MFA Press Statement: Appointment of Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva; Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva; and Singapore’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

               The Government has appointed Ms Tan Yee Woan as Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva; Mr Foo Kok Jwee as Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva; and Ms Foo Chi Hsia as Singapore’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

              Ms Tan Yee Woan joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 1989.  She was Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva from December 2010 to July 2014, while concurrently accredited as the Permanent Representative of Singapore to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.  She was also Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia from June 2007 to August 2010.   Ms Tan has also served in various appointments in the Ministry HQ, including as Director of International Organisations from February 2003 to April 2007. 

              Ms Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours II Upper) from the National University of Singapore in 1986.  In 1996, she obtained a Master in Politics of World Economy (with Distinction) from the University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom.  She was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 1999.  Ms Tan will assume post as Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva on 11 August 2014. 

               Mr Foo Kok Jwee joined the Singapore Foreign Service in 1999.  He was Director-General of the Technical Co-operation Directorate from August 2011 to May 2014, during which he was responsible for the Singapore Cooperation Programme, the primary platform through which Singapore extends technical assistance to other developing countries.  Mr Foo also served as Press Secretary to Senior Minister (and later Emeritus Senior Minister) Goh Chok Tong from December 2010 to May 2014.  During this period, he was concurrently Director (Special Duties) in the Ministry of Communications and Information, and Director for Academic Matters in the Ministry’s Diplomatic Academy between 2010 and 2012.

               Mr Foo graduated with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering (Honours II Upper) from the National University of Singapore in 1999.  He later earned a Master in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in 2007.  Mr Foo will assume post as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva on 8 September 2014. 

               Ms Foo Chi Hsia joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 1994.  She was Director in-charge of the International Economics Directorate responsible for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and WTO matters from 2008 to 2009 and concurrently Senior Deputy Director in the Southeast Asia Directorate (April to September 2008).  She was Second Director in the Southeast Asia Directorate from 2008 to 2010 before her appointment as Director-General of the Americas Directorate from August 2010 to July 2014.  Ms Foo served at the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 1997 to 2003, including as the Political Coordinator during Singapore’s term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council from 2001 to 2002. 

               Ms Foo graduated with a Bachelor of Law in 1994, and obtained a Master in Public Management in 2005, both from the National University of Singapore.  She was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008.  Ms Foo will assume post as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom on 1 September 2014.

.    .    .    .    .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

29 JULY 2014

___________________________________________________________

Biographical Summary of Ms Tan Yee Woan

            Ms Tan Yee Woan (陈贻宛) served as Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva from December 2010 to July 2014.  She was concurrently accredited as the Permanent Representative of Singapore to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

              Ms Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours II Upper), from the National University of Singapore in 1986.  In 1996, she obtained a Master in Politics of World Economy (with Distinction) from the University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom.

              Ms Tan joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 1989 and was Country Officer for Western Europe and Economic Policy in the Policy, Planning and Analysis Directorate II.  Her first overseas posting was as the First Secretary in the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva from April 1992 to May 1995.  When she returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after her postgraduate studies, she was appointed to various Deputy Director positions in the Human Resource Directorate from January 1997 to December 1999.  Ms Tan served as Deputy Permanent Representative in the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from January 2000 to January 2003.  From February 2003 to April 2007, she was Director of the International Organisations Directorate in the Minstry. Miss Tan was Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia from June 2007 to August 2010.

               Ms Tan was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 1999.

 .  .  .  .  .

Biographical Summary of Mr Foo Kok Jwee

                   Mr Foo Kok Jwee (符国裕) was Director-General of the Technical Co-operation Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) from August 2011 to May 2014.  He oversees the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), which is the primary platform through which Singapore extends technical assistance to more than 170 countries around the world.

                   Mr Foo was also appointed Press Secretary to Senior Minister (and later Emeritus Senior Minister) Goh Chok Tong from December 2010 to May 2014.  During this period, he was concurrently Director (Special Duties) in the Ministry of Communications and Information.

                   Mr Foo joined the Singapore Foreign Service in 1999.  He served as Second Secretary, and subsequently as First Secretary and then Counsellor, in the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta from 2002 to 2006. 

                   Mr Foo held various appointments in the Ministry’s Headquarters.  He was Director for Academic Matters in the MFA Diplomatic Academy between 2010 and 2012, a Deputy Director in the Southeast Asia Directorate from 2007 to 2010, and a Deputy Director in the Americas Directorate in 2010.  Mr Foo also won several Ministry awards for distinction in political analysis.

                   Mr Foo graduated with a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering (2nd Class Upper Division) from the National University of Singapore in 1999.  He later earned a Master in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, in 2007.  

                    Mr Foo is married to Mdm. Carol Lee Huay Meng, and they have twin daughters.

.    .    .    .    .

Biographical Summary of Ms Foo Chi Hsia

                    Ms Foo Chi Hsia (符祺霞) was Director-General of the Americas Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from August 2010 to July 2014.

                   Ms Foo graduated with a Bachelor of Law in 1994, and obtained a Master in Public Management in 2005, both from the National University of Singapore.

                   Ms Foo joined the Ministry in September 1994.  She served at the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 1997 to 2003, including being the Political Coordinator during Singapore’s term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council from 2001 to 2002.  At the Ministry HQ, she held various appointments including Deputy Director (2003 to 2004) in the Policy, Planning & Analysis Directorate IV in charge of South Asia, Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and Deputy Director/Special Projects (2006 to 2008) in the Southeast Asia Directorate in charge of Singapore’s international adjudication cases like the International Court of Justice case with Malaysia over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.  She was also the Director in charge of the International Economics Directorate responsible for APEC and WTO matters (2008 –2009), and concurrently the Senior Deputy Director in the Southeast Asia Directorate (April to September 2008).  Prior to her current appointment, she was the Second Director in the Southeast Asia Directorate from 2008 to 2010.

                    Ms Foo was conferred the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008.

.  .  .  .  .