Gunnar Brückner is a German national who has extensive experience working for international organizations such as the United Nations and non-profits, specializing in areas like human resources management, leadership development, learning and knowledge management. He has over 20 years of experience in these fields, having held positions like Chief Learning Officer at UNDP and Learning Coordinator at the UN Secretariat. Currently, he works as an independent consultant through his company coachingplatform, advising organizations on corporate transformation and excellence in HR management.

1. Berlin, 11 February, 2014
GUNNAR BRÜCKNER (a National of Germany)
Elßholzstr.4
10781 Berlin, Germany
Tel: x49-(0)30-21014077 (home)
Global Cell: x49-(0)171-7442612
e-mail: gunnar.bruckner@coachingplatform.com
Personal Mission Statement
I thrive working with multi-nationals and non-profits on corporate transformation,
excellence in HR management, and on all aspects of learning, knowledge
management, leadership development and talent management in a globalizing and
knowledge-based world. I specialize on boosting learning culture and performance
support and in doing so I combine intellectual rigour with practical experience and a
sense of pragmatism.
Personal Competency Profile
Vision, Leadership, Human Resources, Interim Management, Knowledge
Management, Talent Management, Coaching, Teambuilding, Communication Skills,
Intercultural Adaptability, Strategic Thinking, Negotiation Skills, Innovation, Project
Management and Planning, Motivation, Mentoring, Networking, Participatory
Approaches, Resilience, Adult Education, Action Learning, eLearning, and Capacity
Development.
Professional Experience
coachingplatform Inc. (New York - Berlin)
01/2012 – ongoing
Owner / Human Resources and Learning Expert
See more details 11/2002 – 04/2011 below
United Nations Development Programme (New York)
12/2011
05/2011 –
Learning Coordinator (Global Talent Management)
United Nations Secretariat (New York)
05/2011 – 12/2011
Learning Coordinator (Global Talent Management)
Learning and Performance Support Services, Change Management, Human Resources
Advisory Services
•
Provision of Learning and Performance Support in the context of the introduction of a
global Talent Management System (Oracle/Peoplesoft), including development of the
learning strategy and rapid elearning development.

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•
Coordination of business owners and other stakeholders (staffing, performance management and
learning).
•
Creation and support of a global network of talent management champions.

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coachingplatform Inc. (New York - Berlin)
11/2002 – 04/2011
Owner / Human Resources and Learning Expert
Learning Services, Human Resources Advisory Services, and Facilitation, Moderation
(strategic planning, process consulting, Interim Management)
•
Senior Advisor, Interim Transition Manager at the UNHCR Global Learning Center,
Geneva (2008/2009) and Head of Learning and Development at ICC, The Hague (2010).
•
Strategic Consulting/Interim Management – Learning and Staff Development (Creation of
a Learning Culture and related projects) in SNV (The Netherlands Development
Organization) and Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management (UNOCHA 2010
New York/Geneva) HR Advisor, Peace Mission Staff Roster Management, Talent
Management and Learning Support, OHCHR
•
Advisory Services regarding concept of Alumni Portal Germany and e-Learning Toolkit for
InWEnt (International Capacity Building Organization) Bonn.
•
Design of HR Strategies for UNODC/UNOV in Vienna and International Criminal Court
(ICC) in The Hague and delivery of workshop on HR Management for CARE USA in
Bangkok.
•
Facilitator for UN System Country Office Strategic Planning/Prioritization Process (for
UNDGO and United Nations Staff College - UNSSC) in Swaziland, Egypt, Panama,
Paraguay, and Jordan.
Leadership Development and Coaching (conceptual support and hands-on implementation
of leadership development activities, such as workshops, action learning, team coaching,
online coaching of learning communities, and mentoring as well as other training and
evaluation activities:
•
Delivery of Global Culture Training and Team Coaching and Action Planning for
Managers in global companies within the Automotive Industry, the Services Industry and
for an international provider of Logistic services
•
Adaptation of training materials and delivery of Intercultural Training for a global
pharmaceutical company
•
Development of a Blended Learning Process and eLearning Module for the World Bank
Institute in Washington
•
Action Learning Leadership Development for Center for International Peace Operations –
ZIF as well as for Leadership Team at CARE Mozambique.
•
Strategic Planning and Teambuilding workshop for UNDP/SURF staff in Lebanon
•
Workshop/Learning Process Evaluation and Impact Evaluation as well as Design of a
Blended Learning Scenario for Geneva-based GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved
Nutrition)
•
Workshop/Learning Process Evaluation for the Global Fund (GF) also based in Geneva
•
Design and Implementation of an Action Learning based Management Learning
Programme for IT Managers at World Food Programme (WFP)
•
Management Development in the context of InWEnt Capacity Building Programmes for
groups from developing countries .(Global Governance Programme, State Finances in
SADC Countries and Tanzania)
•
Participation in the Development of an Operations Management Programme for the UN
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)

4. Berlin, 11 February, 2014
•
Teaching a course on "Learning to Learn" at OTA Private University (Berlin) and 1 day
“Learning to Learn” workshop at Georgetown University (Washington) and GDI (German
Development Institute).
•
Speaker and Moderator at International Conferences and Conventions
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
11/2001 – 11/2002
Learning Resources Centre/Office of Human Resources New York, USA
Chief Learning Officer (CLO)
•
Creating a learning culture in UNDP and running daily operations at the same time.
•
Lead the transition of the learning function in UNDP from a training organization to a
strategically focused unit aligned with HR services and supporting business goals and
organizational learning, including the establishment of innovative outsourcing
arrangements.
Advise UNDP management on the optimum application of staff learning and training interventions
(blended learning) required to meet the strategic goals of the organization, especially for leadership
development, including the appropriate introduction of electronic and web-based learning modalities
such as a Learning Portal and a Virtual Development Academy.
•
•
Provide leadership of the Learning Resources Centre by shaping its vision and translating strategies
for learning into the most appropriate mix of LRC’s programme of work, policies, staffing structure and
individual post design. This included re-profiling the learning function but also shaping the design of
HR services from leadership development (360, coaching and mentoring), whole office training to
action learning-based team building activities.
•
Manage all learning and training operations including planning, organization, recruitment and
development of staff, develop and maintain organizational budget and control. Advise UNDP
management on the apportionment of resources for learning and training.
•
Provide leadership for UNDP’s active participation in relevant fora and professional groups concerned
with learning and staff development (UN working group on training, UN Staff College Technical Panel,
etc) and negotiate internal and external UNDP partnerships for learning.
•
Provide one-on-one and group coaching for key staff and groups of staff.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
01/1997 –10/2001
Learning Resources Centre/Office of Human Resources New York, USA
Learning Specialist
•
Envision and implement policies, strategies and systems for organizational and individual learning,
including the conceptualization of UNDP’s framework for learning and advice on knowledge
management
•
Define competency based learning sets and identify appropriate learning resources for
each set
•
Create the concept and manage the design of UNDP’s electronic platform for learning
(Leading a cross-functional team and manage multiple external consultants)
•
Propose and test innovative means for informal learning and identify access to multiple
learning options including technology-based approaches and other media for self-directed
learning
•
Direct the conversion of traditional face-to-face training into CD-ROM based courses and
drive UNDP’s distance learning initiative, including the design of the Virtual Development

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Academy (VDA).
•
Lead the team for learning networks and external learning opportunities including the design of the
learning resources catalogue and the establishment of a learning manager network with 135 country
offices
•
Oversee individual and organizational learning programmes, such as Educational
Assistance and Sabbatical Programme.
•
Play a key role in LRC’s advocacy strategy for learning and represent the LRC in
interagency meetings as well as in meetings external to the UN
•
Oversee the development and management of LRC’s learning resources including video
library, computer-based training programmes and other reference materials
•
Design and deliver training/learning sessions and organize preparation and participation
of resource persons
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
02/1995 – 12/1996
Caribbean Division/RBLAC, New York, USA
Programme Specialist
•
Facilitated technical and administrative support to all UNDP programmes in the Caribbean
(backstopped 20 country programmes)
•
conducted project/programme formulation, monitoring and evaluation missions
•
kept abreast of economic, social and political trends in the region and utilized information
to appraise project documents and other documents as appropriate.
•
advocated for country offices in headquarters meetings
•
liaised with other UN development partners at HQ level
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
09/1992 – 05/1994
Country Office Luanda, Angola
Assistant Resident Representative
•
Coordinated the programme section, including preparation and mid-year evaluation of the office
workplan
•
Managed development projects including the exchange of information with Government,
multilateral and bilateral donor agencies and NGO’s and ensured proper coordination of
programme and project formulation, appraisal, implementation and follow-up
•
Visited and monitored on-going projects of development assistance, including
management of the UNV Unit
•
Promoted and supported aid-coordination in Angola
•
Assisted senior management in personnel management and office restructuring
•
Participated as Official UN Electoral Observer in the first free elections in South Africa
(1994)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Country Office San Salvador/ El Salvador, CA
06/1990 – 09/1992

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Programme Officer
•
Managed technical development assistance programmes and projects
•
Prepared documents required for the design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
of the UNDP country programme
•
Maintained contacts with UNDP headquarters, participating and executing UN agencies,
NGOs and Government authorities
•
Answered information requests on UNDP and the UN in general and facilitated UNDP
staff training
•
Was focal point for human rights, UNESCO, critical poverty, indigenous people, and FIDA
(Agricultural Projects)
Self-employed and Traineeship at
Pedagogical University Kiel, Germany
09/1989 – 05/1990
Develop moderating and intercultural training skills
•
Simulated and trained different situations which moderators are likely to face during their
work
•
Delivered behavioural and didactical skills training
•
Conceptual work in intercultural training with different target groups (methods and
content)
Pro-Motion Sportmanagement, Husum, Germany
04/1989 – 12/1989
Independent Consultant
•
Prepared a “General Opportunity Study on Watersports Activities at the Mediterranean Coast of
Egypt”
•
Was responsible for international contacts of Pro-Motion
•
Advised Pro-Motion in the planning, founding and managing the first ever Windsurfing-Academy in
St.Peter Ording, Germany
•
Worked as Windsurfing instructor
German Society for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) posted in Pasto, Narino,
Colombia
05/1986 – 08/1986
Trainee in a German-Colombian Project of technical cooperation
•
Prepare a study about the state of public and social organization in a project area designated for
environmental protection
•
Organization, participation and evaluation of a project planning (ZOPP/Logframe) seminar
held with Colombian counterparts
•
Data research on the institutional background of Narino State

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Military Service in the German Air Force
07/1980 – 06/1982
Education
Free University of Berlin, Germany
02/2005 – 08/2005
Entrepreneurship in the Knowledge Society (Certificate Programme)
New York University, New York, USA
10/1996 – 11/1999
Organizational Development and Training (Certificate Programme)
Free University of Berlin, Germany
10/1984 – 02/1989
Sociology (Master of Arts)
Minor in Political Sciences, Ethnology, and Psychology
University of Belém, Brazil
09/1986 – 04/1987
Sociology (regular class examinations)
University of Hannover, Germany
10/1982 – 10/1984
Sociology and Political Science (intermediate examination)
Professional memberships
HCI:
Human Capital Institute (http://www.humancapitalinstitute.org)
SSIP: Society for the Study of International Problems, Saarbrücken/Germany
TRANSFER: Service Center for International Contacts of Children and Youth, Köln, Germany
eLearning Forum: Professional Community of Practice (http://www.elearningforum.com)
e-learning CONSORTIUM: Professional Community organized by the Masie Center, USA
IKIB: Intercultural Communication for an International Berlin, Berlin, Germany
ASTD: America Society for Training and Development, Alexandria, USA
Languages
German:
English:
Portuguese:
Spanish:
French:
mother tongue
read, write, speak and understand easily
read, write, speak and understand easily
read, write, speak and understand easily
read, write, speak and understand (Working Knowledge)

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References
Johan van de Gronden, Director
WWF The Netherlands
Driebergeseweg 10
3708 JB Zeist, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 30 693 7341
e-mail: jgronden@wwf.nl
Kristiane Golze, Chief Human Resources Section
ICC The Hague
Maanweg, 174
2516 AB, The Hague, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 70 515 9669
e-mail: kristiane.golze@icc-cpi.int
Maria Hutchinson, Chief, Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development Section
United Nations Secretariat
380 Madison Avenue R: 14031
New York, NY 10017
tel: +1 917 3673494
e-mail: hutchinsonm@un.org
Thomas Neufing, Chief, Staff Development and Learning Section (SDLS)
United Nations Office at Geneva
Palais des Nations, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix
CH-1211 Geneva 10
tel: +41 22 917 34 88
e-mail: tneufing@unog.ch
More references available on demand.
Gunnar Brückner, Berlin in June 2012