Kao Kim Hourn CM (Khmer: កៅ គឹមហួន, romanized: Kau Kœ̆m Huŏn [kaw kɨm huən]; born 28 May 1966) is the current Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

[2] After being educated in the United States, Kao returned to Cambodia in 1993, and has been involved in Cambodian public service and think tanks.

[9] In 2014, Kao founded the Techo Sen School of Government and International Relations at The University of Cambodia, providing training for administrators, policy makers, and young leaders.

In 2018, He also founded the School of Foreign Languages, which offers full degrees in English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and French and provides short courses in Thai and German.

[17] In June 2023, Kao was conferred an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Political Science from Busan University of Foreign Studies, South Korea.

[18] He was also conferred the honorary title of Guest Professor by Zhengzhou University in recognition of his achievements in the field of political science and international affairs in October 2023.

[6] During his time as director, he developed the Cambodia Public Accountability and Transparency project (CPAT) with funding support from the Asia Foundation.

His time at CICP also involved significant interactions with the Royal Government of Cambodia, as an advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

[26] Kao served as Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Royal Government of Cambodia from 1996 to 1998, and again from 2001 to 2004 with the rank of Undersecretary of State.

[28] Kao was inspired to create a Cambodian higher education institution modeled in a similar way to the United States that focuses on developing students' critical thinking and problem solving skills.

[32] Kao is also the Secretary General of the Asian Faiths Development Dialogue (AFDD), which was founded by Dr. Haruhisa Handa in December 2006.

[33] During his tenure as Secretary of State, Kao worked extensively with ASEAN, developing relationships and managing Cambodia's participation in the organization's many mechanisms.

[39] On 9 January 2023, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn officially assumed the position of ASEAN Secretary-General,[40] during a ceremony presided over by Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.