MFA Press Statement: Appointments of Singapore’s High Commissioner to the Republic of India, Singapore's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and Singapore's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva

The Government has appointed Ms Karen Tan as Singapore's High Commissioner to the Republic of India; Mr Peter Tan Hai Chuan as Singapore's Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (with concurrent accreditation to Mongolia); and Mr Kwok Fook Seng as Singapore's Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva. Ms Tan will assume post on 14 February 2011. Mr Tan and Mr Kwok will assume post on 21 February 2011.

Ms Tan joined the Foreign Service in 1985. She served in the Singapore Embassy in Paris from 1989 to 1992, and the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York as Deputy Permanent Representative from 1997 to 1999. At the Ministry headquarters, she held various appointments including Director of Human Resource from 1999 to 2001, and Director of Policy, Planning and Analysis Directorate II (covering North America and Europe) from 2001 to 2003. She was Singapore's Ambassador to the Lao People's Democratic Republic from February 2004 to August 2007. Ms Tan last served as Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization and to the World Intellectual Property Organization from September 2007 to December 2010.

Ms Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (History) (Honours) from the University of London, United Kingdom. She also has a Master of Science in European Studies (with Distinction) from the University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom.

Mr Peter Tan joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992. He has served in various capacities on issues related to Northeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. On his overseas stints, Mr Tan served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo as First Secretary from 1995 to 1998, and in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur as Counsellor from 2001 to 2002. He also served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo from 2002 to 2005 as Counsellor, and subsequently as Acting Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission. At the Ministry headquarters, Mr Tan was appointed as Second Director of the Southeast Asia Directorate on 27 December 2005, and served as Director from October 2006 to August 2010.

Mr Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Hons II Upper from the National University of Singapore in 1992. He obtained his Master of Arts (East Asian Studies) from Columbia University, USA, in 2000.

Mr Kwok Fook Seng joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995. He has served in various portfolios related to South Asia and Latin America, the United Nations, and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He was Special Assistant to the Foreign Minister in 2001.

Mr Kwok served at the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 1997 to 2000, where he covered issues in the UN's Second and Fifth Commitees. He was also Deputy High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur from 2006 to 2008. Mr Kwok held the portfolio of Director-General of the ASEAN-Singapore National Secretariat from 2009 to 2010.

Mr Kwok graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Communications Studies from Murdoch University in Australia in 1994. He also obtained a Master of Public Management from the National University of Singapore in 2003.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
26 JANUARY 2011

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY OF MS KAREN TAN

Ms Karen Tan (陈 冰 明) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (History) (Honours) in 1985 from the University of London, United Kingdom. In 1993, she obtained a Master of Science in European Studies (with Distinction) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, United Kingdom.

Since joining the Foreign Service in 1985, Ms Tan served as First Secretary in the Singapore Embassy in Paris from 1989 to 1992, and as Counsellor and subsequently Deputy Permanent Representative at the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York from 1997 to 1999. She was Singapore's Ambassador to the Lao People's Democratic Republic from February 2004 to August 2007.

At the Ministry headquarters, she held various appointments including Senior Deputy Director of Policy Planning and Analysis Directorate IV (South Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America and International Organisations), Director of Human Resources and Director of Policy, Planning and Analysis Directorate II (North America and Europe).

Ms Karen Tan last served as the Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva and to the World Intellectual Property Organization from September 2007 to December 2010.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY OF MR PETER TAN

Mr Peter Tan Hai Chuan (陈 海 泉) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Hons II Upper from the National University of Singapore in 1992. He obtained his Master of Arts (East Asian Studies) from Columbia University, USA, in 2000.

Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992, Mr Tan has served in various capacities on issues related to Northeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. On his overseas stints, Mr Tan served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo as First Secretary from 1995 to 1998, and in the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur as Counsellor from 2001 to 2002. He also served in the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo from 2002 to 2005 as Counsellor, and subsequently as Acting Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission.

Mr Tan was appointed as Second Director of the Southeast Asia Directorate on 27 December 2005, and served as Director from October 2006 to August 2010.

He was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008.

Mr Tan was born on 11 September 1967. He is married to Mdm Sim Siew Eng.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY OF MR KWOK FOOK SENG

Mr Kwok Fook Seng (郭 福 成) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Communications Studies from Murdoch University in Australia in 1994. He also has a Master of Public Management from the National University of Singapore in 2003.

Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1995, Mr Kwok has served in various portfolios related to South Asia and Latin America, the United Nations, and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He was Special Assistant to the Foreign Minister in 2001.

Mr Kwok served at the Singapore Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York as First Secretary (Political) from 1997 to 2000, where he covered issues in the UN's Second and Fifth Commitees. He was also Deputy High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur from 2006 to 2008. Mr Kwok held the portfolio of Director-General of the ASEAN-Singapore National Secretariat from 2009 to 2010, overseeing Singapore's participation at ASEAN fora.

Mr Kwok was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) in 2006 and the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008.

Mr Kwok was born in Singapore on 3 September 1969 and is married to Mdm Pearl Su-Ann Lee.

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