Christophe Bernasconi

Secretrary General, HCCH

Dr. Christophe Bernasconi has served as the Secretary General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) since July 2013, having first joined the Permanent Bureau in 1997. Over the years, he has held key positions, including First Secretary and Deputy Secretary General, and was reappointed to his current role in 2018 and 2023. With a distinguished academic background, holding law degrees from Fribourg University and an LL.M. in comparative law from McGill University. Dr. Bernasconi has been instrumental in advancing the HCCH's global mandate, from international family law to commercial and digital law. He also led the creation of the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP).

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Prior to his work at the HCCH, Dr. Bernasconi lectured in Private International Law and served in various legal and advisory roles within Swiss legal institutions. He currently sits on several prestigious boards, including the International Institute for Justice Excellence and the Asian Academy of International Law, and is an Honorary Fellow of the Australian New Zealand College of Notaries. As Secretary General, he is committed to strengthening the HCCH's governance, strategic development, and inclusiveness on a global scale.