Francesc Vendrell served as EU Special Representative for Afghanistan from 2002 to 2008 and before that also served as personal representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan and head of the United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan. From 1993 to 2000, while acting as director of the Asia and Pacific Division of the UN Department of Political Affairs, he concurrently undertook assignments including deputy personal representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for both Cambodia and Papua New Guinea (separately), and Adviser to the Secretary-General on his good offices in Myanmar. Before joining the UN, Dr. Vendrell was director of studies at the Hague Academy of International Law and an adjunct professor at both Yale and Rutgers Law Schools.