Notification 2018-028

Dear Madam/Sir, With immense sadness, we announce the death of our dear colleague and friend, Olivier de Munck, Programme Officer for the Clearing House Mechanism at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on 21 February 2018, at the age of 53. Olivier was a supremely dedicated colleague who joined the Secretariat in 1999. For almost two decades Olivier helped develop and then lead the Clearing House Mechanism, the backbone of the Convention's information management system. He was generous with his time and his expertise. Olivier will be much missed and mourned by the colleagues, partners and focal points all across the world with whom he shared his passion for using technology to better protect biodiversity. Olivier grew up in Africa and gained his degree in electrical engineering and his MBA in his home country of Belgium. Earlier in his career he worked with the private sector in Brussels and London, and with a technical co-operation project in the Seychelles. His experience with the UN began with UNIDO in Haiti and Costa Rica. Before coming to Montreal, he worked as coordinator for a PAHO/WHO project, the Regional Disaster Information Center for Central America and the Caribbean. Olivier was a very kind colleague, mentor and friend. His optimism, enthusiasm and decency made the Secretariat a better place to work at. He always strove for perfection. Over the last period he fought his illness, cancer, with immense courage and fortitude. He loved his work and he very much loved his family, and he fought to stay with all of us for as long as he could. Olivier is survived by his elder son Tristan, his wife Gabriella and their son Roland, as well as his parents and brother. A dedicated email address condolences@cbd.int has been set-up to receive messages of condolence for Olivier’s family. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: All National Focal Points, United Nations organizations, intergovernmental organizations non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities organizations, business organizations, educational organizations