Ron Keller

About Ron Keller

Macroeconomist and seasoned diplomat Ron Keller is a highly sought-after speaker on geopolitical turbulence and its impact on businesses and individuals. Renowned for his expertise, he also offers invaluable insights into mastering the art of international negotiation.

Ron is one of the few geopolitical experts with both high-level diplomatic experience as an ambassador and extensive international financial-economic expertise as a macroeconomist. His distinguished career, serving as a top diplomat in countries such as China, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia, as well as holding leadership roles in international institutions such as the EU, IMF, OECD and World Bank, brings unique value to his lectures. His experience as a chair in numerous international negotiations further enhances the depth and relevance of his insights.

Through engaging and interactive presentations, Ron seamlessly connects seemingly unrelated topics such as finance, economics, diplomacy, and politics. Drawing on personal experiences, encounters with world leaders, historical contexts, shifting power dynamics, and cultural diversity, he offers a nuanced perspective on the future of our global community. His insights provide a realistic assessment of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for both citizens and entrepreneurs.

Drawing on his extensive experience, Ron also delivers masterclasses on results-driven negotiation and the effective chairing of meetings, particularly in international settings. As a dynamic and highly engaged conference chair, he fosters insightful discussions and brings out the best in participants, ensuring a successful and impactful event for your organisation or company.

Currently, Ron serves as an adviser to various internationally operating businesses and institutions. He is also a guest lecturer at several universities and a commentator and strategic analyst for Dutch and international radio and television, including NPO, RTL, BNR and the BBC.

Between 2005 and 2017, Ron was the Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and China. Previously, he was a Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and a senior adviser and manager at the European Union as well as the Dutch Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs.

Before his ambassadorship, Ron served as Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was responsible for Dutch development cooperation (DGIS) between 2000 and 2005.

Earlier in his career, he was Director of Foreign Financial Relations and Director of Export Credit Insurance and Investment Guarantees at the Ministry of Finance from 1994 to 2000. During this period, he chaired the European Union committee in Brussels responsible for establishing the euro currency system.

Immediately after the fall of the Berlin Wall in late 1989, Ron was one of the founders of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as a representative of the Dutch government. He was subsequently appointed Director at this multilateral bank in London from 1991 to 1994.

In the late 1980s, Ron worked as Personal Assistant to the Dutch Minister of Finance, collaborating closely with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC.

Ron holds a Master’s degree in Economic Sciences from the University of Amsterdam, graduating cum laude in 1983.