Swiss diplomat Sabrina Dallafior has been appointed as the next Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), following a decision by the Conference of the State Parties based on the recommendation of the Executive Council. She will take office on 25 July 2026 and will become the Organisation’s fifth Director-General.
In her new role, Ambassador Dallafior will oversee the continued implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), guiding the Technical Secretariat’s work and ensuring its mandate is carried out with independence and efficiency. She will also be tasked with strengthening engagement with Member States and promoting both compliance and universal adherence to the Convention.
“As Director-General, I will accord the highest importance to upholding the norm against chemical weapons. Ensuring its long-term sustainability requires us to investigate all credible allegations of use, establishing the scientific facts, and to denounce all confirmed cases […] This is non-negotiable, as it touches the very core of the Convention,” Ambassador Dallafior said.
Ambassador Dallafior currently serves as Switzerland’s Ambassador to Finland and has built a diplomatic career spanning more than two decades. Since joining the Swiss foreign service in 2000, she has developed extensive experience in multilateral diplomacy, particularly in areas related to disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation, and international security. Her prior postings include serving as Consular General in Milano and, between 2016 and 2019, holding the positions of Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Conference on Disarmament and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG).
During her time in Geneva, she served in several leadership capacities, including President of the Conference on Disarmament, Chair of the Working Group on effective treaty implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty, and Chair of the Article 5 Committee of the Anti-Personal Mine Ban Convention. She also led Swiss Delegations to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly.
Her earlier career roles include Deputy Head of the Human Security Division in Bern, Head of the delegation for bilateral dialogues with Nigeria and Senegal, and Head of Political Affairs and Security Policy at the Swiss Mission to the EU in Brussels. She also previously led the Swiss OSCE Team and served as First Secretary at the Swiss Mission to NATO. Ambassador Dallafior began her diplomatic work as an attaché at the Swiss Mission to the EU in Brussels.
She will succeed Ambassador Fernando Arias of Spain, who has served as the OPCW’s fourth Director-General since December 2017. “I warmly congratulate Ambassador Dallafior on her appointment by the Conference of the States Parties as the next Director-General of the OPCW. Today’s unanimous decision of the Conference of the States Parties by acclamation provides legitimacy and full authority to Ambassador Dallafior to lead the OPCW. Her extensive diplomatic experience, commitment to multilateralism, and strong understanding of international security will serve the Organisation well at this pivotal moment,” he said.
He added: “As the OPCW continues to uphold the global norm against chemical weapons, the Organisation must strengthen its ability to address emerging chemical threats, advance universality and full implementation of the Convention, and deepen cooperation with Member States. I am confident that Ambassador Dallafior’s leadership and strategic vision will guide the OPCW in meeting these challenges and ensuring that chemistry continues to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes.”
