Ryan Knox
Managing Director, SALAR International, Sweden
Ryan Knox is the Managing Director of SALAR International, the international cooperation cooperation agency of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), representing Sweden’s 290 municipalities and 21 regions. He leads the organisation’s international work to strengthen local governance, sustainable urban development and public service delivery.
He is a member of the core team of Team Sweden Smart Cities, a Swedish government-backed initiative bringing together public institutions, businesses and other partners to promote innovative, sustainable and inclusive urban development internationally. His current work includes mobilising Swedish municipal expertise and strengthening international partnerships, including through the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative.
Ryan has over 25 years of international experience in local governance and urban development, including senior positions with the United Nations and European Union. Before his current appointment, he served as Head of Country Programme for UN-Habitat in Syria (2020–2022), leading work on urban recovery, housing, municipal services and resilience in conflict-affected cities. He also worked with UN-Habitat on Ukraine’s recovery and previously managed the European Union’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon.
His earlier experience includes working in India as Country Representative for Verulam Associates (2004–2005), where he supported institutional capacity assessments under the Kolkata Urban Services for the Poor programme, working with 40 urban local bodies and six state agencies to strengthen urban governance and service delivery.
Ryan holds an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London, and a BSc in Geography from the University of Birmingham. He has also completed an Executive Leadership Diploma at the Stockholm School of Economics.