Since 2019, Ambassador Emilio Izquierdo has been the Chairperson-Rapporteur of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights.

A career diplomat, Ambassador Emilio Izquierdo joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador in 1972. He was appointed Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2019. Previously, Ambassador Izquierdo has been President of the Geneva-based United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction's Support Group. He was Ambassador of Ecuador in Uruguay and Permanent Representative to ALADI (2011-2016), and Ambassador in Italy and concurrent Ambassador to Turkey and Slovenia, and Permanent Representative to FAO, WFP, IFAD, IILA, ICCROM, IDLO (2003-2007).

Ambassador Izquierdo was Deputy Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and held posts at the Ecuadorian embassies in the United Kingdom and United States. At the Ministry's Headquarters in Quito, Ambassador Izquierdo served as Undersecretary for Multilateral Relations and Director General of the Diplomatic Academy, among other responsibilities.

Ambassador Izquierdo has a JD Doctoral degree from the Catholic University of Ecuador, in addition to Diplomas on Public and Private International Law by the Hispanic Culture Institute (Madrid); on International Policy by the Foundation for International Studies and Research (Florence), and on Conflict Resolution by the University of Uppsala. His academic experience includes contributions as a lecturer on International Public Law, History of International Relations, International Humanitarian Law, International Organizations, Literature and History of Music.