Vladimir CUK

Dr. Vladimir Cuk has 23 years of a progressive and diverse career in implementing the rights of persons with disabilities, and promoting disability inclusive international development, as well as a personal experience of disability. Vladimir started his career in war-torn Yugoslavia by establishing a grassroot organization of people with disabilities and thus, held a senior national level representative role for four years. He continued his career in academia at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the standing cochair of the GLAD donor coordination mechanism, a cohost of the Global Disability Summit mechanism and a cochair of the WeThe15 campaign. Furthermore, he holds numerous advisory and board appointments within the UN system and has extensive knowledge and experience with the UN system, funds, and programs. Finally, he holds the position of Adjunct Professor in Disability Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Vladimir received his PhD from UIC. Vladimir lives in Madrid with his wife and daughter.