Secretary-General
Email Pascal Rudin
Pascal Rudin on Facebook
Pascal Rudin on LinkedIn
Biography:
Dr Pascal Rudin took office as Secretary-General of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) on 1 October 2026, following his service as Interim Secretary-General. His appointment builds on more than 12 years of work with the Federation, including his previous role as Head of Global Operations. Throughout his work, one question has remained central: how can we build societies in which people are treated with dignity, have a voice in decisions affecting their lives, and find the support and opportunities they need to thrive?
Pascal brings more than two decades of experience across social work, engineering, technology and organisational leadership. He holds a Bachelor’s degree and a PhD in Social Work, alongside qualifications in International Childhood Studies, Electrical Engineering and Communication Technology, and Business Administration. He is also a Research Fellow in Social Work at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. His areas of interest include children’s rights, families, education, mental health and social development, with particular attention to how institutions exercise power and how social work can challenge inequality while recognising people’s strengths and experiences.
Pascal leads IFSW’s advocacy work at the United Nations, engaging with international human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council and the Committee on the Rights of the Child. He has also contributed to policy discussions in Switzerland, including through his work with the Federal Office of Public Health. He sees social work as a bridge between lived experience, professional knowledge and public policy, and believes that international debates must remain connected to the people whose lives are affected by political decisions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he led the development of digital platforms that enabled more than 20,000 people worldwide to participate in IFSW’s General Meeting and World Conference. For Pascal, this was not simply about technology, but about opening doors, overcoming distances and making participation possible for people who might otherwise have been excluded.
Pascal sees his role as one of service. For him, IFSW is above all a community of people connected by shared values and a commitment to social justice. Its strength lies in the social workers who stand alongside individuals, families and communities every day. His vision is of a Federation that listens before it speaks, values its diversity, remains close to its members and is willing to reflect critically on its own practices. Above all, he hopes to contribute to an organisation in which people feel heard, connected and empowered to shape a more just and caring world together.
Selected contributions and cooperations:
IFSW Representative To The UN Criticises Medicalisation Of Social Problems
Social Worker Takes A Stand On The Overuse Of Medication
Free Online Course: Child Protection Case Management In Times Of COVID-19
Free Online Course: Caring For Children Moving Alone
Joint Oral Statement On The Term ‘Family’ From A CRC Perspective