On April 30, 2024, the Administrative Council of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) elected Martina Polasek as ICSID's new Secretary-General. Her term begins today, July 1, 2024, succeeding Meg Kinnear.
Ms. Polasek, a dual Czech and Swedish national, has more than 25 years of experience in investor-State dispute settlement. She is recognized by States, arbitrators, practitioners and academics for her expertise in investment law and procedure.
Ms. Polasek joined ICSID in 2001 as legal counsel, where she acted as Secretary to numerous tribunals and ad hoc Committees. She was promoted to senior counsel in 2009, and to senior counsel/Team Leader in 2012, where her work included supervising ICSID counsel, paralegals and other staff, working on institutional projects, providing technical assistance on the ICSID process, and acting as Secretary to tribunals and ad hoc Committees.
In 2016, Ms. Polasek was elected Deputy Secretary-General of ICSID. In that capacity she has advised the Secretary-General on the development of long-term strategies for the Centre, strengthening relationships with member States and the private sector, and increasing the visibility of ICSID both within the World Bank and beyond. She took a lead role in the development and implementation of the ICSID Rules amendment of July 2022, and was the primary author of an extensive paper on the ICSID annulment mechanism.
She has also represented ICSID before international organizations, State delegations, judges, and the private sector, has spoken at major conferences, and has authored papers on ICSID procedure and jurisprudence.
Prior to joining ICSID, Ms. Polasek worked with the law firms of Jeantet & Associés in Paris and White & Case LLP in Prague, focusing on international arbitration and international law.
Ms. Polasek holds degrees from George Washington University Law School (LL.M), University of Paris V Descartes (D.E.S.S.) and University of Gothenburg (Master of Laws).
She is admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia, United States.
She is fluent in Czech, English, French and Swedish.