Mohamed ElBaradei is Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an intergovernmental organisation that is part of the United Nations system. He was appointed to the office effective December 1997, and reappointed to a third term in September 2005.
In 2005, Mr ElBaradei and the IAEA were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes and to ensure that nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is used in the safest possible way." In its citation, the Norwegian Nobel Committee referred to the IAEA´s work as being of "incalculable importance", and referred to Dr. ElBaradei as an "unafraid advocate" of new measures to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Since taking over from Swedish diplomat Hans Blix in 1997, Mr ElBaradei has employed diplomacy to deal with nuclear rows over Iraq, North Korea and Iran, and insists that even in the most difficult situations, progress can be made.
"Verification and diplomacy, used together, can work," he says.
During his career as diplomat, international civil servant and scholar, Mr ElBaradei has become closely familiar with the work and processes of international organisations, particularly in the fields of international peace and security and international development. He has lectured widely in the fields of international law, international organisations, arms control and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and is the author of various articles and books on these subjects.
Mr ElBaradei has received many global awards for his work as a public servant and as an advocate of tolerance, humanity and freedom.