Appointment of Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Non-Resident Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, and Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Panama

The Government has appointed Mr Kamal R Vaswani as Singapore’s next Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Mr Simon Tay Seong Chee as Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, and Mr Chua Kee Lock as Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba and the Republic of Panama.
 
Mr Vaswani joined the Singapore Foreign Service in 1995, covering Southeast Asia and Europe.  From 2015 to 2019, he was Director-General of the Europe Directorate, and concurrently Vice Dean (Academic) of the MFA Diplomatic Academy. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Director-General of the Southeast Asia I Directorate.  Mr Vaswani was Deputy Permanent Representative in the Singapore Permanent Mission to ASEAN from 2008 to 2009, Counsellor (Political) in the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta from 2004 to 2008, and First Secretary (Political) in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur from 1998 to 2002.
 
Mr Vaswani graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1995. In 2003, he obtained a Masters in International Public Policy from the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, United States of America, under a Singapore Government Scholarship.
 
Mr Tay is Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore. He is concurrently Senior Consultant with Wong Partnership and holds independent non-executive directorships in several companies such as Far East Organisation, Hyflux Limited, and LGT Bank (Singapore) Limited.
 
Mr Tay graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Laws in 1986. In 1994, he obtained a Masters in Laws from Harvard University, United States of America.
 
Mr Chua is Group President and CEO of Vertex Venture Holdings, Managing Partner of Vertex Ventures SEA & India, and Chairman of Vertex Growth. He holds directorships in several companies including listed companies such as Chipscreen Biosciences and Yongmao Holdings.
 
Mr Chua graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1984. In 1987, he obtained a Master of Science in Engineering from Stanford University, United States of America.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
23 JANUARY 2020

Mr Kamal R Vaswani will be appointed as Singapore’s next Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Vaswani was most recently Director-General of the Europe Directorate and concurrently Vice Dean (Academic) of the Diplomatic Academy from 2015 to 2019.

Mr Vaswani joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995. His first overseas assignment was as First Secretary at the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur from 1998 to 2002. Mr Vaswani was subsequently posted as Counsellor in the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta from 2004 to 2008, and Deputy Permanent Representative in the Singapore Permanent Mission to ASEAN from 2008 to 2009. At the Ministry’s headquarters, Mr Vaswani has served as Assistant Director, Deputy Director, and Deputy Director-General in the Southeast Asia Directorate.

Mr Vaswani graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) in 1995. He obtained a Masters in International Public Policy from the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University in 2003, on a Singapore Government Scholarship.

Mr Vaswani was awarded the Commendation Medal in 2005. He is married to Ms Amanda Douglas and they have a daughter.

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January 2020

Photo credit: Ministry of Communications and Information

Mr Simon S.C. Tay is Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore. He is concurrently Senior Consultant with Wong Partnership, a leading law firm in Singapore with practices in ASEAN, China and in the Middle East.

Mr Tay holds independent non-executive directorships in several major companies including Far East Organisation, Hyflux Limited, and LGT Bank (Singapore) Limited. He previously served on global advisory boards for Toyota and MUFG of Japan, and as corporate advisor to Temasek Holdings.

Mr Tay was a Nominated Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2001 and Chairman of the National Environment Agency from 2002 to 2008. Earlier, from 1990 to 1993, he helped start the Singapore International Foundation and directed the Singapore Volunteers Overseas. He received the Public Service Medal in 2006.

Mr Tay graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the National University of Singapore in 1986 and obtained a Masters in Laws from Harvard University in 1994. He has also taught as a visiting professor at Harvard, Yale and the Fletcher School.

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December 2019

Photo credit: Ministry of Communications and Information

Mr Chua Kee Lock is CEO of Vertex Venture Holdings, Managing Partner of Vertex Ventures SEA & India, and Chairman of Vertex Growth.

Mr Chua holds directorships in several companies including listed companies such as Chipscreen Biosciences and Yongmao Holdings.

Prior to Vertex, Mr Chua served as the President and Executive Director of Biosensors, Managing Director at Walden International, as well as in various capacities within the NatSteel Group.

Mr Chua graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and from Stanford University with a Masters of Science in Engineering.

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December 2019

Photo credit: Ministry of Communications and Information