H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Secretary-General

Speaker Bio

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn’s career has focused on strengthening Cambodia’s international relations particularly in ASEAN, driving policy advocacy and promoting research, education, and development. Dr. Kao has served as a two-term Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia since September 2013. He has authored dozens of books and articles about Cambodia and ASEAN.


Dr. Kao is a Member of the Supreme National Economic Council, a Senior Fellow at the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, and a Member of the Global Council of The Asia Society. He serves as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace and the Worldwide Support for Development. He also has acted as a Member of the Standing Committee of the Cambodian Red Cross.


With the mission of providing education to disadvantaged Cambodian youths, Dr. Kao established The University of Cambodia in 2003 and continued to serve as the university president until he stepped down in October 2022.


For his services to Cambodia, Dr. Kao has earned the Royal Order of Cambodia, the Royal Order of Sowathara, and The Grand Order of National Merit. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Ohio University in 2007 and an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in India in 2014.


Dr. Kao survived the Khmer Rouge genocide and moved to the United States at the age of 15. He returned to Cambodia in January 1993 to run a think-tank dedicated to ASEAN and international affairs and later joined the Royal Government of Cambodia where he had served, from August 2001 to August 2013, in a variety of capacities including a post as Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.


Dr. Kao completed Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies from Baylor University, Master of Arts in Political Science and Master of Arts in International Studies from Ohio University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.


He is married with two adult children who live in Phnom Penh.


 


 

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