MFA Press Statement: Appointment of Singapore’s Ambassador to the Holy See

The Government has appointed Mr Barry Desker as Singapore's next Ambassador to the Holy See. He will be resident in Singapore.

Mr Desker is currently the Dean of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, and concurrently the Director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. He served as Singapore's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1982 to 1984 and was the Ambassador to Indonesia from 1986 to 1993. He was the Chief Executive Officer of the Trade Development Board from 1994 to 2000.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
29 AUGUST 2007
SINGAPORE
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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY

Ambassador Barry Desker is currently the Dean of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, and concurrently the Director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.

Ambassador Desker was born on 29 March 1947 in Singapore. A President's Scholar who attended St Patrick's School, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) from the University of Singapore in 1970 and obtained a Master of Arts from the University of London, United Kingdom in 1973.

Ambassador Desker joined the Foreign Service in 1970. He served as Singapore's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1982 to 1984 and was the Ambassador to Indonesia from 1986 to 1993. He was the Chief Executive Officer of the Trade Development Board from 1994 to 2000.

Ambassador Desker is also concurrently the Chairman of the Singapore International Foundation, Jurong Port Pte Ltd and Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd. He is also a Director of Cordell Hull Institute (Washington DC), Member of the Trilateral Commission, Member of the Board of Governors of the SAFTI Military Institute, Honorary Adviser of the UN Association of Singapore and Vice-Chairman of the Singapore Business Federation and Chairman of its International Relations Committee. He was elected to the Executive Board of the International Chamber of Commerce (Paris) for the period 2006 to 2008. From 2001 to 2003, he served as the Co-Chair, Council on Security Co-operation in the Asia-Pacific (CSCAP).

Ambassador Desker was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 1992.

Ambassador Desker is married to Peggy Ann Rozario and they have two children.
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