Dalmer D. Hoskins

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Dalmer Hoskins was elected as Secretary General of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) in May 1990 and has been reconfirmed in this post at successive General Assemblies of the Association; the current mandate extends until the end of 2004.   

The International Social Security Association, which enjoys a close relationship with the International Labour Office, brings together the government departments, public and private institutions responsible for administering statutory social security programmes throughout the world.  The ISSA serves as an international clearinghouse for information on all aspects of social security policy and assists its member organizations in their efforts to improve their administrative and policy-making capacities.  The membership currently comprises over 400 institutions in 145 countries.

Before assuming the post of Secretary General at the ISSA headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Dalmer Hoskins occupied a series of posts in the US Government, primarily in the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including:  Director of Office of Policy Development (SSA) 1987-1990; Director of Office of Public Trustees of Social Security and Medicare (1987-1990); Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Legislation (HHS) 1986-1987; Fellow of the Employees Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) 1985-86; Director Office of International Policy (SSA) 1983-1985.

Before returning to Washington D.C. in 1983, Dalmer Hoskins occupied a series of posts within the ISSA Secretariat, including Chief of Research and Documentation 1981-1983 and Chief of Regional Activities 1979-1981.  During this period, he was frequently called upon to join ILO expert missions in Africa and Asia dealing with social protection questions.

CURRENT INTERESTS:  

During Dalmer Hoskins’ tenure as Secretary General, the ISSA membership has grown to include virtually all countries providing social security protection around the world.  Regular budgetary resources have increased significantly and extra-budgetary funding has grown from a modest start to over $2,000,000 annually.  The growth in resources and activity level of the Association reflects the shift of the Association, from being essentially a provider of technical services to its members to a worldwide centre for dialogue on social protection policies.  As Secretary General, he is currently spearheading a new Initiative, supported by a wide spectrum of governments, private sector organisations and NGOs to strengthen the social component of national development goals.

Dalmer Hoskins is a frequent speaker at international conferences dealing with social protection, labour market trends, gender issues and the demographic ageing of the population in industrialised and developing countries. He has served as a board member and advisor for the International Council of Social Welfare, Rehabilitation International, the UN International Institute on Aging, HelpAge International and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Social Law.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Hoskins received his principal degrees from universities in the United States, notably from the University of Michigan where he did both his master’s and doctoral studies in political science.  He also studied at the University of Tokyo and the Sorbonne in Paris.