Michel Kerf is the World Bank’s Country Director for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, based in Sydney, Australia. Michel Kerf oversees the World Bank’s regional portfolio of 55 projects across 12 countries worth over US$1 billion, supporting Pacific Island governments across a range of sectors, including information communications and technology, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, fisheries, aviation, education, health and infrastructure.

Michel Kerf brings more than 22 years of World Bank experience to the role, including four years as Transport Practice Manager for East Asia and Pacific Region. During his time in the region Mr. Kerf has been actively involved in transport and infrastructure project across the region, including road rehabilitations in Fiji, Kiribati, PNG and Samoa, and aviation works in Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu. Michel Kerf has held the roles of Sector Manager, Sustainable Development, for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands; Sector Leader for Sustainable Development in Peru and in Argentina; Infrastructure Policy Advisor in the Sustainable Development Department of the East Asia and Pacific Region; and Senior Private Sector Development Specialist in the Middle East and North Africa Region.

Michel, a Belgian national, graduated in Law from the University of Liège, Belgium, and obtained a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics. He has taught as Visiting Professor at the University of Liège and at the College of Europe in Bruges. He is also the author of several publications on subjects related to concessions, privatization, and competitiveness of infrastructure services.