Board of Governors

We report to a Board of Governors that reflects the cultural diversity of our organisation. Our Governors are picked by ASEM partners, and they hold office for three years. Many of our Governors are currently in ambassadorial positions; also on the Board are individuals with a wealth of experience in the areas of policy-making and education.

The Board meets three times in two years. It reviews our strategy and policies to ensure that we are keeping with the ASEM's principles and priorities. The Board also oversees our finances and budgeting, and this includes granting approval for our projects and programmes.

The Board elects a new Chairman and Deputy Chairman every year. To ensure fair representation, if the Chairman is a European, the Deputy Chairman will be an Asian, and vice-versa. The Board is also responsible for appointing our Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director.

CHAIRMAN 2012: Ambassador Soemadi Brotodiningrat (Indonesia)

VICE-CHAIRMAN 2012: Ambassador Roland Van Remoortele (Belgium)

Board of Governors 2012

Ambassador Nyan Lynn

Governor for ASEAN

The biography of Ambassador Nyan Lynn will be available soon.
Ms Julie Heckscher

Governor for Australia

Julie Heckscher took up the position of Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian High Commission in Singapore in September 2010.

Ms Heckscher was most recently Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian High Commission in Ottawa. Prior to this, Ms Heckscher was Director of the Administrative and Domestic Law Section (2007-2010), Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Moscow (2006-2007), Director of the Climate Change Section (2001-2004), and Second Secretary at the Australian Embassy in Moscow (1998-2001). Ms Heckscher joined DFAT in 1995 after working for some years as a commercial lawyer in private practice.

Ms Heckscher holds a Bachelor's Degree in Arts and Law (Honours) from the University of Tasmania, a Master's Degree in Arts (International Relations) from Monash University, and is undertaking an Executive Master's Degree in Public Administration through the Australian and New Zealand School of Government.

Ms Heckscher is married with one daughter.

[Last updated: 04/11/2011]
Ambassador Dr Martin Eichtinger

Governor for Austria

Ambassador Martin Eichtinger currently serves as the Director General for Cultural Policy at the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, Vienna, Austria.

Ambassador Eichtinger graduated from the University of Graz, Austria, as Juris Doctor in 1983. He also obtained a Diploma in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University’s Bologna Center in Italy in 1985.

He entered the Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1986 and has served at various positions since then. He was Personal Secretary of the Minister in the Cabinet of Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Alois Mock between 1988 and 1992.

Between 1992 and 1999, Ambassador Eichtinger served as Director of the Austrian Press & Information Service and Press Counsellor at the Embassy of Austria in Washington, D. C.

From 1999 to 2002, he held the position of Director for International Relations at the Federation of Austrian Industry. During this period, he was also appointed Chief of Staff of Dr Maria Schaumayer, Special Representative of the Austrian Federal Government for Slave and Forced Labour Related Issues at the Federal Chancellery.

Between 2003 and 2007, he served in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour, first as Chief of Staff to the Cabinet of the Federal Minister and later as Secretary General.

He was Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Romania and the Republic of Moldova between 2007 and 2010.

[Last updated 15/06/2011]
Ambassador Roland Van Remoortele

Governor for Belgium

Ambassador Van Remoortele is currently the Ambassador of Belgium to Singapore.

Before this, he held the posts of Director of Personnel, Inspector-General of Diplomatic and Consular Posts, and Director of European Affairs in the Belgian Foreign Ministry. He was also Ambassador to Malaysia and the Philippines, and has taken on embassy postings in Beijing and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ambassador Van Remoortele has been awarded the Knight in the Order of the Crown of Belgium. He obtained his Master’s degree from Ghent University, Belgium.

[Last updated: 15/04/09]
Ambassador Pengiran Dato Yunus Mahmud

Governor for Brunei Darussalam

Ambassador Pengiran Yunus is currently the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

His career with the Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs began in 1981 with a training stint at Japan's Foreign Service Institute. Subsequently, he was appointed Second Secretary at the Brunei High Commission in Singapore and Private Secretary to the Bruneian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Previously, Ambassador Pengiran Yunus's was First Secretary at the Brunei High Commission in London and Deputy Director of the ASEAN Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has also been based in Jordan, Cambodia, Greece, Ireland, and Belgium, and has served as High Comissioner to the UK and Nordic Countries.

Having studied Humanities for his Bachelor’s degree in the UK, he later pursued his Master's degree in International Relations at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the US.

[Last updated: 17/11/08]
Ambassador Ivan Dimitrov

Governor for Bulgaria

Mr Ivan Dimotrov is currently a senior diplomatic officer at the Asia, Australia and Oceania Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. He has served as a diplomat at the Bulgarian embassies in India (1979-1983), China (1988-1992), Japan (1994-1997 and 1998-2002), Director for Asia, Australia and Oceania (2004-2005), Consul General of Bulgaria in Shanghai (2005-2010). Since 2005, he is holding the diplomatic rank of Ambassador.

[Last updated: 09/05/2012]
Ms Tuot Panha

Governor for Cambodia

Ms Tuot is the Undersecretary of State for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation.

She has taken on various postings at the Ministry, including the Deputy Bureau Chief of UN and International Organisations, Deputy Director of the Cabinet, and Director of the International Cooperation Department.

Ms Tuot has also been based in Bangkok, first as Second Secretary at the Cambodian Embassy, then as Minister Counselor/Deputy Permanent Representative of Cambodia to UNESCAP.

She received her Master's degree in International Relations from the Diplomatic Academy in Moscow.

[Last updated: 15/04/09]
Ambassador Lϋ Yongshou

Governor for China

Ambassador Lϋ has been a Commissioner of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission since 2005.

Before assuming his current post, Ambassador Lϋ was Second and First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and the Permanent Representative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Previously, he was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Ghana. He has also worked in the Department of International Organizations and Conferences at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and served as the Attaché of the Embassy of China in the Republic of Liberia.

Ambassador Lϋ pursued his studies at the Department of Foreign Languages of Shandong University and the Beijing Foreign Studies University.

[Last updated: 17/11/08]
High Commissioner Maria Michail

Governor for Cyprus

Mrs Maria Michail was born in Nicosia, Cyprus on October 14, 1973. She graduated from the University of Leicester, UK in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and obtained a Master of Arts in European Studies from the University of Surrey, UK in 1995.

She joined the Diplomatic Service in 1997.

After three years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nicosia, where she served consecutively in the Protocol and Consular Affairs Division, and the Cyprus Problem/Political Affairs Division, she was posted at the Embassy of Cyprus in Washington D.C. in 2000.

In 2003 she was appointed Deputy High Commissioner in London, and between 2006 and 2007 served at the Foreign Minister's Cabinet.

In 2008 she served as Deputy Director of the Cyprus Problem Division and since January 2009, she has been posted as Deputy Permanent Representative at the Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations in Geneva.

She is fluent in Greek and English and able to communicate in Spanish and French.

Maria Michail is married to Vladimir Glukhodid.

[Last updated: 03/05/2012]
Ambassador Jan Füry

Governor for Czech Republic

Ambassador Füry is the Director of the Asia-Pacific Department of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He began his career at the Czechoslovak Press Agency and also worked as an interpreter before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his time there, he has been appointed as China Desk Officer and Acting Consul General in Shanghai. Additionally, he was Head of the Far East Unit at the ministry and later Consul General of the Czech Republic to Hong Kong SAR.

A graduate of the Prague Diplomatic Academy, he also studied Oriental and Chinese Studies and Chinese Modern History at Charles University in Prague.

[Last updated: 17/11/08]
Ambassador Prof. Jørgen Ørstrøm Møller

Governor for Denmark

Ambassador Møller is a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of South-east Asian Studies, Singapore. He is also the former Ambassador to Singapore and Brunei.

He joined the Royal Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1968, and is well-versed in European community issues, having served as a national expert on EC co-operation for more than a decade.

Ambassador Møller is widely published, with 27 books to his credit, including Future of the European Community -- Implications for ASEAN and Thailand (1989) and The Future European Model (1995). He has also contributed articles to many magazines and journals including The Futurist, Strategic Review, and the Revue du Marché Commun.

[Last updated: 15/04/09]
Prof Rein Raud

Governor for Estonia

The biography of Governor Rein Raud will be available shortly.
Ambassador Karel Kovanda

Governor for European Union

Ambassador Kovanda served as Deputy Director General of External Relations in the European Commission from 2005-2010, when he retired from the European Union. His areas of responsibility included the European Common Foreign and Security Policy; multilateral relations and human rights; and relations with Japan and Korea, Australia and New Zealand, North America, and other developed countries.

Ambassador Kovanda simultaneously served as the Commission's Political Director, both bilaterally and in the G8 context. In this role he was frequently involved in discussions with Asian countries, including China, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

Prior to joining the European Commission, Ambassador Kovanda was a senior diplomat in the Czech Foreign Service. He served as his country's ambassador to NATO and the UN, including heading the Czech Delegation during its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

In the late 1970s, he spent two years in China working for Radio Beijing.

Ambassador Kovanda holds an undergraduate degree from the Prague School of Agriculture, a PhD in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Pepperdine University in California. He is fluent in Czech, English, Spanish, and French, and speaks Russian and German at a conversational level.

He is married to Noemi, a native of Slovakia, and they have three children. His interests include the theatre, reading, collecting stamps, and languages.

[Last updated: 01/02/2011]
Ms Eva Biaudet

Governor for Finland

Ms Biaudet recently ended her posting as OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings.

She was formerly Minister of Health and Social Services as well as Gender Issues, and a member of the Finnish parliament for 16 years. Apart from being a Fraction Leader for four years, she maintained her membership in committees such as Foreign Affairs, Finance, Tax, Education and Science, Social and Labour Affairs, Social Affairs and Health, and Equality.

As an MP, she served in various delegations of Finland such as the Nordic Council, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Conference of the Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region.

Prior to her political and diplomatic career, she pursued Law Studies at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

[Last updated: 12/4/2010]
Ambassador Claude Blanchemaison

Governor for France

Ambassador Claude BLANCHEMAISON has previously served as Ambassador of France to Spain (2005 - 2007), to Russia and Tajikistan (2000 - 2003), to India (1996 - 2000) and to Vietnam (1989 - 1993). He was the Secretary General of the French Presidency 2008 of the Council of the European Union in the Prime Minister Office.

He has held different positions at the Foreign Ministry: Director for Asia Pacific between 1993 and 1996, Director for Europe in 1993, Joint-Secretary for East Asia between 1987 and 1989. From 1982 to 1985, he was appointed the Deputy Secretary General for European Cooperation in the Prime Minister Office.

He served at the Permanent Representation of France to the European Union in Brussels between 1978 and 1982. Prior to that appointment, he had worked in the European Cooperation Department between 1973 and 1978.

Ambassador Blanchemaison has graduated from “Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales” (Business School – Paris) and from the Paris University.

[Last updated: 20 June 2011]
Prof Helmut Haussmann

Governor for Germany

Prof Haussmann is currently a member of the German Parliament and spokesman for European Politics of the Liberal Parliamentary Group. He is also Senior Vice President of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young GmbH.

Prof Haussmann was formerly the Federal Economic Minister of Germany. A member of the Bundestag since 1976, he has served on numerous committees dealing with foreign affairs, economics, EC policies, and security policies. He was also Secretary-General of the Free Democratic Party.  

He holds a doctorate in Business Management from Erlangen-Nuremberg University. He has also read economics and sociology in Tübingen and Hamburg. Since 1978, he has lectured at Erlangen-Nuremberg University, where he holds an honorary professorship in management, specialising in international management.

[Last updated: 31/11/2008]
Ambassador Dr Sotirios Mousouris

Governor for Greece

Ambassador Mousouris is currently the President of the Organization for the Construction of the New Acropolis Museum. He also holds the position of Ambassador-at-Large and Special Envoy of the Greek Government and is a governor of the Open University of Greece.

Ambassador Mousouris was previously the Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations. During his tenure, he served in numerous positions, including Director of the Centre Against Apartheid, Deputy Head of the Department of Political Affairs, and Personal Representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He was also formerly Deputy Governor of the Hellenic Industrial Bank, where he headed several bank-owned corporations and was on the Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.

Ambassador Mousouris received his degrees from the University of Athens and Boston University, and obtained his doctorate from Harvard Business School.

[Last updated: 15/04/09]
Ambassador Dr András Balogh

Governor for Hungary

Ambassador Balogh is currently the Chief Advisor on international strategy to the former Prime Minister of Hungary, as well as coordinator of the National Development Task Force of the Government of Hungary.

He is also Head of the Modern World History Department at the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and Vice-President of the Hungarian Foreign Political Society.

During his diplomatic career, Ambassador Balogh has been based in Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Maldives, and Afghanistan.

He earned his PhD in Development Studies at the Eötvös Loránd University and his D.Sc. in History at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He has written more than 150 studies and books on international relations and modern Asian history.

[Last updated: 22/09/10]
High Commissioner Dr T. C. A. Raghavan

Governor for India

Dr. Raghavan is presently the High Commissioner for India in Singapore.

He was previously the Joint Secretary of the Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran Division at the Ministry of External Affairs. He was also Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Within the Indian Foreign Ministry, Dr. Raghavan has served as Director of the Office of Minister for External Affairs and Director of the Finance Division. He has also worked with the Indian embassies in Kuwait and the UK.

He holds a PhD in Modern Indian History from Jawahar Lal Nehru University in New Delhi, India.

[Last updated: 15/11/09]
Ambassador Soemadi Brotodiningrat

Governor for Indonesia

Ambassador Brotodiningrat was Ambassador of Indonesia to the US, and prior to that he was Ambassador to Japan.

He has also served as Director General for Foreign Economic Relations with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Indonesia, and was Permanent Representative to the United Nations, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization, and other international organisations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Earlier in his career, Ambassador Brotodiningrat was Deputy Director for the Multilateral Economic Cooperation Directorate, and Minister Counsellor of the Indonesian Mission at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

He pursued his studies at the Institut International d’Administration Publique in Paris and also majored in International Relations at the Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

[Last updated: 31/09/2009]
Ambassador Joseph Hayes

Governor for Ireland

Ambassador Joseph Hayes joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland in 1972 and has been a career diplomat since then. He is currently Ambassador of Ireland to Singapore, and non-resident Ambassador to the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and Timor Leste. Prior to this post, Ambassador Hayes served in various Irish Missions abroad: He was Ambassador to Denmark (and also Iceland) from 2006 to 2010, Ambassador to the Czech Republic (and also to Ukraine) from 2001 to 2005, Ambassador to China (and also to Cambodia and Mongolia) from 1995 to 1999. He also served in the Irish Embassies in London as Counsellor from 1989 to 1994, in Moscow as First Secretary from 1982 to 1986, and in Bonn as Third and First Secretary from 1974 to 1978.

He has also served in a variety of posts at the Department's headquarters including in the Legal Division from 1978 to 1982, in the Political Division from 1986 to 1988, in the Press and Information Division from 1988 to 1989 and as the Assistant Secretary General responsible for Ireland's Asia Strategy from 1999 to 2001. He also served as Joint Secretary of the North South Ministerial Council based in Armagh, Northern Ireland from 2005 to 2006.

Ambassador Hayes is a graduate in History and Politics of University College Dublin and a Barrister at Law from the Kings Inns.

[Last updated: 14/11/2011]
Ambassador Dr Anacleto Felicani

Governor for Italy

Ambassador Felicani has been Ambassador of Italy to both Singapore and Brunei since January 2010.

Prior to this, he was Coordinator for ASEAN and Asian multilateral affairs at Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Felicani's experience also includes appointments as Ambassador to Malaysia and Oman, Directorate General for Political Affairs of the Head of the NATO Desk, Deputy Chairman of the Italian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and Counsellor to both the Italian Permanent Mission to NATO and the Italian Embassy in Caracas.

In 1970, he obtained his doctorate in Law from the University of Rome.

[Last updated: 15/02/2009]
Ambassador Nobutake Odano

Governor for Japan

H.E. Ambassador Nobutake ODANO was the Head of Mission of Japan to the European Union from 2008 to May, 2011. He has promoted closer and more comprehensive cooperation between Japan and the EU. Some examples are conclusion of Science and Technology Agreement and Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. He is now Inspector-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo, Japan.

He is a career diplomat and his background encompasses a broad range of issues, for example, European and Asian affairs, trade negotiations, OECD activities and development issues. His assignments in Tokyo include Ambassador in charge of the African Development Conference (TICAD IV), Chief of Protocol and Managing-Director of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. His overseas assignments include Ambassador to Myanmar, Consul-General in Sydney, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy in Seoul, Republic of Korea. He has also served at the Embassies in London and Bonn and at the Japanese Mission to the United Nations, New York. He was a visiting Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House, Royal Institute of International Affairs, UK.

[Last updated: 08/09/2011]
Ambassador Kim Sam-hoon

Governor for Korea

Ambassador Kim has served as the Permanent Representative (Ambassador) of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada and to the Federative Republic of Brazil.

He was the Deputy Minister for International Organizations and Policy Planning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Seoul. He was also appointed as the Special Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the North Korean Nuclear Issue.

Following this, Ambassador Kim acted as the Deputy Permanent Representative (Ambassador) to the UN and International Organizations in Geneva. In that capacity, he attended the Uruguay Round Trade Negotiations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (World Trade Organization).

Among Ambassador Kim's previous responsibilities: he was Director-General for International Affairs of the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee, and he participated in preliminary talks for the first High Level South-North Korean dialogue in 1990 as a member of the South Korean delegation.

In his work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Kim has held a number of positions, including Political Counsellor at the Korean Embassy in the US; Counsellor at the Korean Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; First Secretary at the Korean Embassy in the US; and Consul at the Korean Consulate General in Chicago, US.

Ambassador Kim holds his country's Order of Civil Service Merit (Green Stripes) and Sport Merit Medal of Honour as well as the Ordem Nacional do Cruzeiro do Sul of Brazil. A graduate of the College of Law, Seoul National University, he is married with a daughter and a son.

[Last updated: 15/04/2009]
Mr Thongphane Savanphet

Governor for Laos

Mr Thongphane Savanphet has been the Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR since September 2011, after serving as the Deputy Director-General of the Department for nearly two years. Prior to this appointment, he had served at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. He held the position of the Assistant Director/Head of ASEAN Political Cooperation Division from 2009 to 2010; ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and Republic of Korea) Unit between 2007 and 2009; Senior Officer of ASEAN Plus Three Unit between 2003 and 2006 and Social Development Unit between 2002 and 2003.

From 1996 to 2002, Mr Savanphet served at different positions at the ASEAN Political and Security Cooperation Division, ASEAN Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affair of the Lao PDR. He was the Third Secretary at the Lao Embassy in Canberra, Australia between 1993 and 1996.

Mr Savanphet joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1989. He holds two M.A. degrees: M.A. in International Law from Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University), Moscow, Russia and M.A. in Diplomatic Studies from the Leicester University, Leicester, United Kingdom.

[Last updated: 12/12/2011]
Mrs Daiga Upeniece

Governor for Latvia

Head of Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. Riga, Latvia.

Ms Daiga Upeniece started her career at the Foreign Art Museum of Latvia in 1981, and became the Curator of Graphic and Head of Graphic Department of the Foreign Art Museum in 1985. In 1995, Ms Upeniece was appointed the Director of the Foreign Art Museum. After the merge of Riga’s leading art museum into united institution in 2010, she became the Head of Art Museum RIGA BOURSE and Head of Foreign Art Department of Latvian National Museum of Art.

Ms Daiga Upeniece has been involved in various art projects and important curated exhibitions, including conceptions and organisation of cultural weeks in cooperation with the various Embassies in Asia: she organized art projects in Indonesia (2009, 2001), Japan (2012, 2011), China (2011), South Korea (2011) the Philippines (2011) and Pakistan (2012). Ms Upeniece has also published extensively on art (books, catalogues of exhibitions).

Ms Upeniece has been honoured several awards, including the Diploma from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia in 2012, L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from France in 2008, L’Ordre de Leopold II from Belgium in 2007 and Order of Three Stars from Latvia in 2007. She received her Master’s degree from the Latvian Art Academy in 2001 and she commenced her doctoral studies at the Latvian Art Academy in 2009.

[Last updated: 11/04/2012]
Ambassador Dainius Petras Kamaitis

Governor for Lithuania

Governor Kamaitis is Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. In 2006-2011, he has been the Lithuanian Ambassador in Japan, concurrently accredited to the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

His diplomatic career began in 1992 in the Asia, Africa and Pacific Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. He has since held various positions at the ministry, including head of Asia, Africa and the Pacific and North Europe divisions, and was the first Lithuanian diplomat posted in Japan, serving as Charge d’Affairs ad interim from 1998-2002.

Born in 1965 in Kaunas, Lithuania, Ambassador Kamaitis graduated with a degree in Architecture from the Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute, and is fluent in Japanese, English, and Russian. In 2003, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross, Order of Merit to Lithuania.

He joined the ASEF's Executive Committee in December 2010 during the 25th Board of Governors Meeting held in Luang Prabang, Laos.

[Last updated: 14/10/2011]
Dr Jacques F. Poos

Governor for Luxembourg

Jacques Poos was appointed as adviser to the Ministry of Economy in 1959, he worked as a researcher at the Service for Economic and Statistical Studies (STATEC) from 1962 to 1964. His first public office was as member of the Economic and Social Council, in which he held a held a scat in the ranks of the trade-unions delegation, since the establishment of the Council in 1966 until 1972. From 1969 to 1976, he was elected member of the Town Council of the City of Esch-sur-Alzette. In 1974 he won a seat in Parliament and in 1975 became chairman of the Socialist Parliamentary Group (POSL). In July 1976, he was appointed Minister of Finance and National Planning in the Cabinet of Gaston Thorn. As Minister of Finance, Jacques Poos was the instigator of the Societe Nationale de Credit et d’Investissement (SNCI), and one of the architects of the Luxembourgish crisis management model in the steel industry. At European level, he took part in the negotiations of the European Monetary System (EMS), which was launched on 13 March 1979. Following the 1979 elections, Jacques Poos resumed work in the private sector while remaining a Member of Parliament. He was first Executive Director of the Banque Continentale, and then of the Banque Paribas (Luxembourg) S.A. from 1980 to 1984.

From 1984, he continuously acted as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development, with varying additional portefolios in the different governments. From 1984 to 1989, he was Minister for the Treasury and Minister for Economy, and from 1989 to 1994 Minister for the Armed Forces. In his capacity as Foreign Minister, Jacques Poos was Luxembourg’s negotiator for major European Treaties. In the late 1990s he was, with his 15 years in office, the longest serving Foreign Minister in Europe. He was elected Member of the European Parliament in June 1999. He was also a full member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy and a substitute member of the Committee for Constitutional Affairs.

Since 2000 until 2004, Mr Poos was draftsman of the European Parliament for Cyprus’ accession to the EU. From 2000 to 2010, he was member of the board of the Banque BNP – Paribas (Luxembourg) S.A. In June 2006, he was appointed member of the council of the Luxembourg Central Bank (BCL). Since December 2008, he is an independent non-executive member of the board of Directors of Bank of China (Luxembourg) S.A.

[Last updated: 14/12/2011]
High Commissioner Dato' Md. Hussin Bin Nayan

Governor for Malaysia

Dato’ Md. Hussin bin Nayan started his diplomatic career with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia as Assistant Secretary at the South East Asia Division in 1976. He was assigned to various postings of the Malaysian Missions abroad, including the USA and Bangladesh. He was appointed Counsellor at the Embassy of Malaysia in Austria and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Vienna (UNOV) in 1989. In 1993, he was appointed Principal Assistant Secretary for Policy Planning at the MFA, and became the Under Secretary for International Organisations in 1996.

In 1998, Dato’ Md. Hussin bin Nayan was appointed as Ambassador of Malaysia to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2000, he was appointed Under Secretary for Territorial and Maritime Affairs. Three years later, he was appointed High Commissioner of Malaysia to Australia. He became the Director General of the Southeast Asia Regional Centre for Counter-Terrorism (SEARCCT) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2005.

In 2009, Dato’ Md. Hussin bin Nayan was appointed the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore. He was appointed the ASEF Governor for Malaysia in October 2011.

Dato’ Md. Hussin bin Nayan is married to Datin Jamaliah binti Hassan and has three grown-up children.

[Last updated: 15/11/2011]
Prof Henry Joseph Frendo

Governor for Malta

Prof Frendo is a Professor of History at the University of Malta, Director of the Institute of Maltese Studies, and Chairman of the Malta University Press.

He was earlier appointed as Programme Officer at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and continues to be the Chairman of the Refugee Appeals Board at the Maltese Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs.

After completing a BA and Master's degree at the University of Malta, he also attained a DPhil in History at Oxford University. He was a Producer-Presenter of the weekly interview programme Voice of the Mediterranean. He also worked at the Headquarters of the UN High Commission for Human Rights in Switzerland and was later posted as a Programme Officer in Eqypt, Mozambique, and Rhodesia-Zimbabwe, and subsequently became Head of Mission in Papua New Guinea.

Prof Frendo is Founder-President of the Maltese Historical Association of Australia, where he has held academic and consultancy positions for several years. He was also appointed the Mayor of Attard and Head of Delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

[Last updated: 17/11/08]
N.N.

Governor for Mongolia

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Ambassador U Tin Oo Lwin

Governor for Myanmar

Ambassador U Tin Oo Lwin is currently the Ambassador of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to Singapore. Prior to this position, Ambassador U Tin Oo Lwin served in various positions for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar. He was Ambassador to South Africa and to Sri Lanka. Before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2005, he served in the Defense Services from 1974 to 2005 in various capacities up to the rank of Brigadier-General.

Ambassador U Tin Oo Lwin has a B.Sc degree and an M.A. degree in Defence Studies. He has also received several titles and awards, including Naing Ngan Taw Sit Hmu Htan Tazeik, Pyi Thu Sit Taik Pwe Win Tazeik and Maing Yan/Methawaw Campaign Star.

Ambassador U Tin Oo Lwin is married with one daughter and two sons.

[Last updated: 13/12/2011]
High Commissioner Peter Hamilton

Governor for New Zealand

Higher Commissioner Peter Hamilton has been New Zealand High Commissioner to Singapore since September 2010. He is also accredited to the Republic of the Maldives.

Immediately prior to coming to Singapore, he was Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington with responsibility for New Zealand's relations with Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as the Ministry’s Human Resources and Organisational Planning and Performance.

He was New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Samoa from 1997 to 1999 and from 2003 to 2006 was Ambassador to Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Switzerland (and Poland, prior to it having a resident New Zealand ambassador in Warsaw in 2004).

After graduating from Auckland University in 1974, he spent a year on a DAAD study exchange at the University of Wuerzburg, Germany. He joined the then Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1977.

[Last updated 06/2011]
High Commissioner Syed Hasan Javed

Governor for Pakistan

Syed Hasan Javed was born on 9th December 1955. He holds Master’s Degree in Economics. In March 1979, he joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan and has since then become a career diplomat. He started at the Headquarters as Section Officer in 1980, and became Director from 1987 until 1991, and Director General from 1999 to 2001.

He has held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan’s Missions abroad, including in Beijing (1981 – 1987 and 2001 – 2003), Harare (1991 - 2001), Dushanbe (1994 – 1996) and Brussels (1996 – 1999). He also served as the High Commissioner for Pakistan to Mauritius from 2003 to 2007.

In February 2008, Syed Hasan Javed was appointed Additional Foreign Secretary at the Headquarters. In September 2011, he was appointed as the High Commissioner for Pakistan to Singapore and became the ASEF Governor for Pakistan.

[Last updated: 04/11/2011]
Ambassador Waldemar Dubaniowski

Governor for Poland

Ambassador Dubaniowski is currently the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Singapore, and a member of the Polish Olympic Committee.

He has worked in various positions in the Polish government, including Assistant to the Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Senior Specialist in the Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for European Integration and Foreign Assistance, Advisor to the Minister in the Economic Committee of Council of Ministers, Director of the Group of Cabinet of the President, and Chief of Chancellery of the President.

Aside from his government positions, he was a member of the National Broadcasting Council and worked as a consultant in media and telecommunications. He was also an advisor in the media department of the Capital group PSE S.A. before becoming Vice-President of Strategy and Marketing.

Ambassador Dubaniowski graduated from the Polish National School of Public Administration and did his postgraduate studies in Foreign Trade Economics at the Warsaw School of Economics. He also has a Master's degree in Social Science from the University of Warsaw.

[Last updated: 17/11/08]
Mr Afonso Henriques Abreu de Azeredo Malheiro

Governor for Portugal

The biography of Governor Afonso Henriques Abreu de Azeredo Malheiro will be available shortly.
Ambassador Gheorghe Magheru

Governor for Romania

Ambassador Magheru is the Director General for Bilateral Relations at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His previous appointments at the ministry include Director General for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America) and Director General for Relations with Central and South-East Europe and Regional Cooperation.

He has also represented Romania at the Council of Europe as the Deputy Permanent Representative, and was the Ambassador of Romania to the Council of Europe as well as Chairman of Ministers’ Deputies of the Committee of Ministers.

A graduate in Language and Literature from the University of Bucharest, Romania, Ambassador Magheru specialises in literary translations and publishes articles on modern history.

[Last updated: 15/04/09]
N.N.

Governor for Russian Federation

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Prof Leo Tan Wee Hin

Governor for Singapore

Prof Tan is the Chairman of the Pacific Science Association Committee on Science Communication and Education.  

He attained his Bachelor of Science (Hon.), Graduate Research, and PhD qualifications from the National University of Singapore (NUS). He has been a lecturer at the NUS and was Director of the National Institute of Education.

In the course of his career, he has also been the Chairman of the National Parks Board, the President of the Asian Scientific Academies & Societies, the Director and CEO of the Singapore Science Centre, and the Chairman of the National Youth Achievement Award Council.   

Prof Tan has received several Singapore National Day Awards for Public Service and Administration. He was also awarded the Green Leaf Environmental Award and the French National Order of Merit.

[Last updated: 15/04/09]
Mr Igor Otčenáš

Governor for Slovakia

Mr. Otčenáš is the Director of the Cultural Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

He was Director of the Slovak Institute in Prague and General Director of the International Relations Section at the Ministry of Culture. Prior to that, he was Cultural Attaché at the Slovakian Embassy in the US and Director of the Department of Art at the Ministry of Culture.

Mr. Otčenáš obtained his degree in Media Management at the University of Kentucky, and has also worked as a journalist, translator, writer, and manager.

[Last updated: 30/06/09]
Ambassador Helena Drnovsek Zorko

Governor for Slovenia

Ambassador Drnovšek-Zorko is the Head of Division for International Cultural Relations at the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prior to this appointment, she was the Ambassador to Ireland.

A graduate in History and English from the University of Ljubljana, Ambassador Drnovšek-Zorko began her career as a History teacher and later became an advisor for culture and information activities for the Slovenian Emigrants’ Society.

She joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Counsellor to the Minister in 1996. She was appointed as First Secretary and later as Counsellor at the Slovenian Embassy in Canberra.

[Last updated: 17/11/08]
Ambassador Juan Jose Herrera de la Muela

Governor for Spain

Ambassador Juan Jose Herrera is currently the Director General of Casa Asia. Prior to this position, he was Ambassador-at-large for the celebration of the “Spain-Russia Year 2011” between 2009 and 2011. Ambassador Herrera served in various positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain. He was Adviser of the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs on the Mediterranean Cultural Affairs from 2000 to 2003, Cultural, Science and Cooperation Adviser at the Embassy of Spain before the Russian Federation and countries of Central Asia from 1995 to 1999, Head of Area of the General Management of Cultural and Scientific Relations from 1992 to 1995, and Minister-Counsellor at the Spanish Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia from 1989 and 1992 when he joined the MFA.

Ambassador Herrera started his career as a translator (English, French and Italian) for diverse publishing houses, including Taurus, Anaya, Visor and Aguilar. From 2006 until 2009, he was editor and adviser of the Spanish publishing house Siglo XXI and was also founder and Director of the collection “Voces del Este”. He was Executive Director of Jeunesses Musicales World Orchestra from 2003 to 2006, and was briefly the General Deputy Director of Music and Dance of the National Institute of Stage Arts and Music (INAEM) from 1999 to 2000.

Ambassador Herrera received the Decoration Order of Isabella the Catholic in December 1999. He was educated in Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid and University Complutense of Madrid.

[Last updated: 13/12/2011]
Ambassador Olof Ehrenkrona

Governor for Sweden

Ambassador Ehrenkrona is currently Ambassador and Senior Advisor to the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Carl Bildt. In the Minister's office, he primarily deals with issues regarding globalisation.

He received his first public assignment in 1978, when he became advisor to the Minister for Economic Affairs. He was previously Head of Policy Planning in the Swedish Prime Minister's Office and served as CEO in a private consulting company.

Ambassador Ehrenkrona was also on the editorial team for the Svenska Dagbladet and has published a number of books about Swedish political and economic history. His academic subjects include History of Ideas and Learning, as well as Political Science and History.

[Last updated: 20/12/2010]
Ambassador Sawanit Kongsiri

Governor for Thailand

Ambassador Sawanit Kongsiri is the Assistant Secretary General for External Relations at the Thai Red Cross Society.

His career with the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs began in 1966. He has worked in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, and has held Director-General appointments at the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Economic Affairs, and the Department of Information.

Ambassador Sawanit was also appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Australia, China, and Vienna before becoming the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

[Last updated: 17/11/08]
Prof W.A.L. Stokhof

Governor for The Netherlands

Prof Stokhof was elected as Chairman of the Board in December 2010 during the ASEF’s 25th Board of Governors Meeting held in Luang Prabang, Laos. He also joined the ASEF's Executive Committee representing the Netherlands.

He is currently the Chair of Cultural and Societal Relations between Indonesia and the Netherlands at the Faculty of Arts, Leiden University. He was appointed Chairman of the Research School of Asian, African and Amerindian Studies, and was a member of the Advisory Committee for co-operation with Indonesia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands.

After completing his postgraduate studies in Linguistics, he went on to teach in a number of universities. He was also the Founding Director of the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World and the Director of the International Institute for Asian Studies.

He was born in 1941, is married, and enjoys semantics, descriptive linguistics, international relations, Asia and ASEM studies and antique Asian ceramics.

[Last updated: 23/12/10]
Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo

Governor for The Philippines

Ambassador Manalo is a member of the High Level Task Force for the ASEAN Human Rights Charter and the Chair of the European Studies Program in the Ateneo de Manila University.

She was previously a Presidential advisor and Special Envoy to Latin America. She was also appointed Undersecretary for International Economic Relations for the Department of Foreign Affairs and was variously the Ambassador to France, Portugal, Belgium & Luxembourg, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the European Economic Community. A Permanent Delegate of the Philippines to UNESCO, she was later appointed Chairwoman for of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines.

Ambassador Manalo has held the post of Chairwoman for the UN Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the UN Commission on the Status of Women. She has been lecturing at various universities in the Philippines for over 40 years.

She has two Master of Arts degrees, in International Studies & Diplomacy and Public Administration, and three Bachelor of Arts degrees in Foreign Service, Law, and Science in Jurisprudence.

[Last updated: 17/11/08]
High Commissioner Antony John Phillipson

Governor for United Kingdom

Mr Antony Phillipson was appointed British High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore in 2010. Prior to his current position, High Commissioner Phillipson worked in various positions for the UK’s Civil Service. He began his career in the Department of Trade and Industry in 1993. His posts included Private Secretary and then Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State. In 2000 he moved to the British Embassy in Washington DC, USA to serve as the First Secretary of Trade Policy and then as Counsellor (Global Issues) 2002-2004. In 2004, he was appointed Private Secretary to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 2007, he moved to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) where he was Head of the Iran Co-ordination Group in the Middle East and North Africa Directorate.

In July 2011, High Commissioner Phillipson succeeded Sir Timothy Lankester as the ASEF Governor for the UK.

High Commissioner Phillipson is married to Julie Phillipson and they have three young boys.

[Last updated on 26/07/11]
Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung

Governor for Vietnam

Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung has held various positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam. Prior to his appointment as ASEF Governor, he served as the Ambassador of Vietnam to Canada and Singapore.

He has also been assigned to the Permanent Mission of Vietnam in the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the Vietnam Embassy in Moscow. His other appointments include Deputy and Chief of Staff, Assistant Minister, and Director General of the Americas Department, and Assistant Minister and Chief of Advisory Board to the Ministerial Leadership.

From 2000-2002, he was the ASEM Senior Official Leader for ASEAN Vietnam.   Ambassador Nguyen is fluent in Vietnamese, English, and Russian, and holds a BA in Literature and English and an MA in International Law and Development.

[Last updated: 20/01/11]