MFA Press Statement: Appointment of Singapore's First Non-resident Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union

The Government has appointed Mr Vanu Gopala Menon as Singapore’s first Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union.  He will be resident in Singapore and continue to hold his current appointment as Deputy Secretary (Southeast Asia and International Organisations) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore (MFA).

Mr Menon has had a distinguished career in the Singapore Foreign Service since joining in June 1985. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Secretary in MFA, he was Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York from September 2004 till August 2011, with concurrent accreditation as High Commissioner to Canada from November 2004 to May 2008.  Prior to that, he was Singapore's Permanent Representative to the UN and the World Trade Organisation in Geneva from December 2001 to August 2004, with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey from December 2001 to August 2004.  His previous assignments include stints as Counsellor and Minister-Counsellor in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur from November 1994 to November 1997, and as Director of the Policy, Planning and Analysis Directorate I, overseeing Southeast Asia, from December 1998 until October 2001. 

Mr Menon was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2001, the Long Service Medal in 2008 and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2009.

Mr Menon is married to Mrs Jayanthi Menon and they have a son, who is currently doing National Service.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

25 JANUARY 2013

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY OF MR VANU GOPALA MENON

Mr Vanu Gopala Menon is currently Deputy Secretary (Southeast Asia & International Organisations) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  He was previously Deputy Secretary (Asia Pacific) from August 2011 to August 2012.

Born in Singapore on 8 September 1960, Mr Menon graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration Honours (Class II Upper) Degree from the National University of Singapore in 1985.  He obtained a Master of Science in International Relations (Distinction) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1994 on a Raffles Scholarship.

Mr Menon joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 1985.  He served as First Secretary in the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from March 1988 to April 1991 and as Counsellor and then Minister-Counsellor in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur from November 1994 to November 1997.  On his return to Ministry HQ, he was appointed Senior Deputy Director of the Policy, Planning and Analysis Directorate I overseeing Southeast Asia in December 1997.  He became its Director in December 1998.  He was Permanent Representative to the United Nations and World Trade Oganisation, in Geneva from December 2001 to August 2004 and was concurrently Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey.  He was Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from September 2004 to August 2011, and concurrently High Commissioner to Canada from November 2004 to May 08.

Mr Menon was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2001, the Long Service Medal in 2008 and the Public Administration Medal (Gold) in 2009.

Mr Menon is married to Mrs Jayanthi Menon. They have a son who is currently doing his National Service.

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