Prior to his position as Department Director, Mr. Petersen served as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations from 2013 to 2019, during which he held several important duties. Most notably, Mr. Petersen has served on the Executive Boards of the United Nations Development Programme, including as President of the Joint UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board in 2017, and most recently as Special Envoy for ICPD25 and the Nairobi Summit as well as Special Envoy for Conflict and Fragility.

Mr. Petersen started his career with the Danish Ministry in 1985. During his service, he held positions including State Secretary of Development Cooperation, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the United Nations from 2007 to 2009 and State Secretary for Development Policy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2013. During this time, Mr. Petersen led the development of new strategies for Danish development cooperation, strengthened results-based management and successfully implemented development campaigns and initiatives to support economic growth in Africa, and to support women's rights and empowerment, including through the “MDG3 Global Call to Action” campaign. Working for women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights has been a central element of Mr. Petersen’s professional life.

Mr. Petersen holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Aarhus.