, and Kent (PhD Economics). Associate professor of international economics at the University of Peloponnese. Founded Headway Economic Consultants and co-founded Four Assist Development Consulting; has led major privatisation projects including Olympic Airlines and Greek regional airports.
Co-Founder and Executive Director with nearly three decades in international affairs. Spent 14 years with the United Nations: from observing South Africa's 1994 elections and advancing human rights in Haiti, to UNGA committee roles, strategic planning in the UN Secretary-General's office, organizing the first high-level UN climate event (2007), advancing system-wide climate action, and laying groundwork for the Sustainable Development Goals (2010–2012). Supported the Paris Agreement negotiations (COP21) and later coordinated EU LIFE climate projects at NEEMO EEIG. Holds MA and PhD in International Relations (Kent) and an engineering degree (NTUA), and has taught global governance in Brussels and Athens.
José Luís Herrero Ansola |
Albena Azmanova |
Sakiko Fukuda-Parr |
Helen Gilbert |
Larry D. Johnson |
Tapio Kanninen |
Ronald A. Kingham |
Stella Ladi |
María D. Maldonado |
Dirk Messner |
Sudha S. Reddy |
Elsa Stamatopoulou |
Daniella Tilbury |
Thomas G. Weiss |
The day-to-day activities of FOGGS were overseen by the Executive Director, who also served as an Executive Board member, represented the Foundation in its contacts with other public and private bodies, and headed the Secretariat.
Georgios Kostakos Executive Director |
Manan Shah Operations Lead |
Former Secretariat members (senior fellows and fellows), including trainees (associate fellows).
 Fotini Zarogianni Katoikos Managing Editor |
 Jason Kyriakos Communications Specialist |
 Ivona Malbasic Senior Fellow |
 Yvonne Rademacher Senior Fellow |
 Thomas Slätis Senior Fellow |
 Paola Bettelli Senior Fellow |
 Péter Kakucska Senior Fellow |
 Arturo Biglia Fellow |
 Maro Mantziara Fellow |
 Daniel Orth Fellow |
 Lauren Brennan Fellow |
 Daria Shumilova Fellow |
 Johnatan Santos Fellow |
 Stuart Best Fellow |
 Daphné Petrich Fellow |
 Renata Juliotti Fellow |
 Erik Post Fellow |
 Neena Joshi Fellow |
 Xiaoxiao Cao Associate Fellow |
 Norah Zhang Associate Fellow |
 Iris Kyriazi Associate Fellow |
 Keith Miller Associate Fellow |
 Stephen Downes Fellow |
 Vanina Morrison Associate Fellow |
 Eleonora L. Cammarano Associate Fellow |
 Branson Gillispie Associate Fellow |
 Rowan Liu Summer Intern |
 Pratul Malthumkar Summer Intern |
 Antoine Brimbal Associate Fellow |